Yet another lighting question

OK, I am starting off slow. Any grow is for me. I have chronic back pain from herniated disks, and a good buzz helps much. Aside from moving to CA, an option I am trying is grow me own. I will be doing 1 plant at a time, especially to start off anyway. I have read elsewhere you want 20,000 lumens per sq ft. I have to imagine that is if you have a huge scale operation in a room, no? So, considering just one plant, how many lumens would be sufficient for one plant in a small closet?

I am looking at 3 options.

1) Bright Wing Light Fixture, a 5000K (200 watts) CFL (12,800 lumens). Can get one for $125 US + shipping.

Or,

2) Mini Sun 400 HPS (50,000 lumens), $195 US + shipping

Or,

3) Econo Gro HID Grow Light w/ :

• Econowing reflector with 15' power cord
• HPS remote ballast with grounded power cord
• Dual Arc Bulb with 1000 HPS, (110K to 140K lumens)

#3 would be $293 + shipping.

I can spare the $293, but do not want overkill. I know, I have read many say "too much light" is not true. I want my plant to thrive, but don't want to use a tank to kill a fly. Opinions?

Thanks!!

[SIZE=+1] [/SIZE]

I'd go with a 400 watt HPS from HTGsupply.com ($140.00 shipping included).

HTGsupply - 400 watt HPS Grow Light

you want like 5-7000 lum per sq ft any more is a waste of electricity and money

GrowSpecialist said:

I'd go with a 400 watt HPS from HTGsupply.com ($140.00 shipping included).

HTGsupply - 400 watt HPS Grow Light

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OH! Very cool. Any real significant advantage of the Dual Arc lights, over the straight HPS, or not that big of a deal considering my scale.

Patch Buddey said:

OH! Very cool. Any real significant advantage of the Dual Arc lights, over the straight HPS, or not that big of a deal considering my scale.

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Hi...
The way I see it is... the 400 HPS will suit you just fine, and is actually the ideal to start off with...

But I have a thought that anyone that is going to stick with growing for years, should invest in such a way that they don't have to upgrade expensive components very often...

If you know you are going to be growing for a while, and that you will go bigger in the near future (2 harvests), then go for the bigger light...

Just so you don't have to buy another one when you want to go bigger...

I would be just fine with a 400, but I bought the 600, in case I want to do a little bigger next time...

Just a thought...

But I would deff. say the 400 HPS in bare minimum for quality buds...

Cheers...

Gypsy...

GypsyBush said:

Hi...
The way I see it is... the 400 HPS will suit you just fine, and is actually the ideal to start off with...

But I have a thought that anyone that is going to stick with growing for years, should invest in such a way that they don't have to upgrade expensive components very often...

If you know you are going to be growing for a while, and that you will go bigger in the near future (2 harvests), then go for the bigger light...

Just so you don't have to buy another one when you want to go bigger...

I would be just fine with a 400, but I bought the 600, in case I want to do a little bigger next time...

Just a thought...

But I would deff. say the 400 HPS in bare minimum for quality buds...

Cheers...

Gypsy...

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Awesome advice. You all are great. Thanks.

Anyone ever use the L.E.D. Grow Lights?
Heat may be an issue in my closet.

http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=53194

Or go with a 250 hps. What are you going to grow in, closet, cabinet ? Lighting is important, but your setup is just as important. If you get a 400 watt hps, what about heat? CFL's do produce heat, not like HID's do but still, you need ventilation. If it's for 1 plant, I personally would go with a 250 watt hps. You could even go with a digital ballast and save alittle bit on energy and get all the benefits a HID has to offer.

Check out this link
International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums - 250w HPS users....

edit... just read you said closet. Is there a way you can move air in and out of there? Door open, exhaust fan through the ceiling? You will need to move air in and out of the closet regardless of the light.

theotherc said:

Or go with a 250 hps. What are you going to grow in, closet, cabinet ? Lighting is important, but your setup is just as important. If you get a 400 watt hps, what about heat? CFL's do produce heat, not like HID's do but still, you need ventilation. If it's for 1 plant, I personally would go with a 250 watt hps. You could even go with a digital ballast and save alittle bit on energy and get all the benefits a HID has to offer.

Check out this link
International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums - 250w HPS users....

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Yea, a closet. It has ventilation and I have a couple smalls fans, but heat does worry me. I have also been looking at some LED options. Anyone ever use them?

Patch Buddey said:

Yea, a closet. It has ventilation and I have a couple smalls fans, but heat does worry me. I have also been looking at some LED options. Anyone ever use them?

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just search on google or on here. I see LED's in the future, but most grows you see on here from LED's are not great. I have a small LED grow panel. 225 pcs led panel. I bought it for fun to mess around with. I put some clones under it and it worked well. As far as a full cycle under led, I just cant see it happening, or it being worth it. just my 2 cents though.


If you have good ventilation, I would go with either the 250 or 400 MH/HPS Do a cool tube, there are a lot of good DIY project's for cool tubes, or just buy one.

theotherc said:

just search on google or on here. I see LED's in the future, but most grows you see on here from LED's are not great. I have a small LED grow panel. 225 pcs led panel. I bought it for fun to mess around with. I put some clones under it and it worked well. As far as a full cycle under led, I just cant see it happening, or it being worth it. just my 2 cents though.

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Bummer. I was thinking about this 5 pack
High Tech Garden Supply

I think LEDs are the wave of the future, but the future is not here yet...lol...

As for heat on an HID, you can use a cool tube and a dedicated fan to help control temperatures....

If you are doing a small cab, I would put a cool tube on a 400 HPS with a badass fan blowing across it...

Don't get me wrong... you can grow with less than a 400 HPS... a lot less...

But then, the gram per watt ratio goes to .. well it gets worse...

and I can put my hand full on the glass tube of my buddy's 400 HPS, with a big fan blwoing across the cooltube...

He keeps his 400 HPS 6 to 8 inches from the leaves without burns...

Not quite fluorescent country, but pretty darn good if you ask me...

Just look around... take a peek at the buds people are harvesting and see what light they are using...

All the buds that make you drool wer grown with HIDs...

Do you need a 400...? no...

I got my miniature garden under
2x 70 watt HPS
1x 35 watt HPS
1x 100 watt MH

and I got some nice nugz... but if you look at how much electricity I burned to produce each gram... it's through the roof... very inneficient.. even if it works...

In the end, go with what you know...

Cheers...

Gypsy...

Patch Buddey said:

Bummer. I was thinking about this 5 pack
High Tech Garden Supply

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Yeah all the hype behind it well, it's shit IMO... there are a few high priced units like the UFO(around $500-$600 dollars) that cant compare to MH/HPS. Hell I have even seen some CFL grows that have produced better results. just research, research, research....

Thanks all

oh but you will let us know which way you go ... right...??? lol....

I say go with a 1000w hps. When you pick your buds you will thank yourself

UnderPhire said:

I say go with a 1000w hps. When you pick your buds you will thank yourself

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i hope you plan on expanding your grow, 4 plants under 1000 watts, thats a huge waste of energy, energy to power the lamp energy to keep it cool, you could put that thing in a 10x10 room with like 20 plants what a waste 4 plants isn't even enough to justify fireing it up don't be so quike to give advice when your doin stuff like this

tusseltussel said:

i hope you plan on expanding your grow, 4 plants under 1000 watts, thats a huge waste of energy, energy to power the lamp energy to keep it cool, you could put that thing in a 10x10 room with like 20 plants what a waste 4 plants isn't even enough to justify fireing it up don't be so quike to give advice when your doin stuff like this

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Whoa a little hostile. Fuck you, you stupid fucking prick.Money is not important. I wanted to test my grow on 4 plants before I go all out. Sorry if your a little hard on cash right now or something bro. I hope you get raped and all of your children are born with aids.

oh and if you read the journal, temp is not a factor

UnderPhire said:

Whoa a little hostile. Fuck you, you stupid fucking prick.Money is not important. I wanted to test my grow on 4 plants before I go all out. Sorry if your a little hard on cash right now or something bro. I hope you get raped and all of your children are born with aids.

oh and if you read the journal, temp is not a factor

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Wow. I think somebody needs to familiarize their self with the rules. Insulting others is against the rules on this site. The link to the rules can be found in my sig. Have a nice day.

By all means if you need to suspend my account