150w HPS Club and Resource Guide......

[Lemon]

I just had an Idea.

I've noticed a lot of people looking to get into growing, or who are fairly new, wanting to set up a 150w system. I think it would be the coolest thing if someone wrote a huge guide along the lines of "How to get into cannabis growing with a 150watt HPS system" which would consolidate all the useful information into one place, complete with detailed images and diagrams, nice formatting, and well written and valuable information. I am by no means even close to an expert so I don't think its something I could undertake myself, but that is something I think would be really awesome to see done and that I would want to contribute to. Please feel free to tell me if I'm talking out of my backside here.

It might include things along the lines of / look like this:


--------------------------------------------
How to get into cannabis growing with a 150watt HPS system

• Basics of growing

• Methods

• Lighting Options

-How to convert an easily available security light into a grow light
-How to build an open reflector
-How to build a cooltube
-Prebuilt options
-The use of fluorescents for vegitative growth and secondary lighting​

• Grow box Construction

• The basic principles of ventilation

-efficient ventilation
-about different fan types​

• Odor control

• Tips

• References and Links to examplary 150 watt grows

---------------------------------------------


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[Pipedream]

Funny you should mention it. I was just going thru some old files the other day and spottted the text I had written for just such an article. At the time I was exchanging some ideas with Jorge Cervantes and he had asked that I put it together for his next book that he was working on. I did so, but for some reason the book never went into publication. I think it had something to do with the collapse of "OG". If your interested, send me a PM and I'll forward the text to you to take a look at.

 

[Shove_it]

thank`s suga , well actually i got 6 plants, every one on 1.5 galon (almost 4.5 lts)...i feed it whit water every 3 days, 2 waters-1 ferts...so every time i do this y rotate the plant to get similar intense of ligths for equals....
dimensions of indoors are...48 cm x56 cm
well about strain...just time and pics can say that...of course i`ll uploading some pics...
greeting from da south
Shove_it
:friends:

 

[sir.smokealot]

hey pipe

yes i would like to read that, but i don't have enough post to send you a pm.

is it possible you could pm me with that info? i think it would help me understand some thinks about growing mj better. sence i'm newb want to learn all i can.

 

[green_grow]

good morning, 150 club, and a special welcome to all newcomers; you are going to love your 150hps !

just a quick look inside my veg. cab :

this pic shows 4 satoris, none showing sex yet. this pic is over a week old, i think. the pale runt on the right improved greatly after a transplant and a feeding . it is now bigger and looking healthy.


this plant has some sort of health issue, not sure what it is. it was the fastest growing of the 4 but now has really slowed up on the water uptake and is showing a problem on the leaf edges (overfeeding ?)


this plant has a leaf or 2 that is folding in on itself lengthwise . fairly healthy other than that.

moving on to the flower cab. :




this is sugarwarp from seed . about 2 weeks into flower. it is MUCH healthier than is appears in this light .
i consider my flower cab. to be a work in progress, thus there is some clutter of wires in there and a pair of cfls that are kinda sloppily mounted . those 2 issues will be taken care of prior to the next flowering session . behind the 150hps you can see a bathroom fan which did a good job but i wanted something a little quieter so i switched it off and installed 2 x 12v computer fans on the roof. taking advantage of the fact that warm air rises, these 2 fans, with the aid of the glass shelf (a new addition) keep temps at the canopy level at 78-80F with lights on.
on the left and rear walls you can see some reflective material . i scavenged these from some floro tube fixtures that were being tossed by an office tower. in fact, my reflector is made of the same material. it is basically sheet metal with mirror finish on it. not sure if i like it or not . walls painted flat white give a tidier, less cluttered appearance, which i like to see in a cabinet. so i may eventually take those panels off the walls .

happy growing, everyone !

 

[soxx16]

i just got done putting the finishing touches on my box. 150w hps from econolight and bagseed from OG Kush are already goin. the box im working with this time around is 18.5in wide, 18 deep, and 21 tall. is a 150 good for that, or should i add some cfls?

 

[Lemon]

I believe a 150 watt light is more than adequate for 18" x 18" (2.25 ft square). Any more light would probably offer deminishing returns.

 

[motaco]

green grow unless you've been ferting alot I'd guess that is a P= phosphorus defiency. hit her with some indonesian guano.

 

[Lemon]

Funny you should mention it. I was just going thru some old files the other day and spottted the text I had written for just such an article. At the time I was exchanging some ideas with Jorge Cervantes and he had asked that I put it together for his next book that he was working on. I did so, but for some reason the book never went into publication. I think it had something to do with the collapse of "OG". If your interested, send me a PM and I'll forward the text to you to take a look at.

Hey pipedream, thats awesome that such an idea has already crossed minds and been (almost) addressed. I didn't know jorge cervantes paid any mind the the smaller scale stuff, cool! I'll definately shoot a PM your way in a few days (tons of things to do this week ). Thanks!


Edit: 420th post

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[green_grow]

motaco ... thanks for the input . i actually HAD been feeding it a fair bit, and then found out by reading other threads on the same strain that satori is a very light eater. i will just give it plain water (if it ever gets thirsty again ) and keep an eye on it . i dont know where everyone gets all their guano from; i live in a big city with lots of garden shops and i have never seen it around. regardless, if it turns out that it wants some phosphorous i will get some from another source, i guess. i do appreciate the reply, though.

soxx ... i am with lemon on this one, in a box that small the 150 alone will give you plenty of power .

 

[Ganico]

maxicrop is good for P, and you could probably find it in most garden stores. And it's really just powdered seaweed extract

 

[igrowdadankest]

Well i planted one Hashberry and am waiting for it to come up.I have painted me grow box and all i need now is the Intake and exhuast fan's.I still havent picked up the soil but i got the pots.I hope to be starting serouisly in the next month or so.Ill get pics later.

 

[Pipedream]

Well, since a few folks asked, and sent PMs, I decided I'd just post the text here. Please keep in mind that this was intended to be an "introduction" to growing, not a complete "how to". Additionally, I probably would have edited it one more time prior to its being published. If you want to see the pic's, just check out my gallery, they're all in there. If anyone has any questions or comments, I'd be glad to hear them. All that being said, here it is.................

150-watt HPS….. Not a compromise, but the best of both worlds
(Text & Photos: Pipedream)

With respect to both lighting choice and crop size, the array of indoor marijuana growers span the full spectrum. On one end are the large commercial growers with hundreds of plants under multiple 600 or 1000-watt lamps. While on the other end are those who raise just one or two plants under a minimum of Compact Fluorescents. Both of these methods can meet the needs of their respective growers. However, somewhere in the middle, is a system for both the medical user and recreational smoker that many growers have found to be ideal. And, the 150-watt High Pressure Sodium lamp and a midsize cabinet are the key elements to numerous such systems.

There are many benefits to using the 150 HPS in this type of system. First is the high efficiency of the lamp itself. Costing only a few dollars a month to run, it outputs a high level of lumens compared to other types of lighting, and in a lumen per dollar ratio it is the clear leader. Additionally, the color spectrum emitted is perfect for flowering and supports rapid vegetative growth as well. Many growers use it as their sole lamp, from sprouting right through harvest. Another benefit is the relatively low heat production when compared to larger lighting systems. This in itself can be a real advantage in smaller cabinets. And lastly, HPS lighting has the ability to more deeply penetrate a dense canopy then fluorescent lights do.

Once the decision has been made to utilize a 150 HPS, cabinet choices are next. Using the generally accepted de facto guideline of 50watts/sq.ft, the ideal footprint would be 3 square feet. However, with careful planning there have been many successful boxes built with a footprint as small as 1.5 square feet and as big as 4.5 square feet. The larger sizes lend themselves to excellent perpetual harvests. In this type of set-up, plants are rotated into the “sweet spot” under the lamp as they approach harvest time. When deciding on cabinet size, a great deal of consideration should be given to the available growing height. Growing height is the distance from the top of the planting/growing containers to approximately 5 inches below the actual lamp. The greater the distance the larger your plants can grow. Keep in mind that anything over 3 feet is of little use as the light will not be able to penetrate that deeply into the canopy. Many growers combine these methods with SOG and SCROG type grows to reduce the required vertical space. Because we are using a low wattage system every photon is precious. Walls should be covered with Mylar or flat white paint to reflect as much light as possible.

While the 150 HPS does not generate a tremendous amount of heat, venting will still be necessary. Designed properly, your ventilation system will exhaust excess heat, provide fresh oxygen and CO2 to your plants, and provide air movement to harden off and strengthen your stems. The smaller the cabinet is, the greater the heat build-up will be. As a result, smaller boxes may require multiple or more powerful fans, where a larger box might get away with only one computer-type fan. Squirrel cage type blowers are usually only needed if you are venting through a carbon-type air scrubber, or cooling multiple chambers. A standard configuration might be a heavy-duty 4-inch computer fan exhausting the warm air near the top of the box, and passive vent holes in the bottom allowing fresh cooler air to enter. As a rule of thumb, passive intakes should be 50% larger in area than the size of your exhaust fan. Keep in mind that not all fans of the same size will move the same amount of air. That being the case, some experimentation may be necessary to properly balance the system. Active intakes can create problems of their own, as they tend to pressurize the box. This can create poor airflow and leaks that must be avoided especially if you are trying to control odors. Growers in areas that have high seasonal temperature swings may want to consider a reversible fan. This way, they can reverse the airflow in the winter to allow warmer air to circulate within the cabinet. One thing you must consider when installing fans and vent holes is light-leaks. If your cabinet is in a lighted room, you’ll need to have a light-trap either on the inside or outside of each opening during flowering.

Once your cabinet is all set up with lighting and venting, you must decide what to grow and what medium to use. Many first-time growers are tempted to start their crop with bag-seed from unknown genetics. Given the amount of time, effort, and money that you will be investing, this is not the place to save a few dollars. Imagine the disappointment of growing for over three months only to end up with small buds with a low THC content. Purchase your seeds from a reliable source such as an on-line seed bank or an established local retailer. With regards to mediums, both soil & hydroponic type systems will work well. Soil type grows are a bit easier and a little more forgiving, but hydroponic set-ups do offer more rapid growth. Basically any type system that is available for large scale operations can be reproduced in a diminutive size for use in this smaller environment. An example of one such system is DWC Bubblers. In the pictures shown, large Sativas are being grown in individual tubs, each only 5 liters in size.

When first starting out, you may want to select a strain with a heavy Indica influence. This will help keep your garden short and bushy. Another trick to growing in a limited space is keeping your internodal lengths as tight as possible. To accomplish this, make sure your day and night temperatures don’t vary by more than a few degrees, and when changing your lighting from 24/0 to 12/12, do it in three stages each a few days apart. Both of these will help to minimize the stretching that is normal in nature. And lastly, before you introduce any plants to your box, allow it to run for a few days empty. During this time check your temperatures, sound levels, and look for air and light leaks. If your temps are a bit higher then you had hoped for, all is not lost. Select a strain that is native to a tropical area that naturally has higher temps and you’ll do fine. The box in the pictures constantly runs in the low 90’s during the summer months and has no problem producing fine tight buds.

This is a very rewarding method of growing and suited for many indoor situations. With a little planning, your cabinet can be totally stealth or a wonderful display piece for your home. Look at as many of the home-built and commercially available units as you can, and take the best ideas and features from each. When you’re done, you’ll derive as much pleasure from building and tending your garden, as you will from the buds it produces, the fruits of your labor.

For more detailed information on the system pictured, you can check out the author’s grow-thread at www.icmag.com. It can be found in the Forums under Hydroponics and is titled: “Pipedream”s 150w Tiny Bubbler System.”

 

[sir.smokealot]

just few more ?s i have almost everything i need to start my grow.

1) what kind of timer do i need to get for my 150 hps?
2) do those diy home made carbon scrubbers i've been reading about really work?

thanks again to everyone here at ic for advise.

 

[sugabear_II]

just few more ?s i have almost everything i need to start my grow.

1) what kind of timer do i need to get for my 150 hps?

must be a heavy duty timer (three prong plug) I have used the mechanical intermatics before and they work ok but tend to lose time over the weeks such that you find your on-off time begins getting later and later at a rate of 5 mins every few weeks and a power outage really screws things up. (screw things up for you that is - the plants should be ok as long as they continue to get nearly 12 hours of dark)

Therefore I highly recommend spending the extra money and getting the digital intermatic. These are around $20 at most homedepots.

http://www.intermatic.com/?action=prod&pid=203

2) do those diy home made carbon scrubbers i've been reading about really work?

thanks again to everyone here at ic for advise.

yes the DIY ones will work if built right

-suga

 

[motaco]

@greengrow. yeah after I reread your post I saw you said you had been ferting recently. so its nuteburn like you already figured out.


I hear you on the guano. never found any here. I don't think they sell those liberal hippy ferts below the mason dixon line. lol. miracle grow or you can go f yourself.

no I had to have a bigass bag of guano and ewc shipped to me years back. I had to sell my liver to pay the shipping.

 

[sir.smokealot]

thanks for the quick reply & advice suga

how about the diy carbon scrubber that is posted by durbanpoison or should i just go buy one?

thanks again, you guys here at ic are great!!!

latter
ps: picked up my 150 hps & everything else i need to make it remote for my cooltube

 

[Ganico]

I hear you on the guano. never found any here. I don't think they sell those liberal hippy ferts below the mason dixon line. lol. miracle grow or you can go f yourself.

hahahaha, hell yeah

These days they actually have gotten a little better though, mainly just Espoma products. But by the way Espoma is about the only "organic" type garden product at all the major stores in the south, they gotta be affiliated with miracle gro or something. "plant-tone" "holly-tone" and a couple others from Espoma are the main ones you can find

 

[sugabear_II]

thanks for the quick reply & advice suga

how about the diy carbon scrubber that is posted by durbanpoison or should i just go buy one?
...

no experience with the durbanpoison scrubber.

The buy/build decision is up to you entirely - I personally decided to buy.

 

[Pipedream]

Years ago I would have said to build it for sure. Now-a-days, prices have come down on scrubbers and they are readily available. Also, the commercially available ones tend to be fairly well made and last quite long if properly sized. If I needed a new one I would go the way "sug" did without a doubt.