250 W too small for Homebox?

[funkervogt]

Hey guys,

I've been mulling around about getting a Homebox (39.5 x 39.5 in floor space)or a Homebox S (31.5 x 31.5 in). I have a 250 W HPS lamp and plenty of small florescents (probably 200W worth). I have a 190 CFM vortex fan so exhaust shouldn't be an issue for either.

I want to grow out about 9 plants; 5 lowryders and 4 CH9 Jack fems. I want to pull off semi-Scrog with the Jack, I won't even try with the lowryder. In any case this will require significant canopy space which I'd like to account for with the bigger homebox.

Anyway, despite my lamps small size I was thinking of going for the large homebox Because of the extra 9 inches on each side. I could always supplement with CFLs if the light is too weak, but I like working space.

I know some people use a 400W with the Homebox S which blows me away. Any thoughts? Is 250 W HPS + florecents too little of light for the Homebox with 9 plants?

Thanks!

 

[FreezerBoy]

It depends on the garden's footprint. If you use all the tent floor, a 250 is on the small side. If you limit the garden itself to say 2x2.5, it's perfect.

 

[funkervogt]

IC. So I could buy a bigger homebox, keep a small footprint initially and upgrade later to more/bigger lights if needed to fill the rest of the space. Thanks!

 

[Headcase]

I use a 250 in a Homebox XS, and it's great. I think you could probably get away with using it in the homebox s, but the regular homebox is just too big.

 

[Wedge Antilles]

I use a 250 in a DR80 31" x 31", and I think its too small(only 35w per sq ft).....I'm only flowering 3 plants at the moment, so it's not that big of a deal, but if i were to flower 6 or so, i would definitly hook up my other 250...........i didn't see you had 200w of flourecents.....What kind of flourecents? Even with 450 total watts, you should be ok...That gives you 75w per sq foot, i think 50w per sq ft is reccommended, but that's using only HID lighting

 

[Hold Your Fire]

A 250 is too small for that size HB.IMO.

It depends on the garden's footprint. If you use all the tent floor, a 250 is on the small side. If you limit the garden itself to say 2x2.5, it's perfect.

I'd do it like this until you can get another light. HGT has 400's for under $125.

 

[funkervogt]

$125? Jesus. I paid $300 total for my remote ballast, hood, cords and bulb (bulb was $80!).

I pulled the trigger on the bigger homebox today. Im growing out upwards of 10 plants at a time in various stages (Lowryder in flower plus CH9 Jack in veg/flower) so space is a must.

 

[herbal essences]

I ran a 600w in my homebox

 

[Hold Your Fire]

$125? Jesus. I paid $300 total for my remote ballast, hood, cords and bulb (bulb was $80!).

No, No, No! $125 for complete system. Reflector, bulb and ballast with cords. I'm usually in favor of more expensive lighting, but I like their ballast design. I'm in need of a 250w or 400w for another Homebox for mums and clones. The 400w is less than $10 more than the 250w so it makes sense to just get the 400.