250w HPS users....

[bonginit]

DangerP,
Preferring Organic soil over Hydro myself I may be out of place to suggest but DWC (deep water culture) has always impressed me from the grows and such I've seen on the net. You probably already know but basically DWC is just growing the roots into a bucket of water/solution kept heavily oxygenated by an air pump. Seems as simple as it gets. Some of the most impressive growth rates and yields I have seen came out of this technique. To speed up filling your screen obviously you can use multiple plants, I have even seen an excellent grower that put at least 10 plants of different varieties all into the same huge DWC Res, all mingling roots and not medium whatsoever just stalks in the water and zip-tied them in place against a suppourt. She was a truly wonderful lady and I hope she is still with us. If you check out her threads you might find good info, but they are looong. Her nick was Tokeahontas (sp)

keepitgreen

 

[bonginit]

Another couple other big things to consider with a scrog would be how big the screen is and how far away from the light. BigfatJ's super simple scrog was an amazing thread and last time I checked he was shooting for~20 buds per sq ft. screen. He used one plant per sqft and I think he peaked over 2 Oz's per sq ft when dialed in, although he used a 400w light over 1 sq. m.(~44w/sqft) Spreading a 250w light over 1 sq m. (~9sqft) gives you ~26w/sqft, spreading it pretty thin, although I feel like using more space at a little lower intensity can yield better than trying to concentrate your light in a smaller space with higher w/sqft. BOG and some other very successful growers use around 35 w/sqft instead of the commonly reccomended 50. 7 sqft of screen would leave ~35w/sqft. Another technique that might help increase your yields would be a dished or curved screen. That way the bulb is equidistant from all parts of the screen instead of being closer to the middle. You can extend your screen clear up around the sides of the bulb so it is right in the middle of a tunnel with the top cut off. There have been many threads on this if you search for them. If using the curved screen I recomend a cool-tube for your light. With this combination of cool-tube and a dished screen you could have all the surface of your screen close to the bulb. exactly how far is optimum depends on the situation, heat and more, but if the screen is 12 inches away from the tube, then the buds could project up 6 inches and the tops would be 6 inches away. With a good cool-tube that should not be too close that they burn yet it should provide strong intense light all of your buds fairly evenly, again you may want to move it further away to get more area at a slightly lower light intensity.
adding a reflector to save the light leaving the top of the cool tube should be easy. Either paint the tube itself with a high heat reflective paint , or you can just add a reflector above the tube, I've seen instances of guys simply laying a sheet of reflective foil directly on top the tube and it worked really well no light escaped up.

I gotta run but I hope that stuff helps you out. good luck hittin a poundhehe!

peace love positive vibrations

 

[Deft]

Where is the best place to buy an 07 lumatek digital 250w along with cords reflector and bulb all from the same online store? Discreet shipping and an honest return policy is a must. I don't want to spend more than 200 total.

Anyone know of such an online store?

 

[DailyTHC]

Where is the best place to buy an 07 lumatek digital 250w along with cords reflector and bulb all from the same online store? Discreet shipping and an honest return policy is a must. I don't want to spend more than 200 total.

Anyone know of such an online store?

$200 total with the reflector is gonna be hard if not impossible to do. I feel you on wanting to go Digital and the Lumateks are damn sexy ballasts, but I just dont think you can do under $200, unless you get a cheapo reflector.

At plantlightinghydroponics.com you would spend $249:

89 for Hydrofarm ValuBrite 6" AC reflector
120 for lumatek 250w ballast
29 for cord and socket
9 for generic $250w bulb.

Im joining the 250 club , but I am going with:
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/sun-system-250w-hps-enclosed-grow-light-p-1248.html

It is a 250w HPS enclosed system, with aircooled fitting and glass lens options for $129. Its made by Sunlight Systems, and I trust them to make a decent product.

PLH ships discreetly, but make sure you go ahead and remind them that you want a plain box. I have heard of people getting vortex fans shipped in original boxes. I have been to the store and they do have most everything in stock, so I think it was just a fluke that some people got their vortex's drop shipped in original boxes. His prices and selection are ****ing ridiculous!

 

[Deft]

Well, if it were a nice big hydro formed reflector I'd pay for one but the ones I see online are ridiculously expensive and or crappy looking, I'm not going to pay $80 for a reflector when they only provide a 200x200 pixel photo from a crappy angle. I really want a good digital ballast with no RF interference I have a hard enough time getting wireless signals as is.

 

[Deft]

Know what, I'm just gonna not worry about the reflector since the ones out there suck, $40 for a bent piece of aluminum with a cord and chains is too much of a ripoff for me lol. I will make my own to save on money and to allow shipment in a much smaller box.

CAN ANYONE ELSE VOUCH FOR plantlightinghydroponics.com? I need to make damn sure their shipping is discreet and they are an honest and real shop... I hear horror stories of people not getting anything or getting broken or refurbished stuff, thats not cool.

 

[tarzan of thc]

Here are some magnetic 250w with everything for way under $200

http://www.htgsupply.com/growlights.asp?categoryID=1&subcategoryID=155&typeID=56

Here is a primo Lumatek 250 with everything you need for $209.95. Just choose the Lumatek option in the ballast window and the price auto adjusts.

http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/customkititems.asp?kc=HLHPS02SEW&eq=


Here is a 600w digital with....

600 watt Digital Electronic High Output Remote Ballast
MaxWing Reflector
GrowBright 600 watt HPS High Output Horticultural bulb
Socket / Cord Set
Sunrise Hi-Lo Hangers

for under $200.

http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=48956

Hope this helps. Happy growing with whatever you choose.

 

[Deft]

Good info Tarzan, I like the looks of the BGH site and have been looking there mostly. I just noticed something though, they price match and thats what the codes are all about. Since I have time before I buy I may as well try to get a price match for a lumatek 250 ballast and the max-89 reflector which I like, it actually looks ok (mostly because of the lobed V shaped top and dimensions) and I can always add ventilation if I need it later, getting away with just recirculating fans would be nice in a closet. Even if I don't get a price match reduction for either one I could just cash in some € notes now that the dollar is tanked and make out fine lol.

I want a really nice small scale 250w setup and those factors along with scrog and a new mom/veg box utilizing my old floros will put me in plenty of bud. The MH switchable feature will be great for raising up clones for outdoor in spring and is nice versatility wise in case my needs change.

 

[crownedsparrow]

check me out

check me out

fellow 250 watter. First grow that looks to be sucessful! Its some bagseed from dank bud... some really late bagseed, that was vegged outdoor then when it got cold outside i brought her in..I think she's got less than a month, but i just know im gonna take my time with her. I know it aint gonna yeild much but this project has been so fun. Any advice is gladly appreciated. Should I be trimming more? I cant wait for the next one itll be scrog style. Hope to get as good as you guys are.

 

[Deft]

Good idea sticking basil in there, always nice to have lots of fresh basil.

Scrog and topping are great, they are a must if you don't completly fill your area with plants IMO.

My biggest mistakes so far have been related to temp fluctuation, ph problems, and bad air quality. Canna needs fresh comfortable air allong with a great soil with a stable PH and good oxygen infiltration to support the roots and microheard. Its all about consistent environmental conditions IMO.

 

[crownedsparrow]

yeah my girl isnt getting propper ventilation but i gotta work with what i got.

 

[DangerP]

I know it aint gonna yeild much but this project has been so fun.

I think you've hit the nail on the head with that statement. Most folks' first grow doesn't yield as much as they'd like, but if you think it's a lot of fun you can learn more for the next grow. I know that's not really advice, but it stood out when I read your post. Also, fresh basil is the shit.

Um, lemme come up with some advice so I post something more than my baked ramblings. I think one of the biggest things you can do, and what a lot of people don't bother with, is keeping a log. Your next grow is probably at least three or four months from now; if you don't have records of your last grow, you'll be basing your decisions on what you remember from a quarter of a year ago. On the other hand, if you kept a log you can just look and see exactly what happened. This can be very helpful in dialing in nutrients, for example.

Also, here's a tasty thing to do with basil: get yourself a baguette, some mozzarella (the fresh, soft kind), and a tomato (ideally a good, locally grown, ripe picked one). Cut the bread into slices and toast them to make a sort of toasted bread cracker. Then put a slice of tomato, some of the cheese, and a few pieces of basil on top, and eat it. It's called bruschetta, and honest to god I have a whole area set aside outside just to grow tomatoes and basil for it. It's like a tasty fresh hors d'œuvres. I also heard a rumor that it's even better when you're high...

O.K., no more posting high for me.

 

[Siddartha]

Dude, bruschetta is TOTALLY AWESOME, I feel ya. You can add things other than just 'maters and basil, but those are necessary, lol. Try them with jalapeños.... I like spicy though, YMMV, and as always fresh is best.

 

[crownedsparrow]

damn now im hungry.

 

[guest101]

Hey guys!!!

250W buds at 6week flowering...

Keep it growin with that 250!

 

[Poker_Toker]

Wow i am simply amazed at the quality of the members at this forum. I must of spent literally days reading through the 150w club forum and finally got through all the pages, as well as tonnes of members grows with 150w bulbs and cfl's. Glad i didnt stop there! These 250w grows are spectacular.

Those new 250 digital ballasts from Lumatek look like the way id go if i started. I just got a few questions about 250 setups:

A 250w HPS with a new 2007 lumatek ballast that is 99.9% efficient
Does this make sence about a power bill?

14 days @ 24/0
250w x 24h/1000
=6Kw/h per day times 14 days
=84 Kw/h @ 5.3 Cents per Kw/h
= $4.45

7 days @ 18/6
250w x 18h/1000
=4.5Kw/h per day times 7 days
=31.5Kw/h @5.3 Cents per Kw/h
= $1.67

60 Days 12/12
250w x 12h/1000
=3Kw/h per day times 60 days
=180Kw/h @ 5.3 Cents per Kw/h
= $9.54

Also what size cfm fans and can filter combos are most of you running to keep temps and smell under control in 3- 4sq/ft cabs with volumes ranging from 48 cubic feet to 80

 

[crownedsparrow]

damn frankenstein what strain is that it looks beautiful

 

[GOSH]

hi everybody!
here are some from a 250 watt with electronic ballast, 1 month bloom, no cooltube, two apical cuts.

enjoy, gosh!

 

[guest101]

Hey Crown! Thanks! Its 2 selected phenos from WW (DP).

Looking very good Gosh!! Keep up!

 

[Deft]

Another cool thing to do with basil is just stack (bottom to top) tomato slice, mozzarella (preferably the salty kind), and a fat basil leaf, then douse with balsamic vinegar.. I too have a little farm just for tomatoes and basil lol.