Additional Lighting for 3 AF Plants w/ 150w HPS

[exooo1]

Hello everyone! First post here, and first time grower. Hoping to stick around to learn and share much more in the future.

As of right now I am devising my closet grow plan and would love some input.

I'm getting the ******* 15 seeds automatic mixed pack and I'm going to be growing three plants at a time.

I'm going to be using a 150w HPS which will hang above the three plants and provide 16,000 lumens. I'm also going to be adding some CFLs, which is where things are starting to get confusing for me (especially while researching growing online which doesn't distinguish between regular and AF strains). Here's my questions.

1. As a seedling into vegetative growth should I just use CFLs and then add the 150w HPS for flowering... or should the 150w HPS be used from the very beginning with these strains?

2. For three plants.. what wattage, how many and what color temp for the CFLs is ideal (putting into consideration the 150w HPS)?
Do I need to switch around the range of color temperatures when flowering begins? If so, by how much? [I've read (by some random guy on a forum) that it should be 70% 6500k and 30% 2700k for vegging.. and then 70% 2700k and 30% 6500k while flowering. Is this the best way to do it?]

I have two 26w 5600ks (1700 lumens each)
and one 32w 2700k (2150 lumens) just laying around that I could possibly use, but I assume I need more than that.

Basically I'm confused on how to properly incorporate CFLs AND the 150w HPS for three plants. Please provide some detailed input-- it's much appreciated!

Thanks!!

 

[exooo1]

Also what dimensions should I construct my grow box to be for the 3 AF plants?

edit: after looking at lifeless rubbermaid grow box ( http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=51381 ) I might just do that...

 

[hilbie]

just three plants with a 150hps is more then enough, dont even worry about the cfls, if u want to sprout the seeds under the cfl's and let them root for say a week thats fine but id just run the hps. and why only 3, i mean if u run three you might not end up with even one female though i think u will. id start as many as u have room for in any way u can so as to end up with a full room of as many fems as u get after they show sex by week two to three.

 

[TheGreenBastard]

honestly you could run the 3 with only the cfl's, you wouldn't have the best results but it could be done. That can give you an idea of how little AF's need. Though the 150w HPS is a great light for AF's.

As for spectrum, Since you already have the 2700k covered (The HPS) than if you wanted to add some CFL's for side lighting or varied spectrum than go with 6500k's (preferable a few 42w's, they are my favorite for supplement lighting)

Now as far as plants go, I would do ~6. That 150 is more than enough to have them all flourish, so the only thing you have two worry about now are temps and space.

As for a grow box, I suggest using an old mini-fridge, they are one of my favorite 'stealth boxes' for AF's.

Check this out...

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=131278

8 diesel ryder fem's under a single 150w hps and he yielded over 4oz.

So, here is a little recap on what would be your best bet...

1. grow more plants, I suggest 6

2. get a few 6500k CFL's for the first ~2 weeks. (this isn't really necessary but if you insist)

3. Add the 150w HPS (like I said you can go from start to finish with just that, but I prefer starting them under CFL's)

4. Get a box, if you can find one go with the mini-fridge, if not you have an idea of the size needed. (getting a box INCLUDES GETTING VENTILATION!!!)

5. Have fun.

 

[oldnooby]

I use a 150hps and start them off with two blue spec 42w cfl after a week of growth I add the 150. I then change the cfl's to red spec. after four weeks. Works perfect for me.

 

[TheGreenBastard]

I think it is better to keep the blue cfl's for a broader spectrum. He already has plenty of red with the HPS and doesn't need anymore. I mostly grow with a 400w HPS and a bunch of blue CFL's and T5's for side light.

 

[exooo1]

Thanks for the replies everyone-- huge help!

Right now my dilemma is trying to construct a grow box and still be within my budget. I want cheap, but I want reliability as well. That rubbermaid I don't think would house the 150w hps very well. The mini fridge.. I've been looking on craigs list but no luck yet. I have a PC case that I'm not using, only 7.9" x 17.0" x 17.3", probably too small and the hps would make it too hot.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=130001 Looks nice, and cheap-- what do ya'll think about that?

Since money is so tight right now I'm real hesitant about going out, spending time and money, and then it not working out, so i have to get a plan going.

This is just going to be for personal medicinal use, so that's why I figured 3-at-a-time would be good (didn't want anything massive either), but if I could fit more in there there's no reason not too.

Budget is $300 BTW, but less would be good... $75 for lighting, $50 for seeds.. leaves me with $175 for the grow box, soil, accessories, etc.

Any suggestions?

P.S. Once I get this figured out and set-up, I'll be posting some detailed pics to help me and others out, so any suggestions taken will be visually put into place

Thanks again.

edit: was checking out the HomeBox Seconds XS.. I like the fact that it's portable and all ready for me to use.. but then that would leave only $100 for everything else. Might work, I'll have to do some more research later.

 

[oldnooby]

The box in the thread you posted is a great little box. You can also get about the same thing at home depot or Lowe's if you go to the kitchen cab department. I have found damaged ones that they will sell you very cheap. You should also go around places with a lot of rent houses around the first of each month and see if you can find an old cab or dresser that is sitting out for the trash. Garage sales are good as well.

 

[Seedling]

You should also go around places with a lot of rent houses around the first of each month and see if you can find an old cab or dresser that is sitting out for the trash.

Thats great advice mate. There is so much "crap" thrown out that could be used by the crafty... Get the cab for free and spend that cash on nutes, more light or what ever else will improve your grow....

Good luck.

 

[oldnooby]

I got some great cabnets for my garage the other day for free. I saw that they were doing a flip on a house in the area and I asked if I could have the old cabnets. They were glad to get rid of them.

 

[TheGreenBastard]

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=130001

That box is perfect, you found a great example of a cheap and easily built box. That will be enough for your 150w and some cfl's, just make sure you get some ventilation. You won't need anything extreme but you will most likely need a few PC fans.

BTW, do you already have the 150w?

 

[exooo1]

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=130001

That box is perfect, you found a great example of a cheap and easily built box. That will be enough for your 150w and some cfl's, just make sure you get some ventilation. You won't need anything extreme but you will most likely need a few PC fans.

BTW, do you already have the 150w?

Nope, I don't. Was pretty content on getting the Sunsystems 150w HPS though. I don't want to spend more than $100 for the lights.

 

[TheGreenBastard]

If you are concerned about heat, or want to use a smaller box. Then you should consider some high powered CFL's. at least a 125w. Here are some ebay links to a few big ones:

http://cgi.ebay.com/125-125W-WATT-F...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca6e3f747

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-200-W-Compa...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c019283ed

I don't know what happened to them but there was a seller that had 125/200/250w lights and I believe that the 250w were ~$75. I wish I could find them again, because they were <12,500Lm maybe 15,000, I'm not sure it was about a month ago. Any way they stay way cooler than an HPS so you can get them a lot closer.

 

[exooo1]

If you are concerned about heat, or want to use a smaller box. Then you should consider some high powered CFL's. at least a 125w. Here are some ebay links to a few big ones:

http://cgi.ebay.com/125-125W-WATT-F...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca6e3f747

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-200-W-Compa...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c019283ed

I don't know what happened to them but there was a seller that had 125/200/250w lights and I believe that the 250w were ~$75. I wish I could find them again, because they were <12,500Lm maybe 15,000, I'm not sure it was about a month ago. Any way they stay way cooler than an HPS so you can get them a lot closer.

My only concern with the 125w CFL would be the yield. How much of a difference in yield would occur from me choosing the 125w CFL over the 150w Sun System HPS?

My local hydro shop was showing me some lights.. he recommended the 125w CFL with reflector/hood for $60, so about $20 cheaper than the 150w hps kit.

 

[lowrdr]

ive been using 250w cfl's and they are extremely effective and do not give off anything like the heat you would get from hps, however obv it is a well known fact that for the ultimate harvest hps is the way forward

 

[TheGreenBastard]

You wouldn't lose much at all, because you are able to get them so much closer. They only put out about 8,000lm but if you got two of them without a reflector (you wouldn't really need one in a small cab) it would have the same amount of lumens as the HPS for ~the same price (maybe a little less) but you would be able to get them much closer, in turn giving you more efficiency. Also, you would save money on:

The grow box, because you wouldn't need as much room= less spent on materials.

And ventilation, there wouldn't be as much heat to displace = less money spent on fans.


Also, you could go with a 250w which produces 12,000, here is a link to one I just found:

http://www.growlightsupply.com/250-...urce=googlebase&m1track=googlebase#googlebase

And then this one, it supposedly does 19,500lm:

http://www.pflanzen-exoten.de/grow-...50w-p-57.html?language=en&pID=57&currency=USD

Either way, it would be cheaper to get a big cfl, and way easier as you wouldn't have to worry about heat.

 

[exooo1]

You wouldn't lose much at all, because you are able to get them so much closer. They only put out about 8,000lm but if you got two of them without a reflector (you wouldn't really need one in a small cab) it would have the same amount of lumens as the HPS for ~the same price (maybe a little less) but you would be able to get them much closer, in turn giving you more efficiency. Also, you would save money on:

The grow box, because you wouldn't need as much room= less spent on materials.

And ventilation, there wouldn't be as much heat to displace = less money spent on fans.


Also, you could go with a 250w which produces 12,000, here is a link to one I just found:

http://www.growlightsupply.com/250-...urce=googlebase&m1track=googlebase#googlebase

And then this one, it supposedly does 19,500lm:

http://www.pflanzen-exoten.de/grow-...50w-p-57.html?language=en&pID=57&currency=USD

Either way, it would be cheaper to get a big cfl, and way easier as you wouldn't have to worry about heat.

Thanks. After some research today I started to realize how impractical an HPS in my budget is, and now you've convinced me.

How many AF plants would one 250w 2700k CFL cover and what kind of yield would I be looking at per plant?

Would, something a power strip vertically positioned in the middle, along with a socket adapter like this:

With the 250w cfl in that adapter.. and then with that could reposition the light either up or down on the power socket depending on how large it grows/how close I want the light to be, work?

or if i were to do the "super budget box" (which seems like my best bet), how would I position the lights so that the CFL's are closer... in that design, they are stuck at the very top, are they not? (pic: http://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=7218&pictureid=122528)
I mean they'll get closer once they grow.. but is it ok to have them that high when they are just vegging/getting started?
The dimensions on his are (31 x 13 x 17 inches)-- but those are just for regular strains.
So would I have to make it smaller in height to accommodate the shortness of autoflowering strains?

Also, thinking about the lighting, it might be better (and cheaper) to do two 105 watt cfls (6,200l) in a Y socket and the one 32 watt cfl I have at the bottom or something for a total of 242w and 14550 lumens..

P.S. that $65 19,200 lumens bulb is $50 shipping

 

[exooo1]

(still thinking)
And that would make it..
$50 for seeds
$60 for lights
$25 for grow box
$20 for DIY carbon filter
$25 for 3 PC fans
=$180
and that would be it for the design? or am I forgetting something?

This is good.. I feel like I'm making progress Once I get this figured out then buy and build I'll make a new thread.

 

[TheGreenBastard]

With a 250w you will be able to grow as many AF's as you can fit in an appropriate box, also the dimensions you had mentioned will be perfect. If it is to high just lower the light, it is better to have more room than not enough.

As far as yield, that is strain dependent, but you could expect at least 7g per plant. If you did something like diesel ryder you could get ~14g or more. There are way too many varibles at this point to be thinking about yield.

Also, I don't know if I mentioned it already or not but Sour60 is gonna be out soon so you might want to wait for that after you get everything together.

 

[exooo1]

With a 250w you will be able to grow as many AF's as you can fit in an appropriate box, also the dimensions you had mentioned will be perfect. If it is to high just lower the light, it is better to have more room than not enough.

As far as yield, that is strain dependent, but you could expect at least 7g per plant. If you did something like diesel ryder you could get ~14g or more. There are way too many varibles at this point to be thinking about yield.

Also, I don't know if I mentioned it already or not but Sour60 is gonna be out soon so yohttp://www.icmag.com/ic/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2840353u might want to wait for that after you get everything together.

I don't know...
Why would the one 250w ($80) be better than the two 105w ($60)?
If it's about lumens,
The one 250w would be 12,000 lumens.
The two 105w would be 12,400 lumens, for $20 cheaper
and it would cover more space.

Sour60 does look awesome, I might wait for that. I'm going to build my grow box and make sure that's properly built before I move onto buying anything else.