paddy-power
Member
Ok then, i have been having a look around at all the different lights available, and am stuck as to what to go for. Essentially i,m going to be using a secret jardin darkroom (120x240x200) with 2 1m2 garland trays. So the light needs to cover a 1m2 grow area. I,m struggling what to go for though.
My understanding is that plants need lots of light, but the right sort of light, People talk about lumens, the more the better. I dont quite understand this as Lumens are what humens see, not plants? As for watts, the more powerful the better which is why people all seem to say go for a 1k bulb? But how effective are they really The further the light is from the plant the less effective it is, also how much of the light is actually used by the plant?
Then there is the question of which type of reflector to use? Cooled or not? I thought the aircooled looked quiet good, made sense that the cooler your lamp is, the closer you can get tit to your plants and the more of the light you can use. ]ut then people say not use them as the glass degrades your light?
Then you have the question of which ballast to use, digital or not? A 600 watt bulb using a digital ballast as good as a 1k with a mag ballast. This sounds good, but no because all your bulbs blow and you have to rplace the ballasts all the time.
There seems a lot to take into consideration. But what is really the most effective light and why for the area i have in mind? The light i am, thinking of going for is one i have not mentioned, its a 1m2 reflector containing 6 250 watt 2700k flowering bulbs. To me they seem ideal, the reflector provides decent coverage for the area (its the same size) I can get the reflector closer than I could with a HPS, no wasted light/watts as its the correct PAR, dont have to worry about ballasts breaking, bulbs blowing. The only downside seems to be the price , but its not much more than a top quality hps set up, but it would be cheaper to run, so its ok.
So any thoughts? Am i wrong? If so why? I want to this right but would like to base my decison on facts, not opinions. So any intelligent input would be appreciated.
Thanks and peace
My understanding is that plants need lots of light, but the right sort of light, People talk about lumens, the more the better. I dont quite understand this as Lumens are what humens see, not plants? As for watts, the more powerful the better which is why people all seem to say go for a 1k bulb? But how effective are they really The further the light is from the plant the less effective it is, also how much of the light is actually used by the plant?
Then there is the question of which type of reflector to use? Cooled or not? I thought the aircooled looked quiet good, made sense that the cooler your lamp is, the closer you can get tit to your plants and the more of the light you can use. ]ut then people say not use them as the glass degrades your light?
Then you have the question of which ballast to use, digital or not? A 600 watt bulb using a digital ballast as good as a 1k with a mag ballast. This sounds good, but no because all your bulbs blow and you have to rplace the ballasts all the time.
There seems a lot to take into consideration. But what is really the most effective light and why for the area i have in mind? The light i am, thinking of going for is one i have not mentioned, its a 1m2 reflector containing 6 250 watt 2700k flowering bulbs. To me they seem ideal, the reflector provides decent coverage for the area (its the same size) I can get the reflector closer than I could with a HPS, no wasted light/watts as its the correct PAR, dont have to worry about ballasts breaking, bulbs blowing. The only downside seems to be the price , but its not much more than a top quality hps set up, but it would be cheaper to run, so its ok.
So any thoughts? Am i wrong? If so why? I want to this right but would like to base my decison on facts, not opinions. So any intelligent input would be appreciated.
Thanks and peace
