HID or Flourescent?

[yumyumbubblegum]

Hello all,

I was reading a article in High Times about growing with Flourecent lights and doing you whole grow with them, advantages (heat) and disadvantages (smaller buds). I got screwed on a 1000w HF setup (it was only a 400w, the peeps did not know what they had), I was going to order a new 600w (this will better suit my needs) systeem today but, I read this article and it piqued my interest so, I figured I would post the question..

What is your opinion ? I have a 20 sq. ft. grow tent AND I will also have to deal with heat (I already have the heat issue figured out, if I get the HID)

 

[Melissa]

go for the hid ,,better results everytime :48:

 

[choking_victim]

HID all the way. It's tons easier than setting up multiple flouros in your grow room, and the energy bill isn't that much more expensive.
I know you said you had the heat thing figured out, but with proper ventilation you shouldn't any problems with heat...
good luck, and hope I've helped.

p.s. I don't know your budget, but I would suggest you having 2-400w lights for your space. Use your 400 w you already have, and buy another if you think it's suitable.

 

[yumyumbubblegum]

HID all the way. It's tons easier than setting up multiple flouros in your grow room, and the energy bill isn't that much more expensive.
I know you said you had the heat thing figured out, but with proper ventilation you shouldn't any problems with heat...
good luck, and hope I've helped.

p.s. I don't know your budget, but I would suggest you having 2-400w lights for your space. Use your 400 w you already have, and buy another if you think it's suitable.

yes I was thinking that 2 400 would work BUT I do not have the room...

 

[choking_victim]

hmmm... don't have the room...? I don't know. How don't you have room if you don't mind me asking?

 

[PUFF MONKEY]

look at this light system...and check out the price !!!!


http://www.hydrowholesale.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=hydro&Product_Code=ELS100AC&Category_Code=ELS

 

[Growdude]

hmmm... don't have the room...? I don't know. How don't you have room if you don't mind me asking?

You have 25 sq/ft. how can you not have room.
so you need 1000 watts to get the recomended 5000 lumens per sq/ft.

 

[choking_victim]

with 1000 watt lights, you have to hang the light further away from the plants than you would a 400w, losing lumens in between.
Using 2-400w, you could have the lights more spread and more on top of the plants, creating just as many lumens for 800w than you could get for 1-1000w and cover more 'direct light' space in the process. If you don't have the room, that's understandable, but I would have to make room, IMO.

hope this has helped someone.

 

[yumyumbubblegum]

hmmm... don't have the room...? I don't know. How don't you have room if you don't mind me asking?

My issue is that I also need to run a air cooled reflector and I simply would not have the room for all the air ducting that I need to run and cool the light, also being able to move the lights up and down would be a hassle... Also, I already sent the supposive 1000w light back to the seller.....

 

[yumyumbubblegum]

This is what I am looking at W/the "air cooled 6" reflector and bulb upgrades

htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=48969

I can't post links until I post 15 times so you will have to put the www in....

 

[choking_victim]

You would only have to have an in-duct, and out-duct,
- but I can agree that inline ducting reduces more heat, faster, and is the same method I choose.
Growing sativa indoors I only had to move the lights once a week.
- I do also agree, it is easier with one light further away.

.....Sorry I couldn't help.
I just like all the pain-staking time it takes for me to make it how I want it.

 

[choking_victim]

nice, that would work well.

a single 600w air cooled mh-hps is what I'm working with now as well.
I plan on getting another 400w mh-hps so I could have two rooms.
Or using it for a bigger crop, using the 600 to veg, and using both to flower.


p.s. I would surely get their extended 4 year warranty on the ballast. I've had ballasts go out on me in the middle of flower...it is no good.

 

[Growdude]

with 1000 watt lights, you have to hang the light further away from the plants than you would a 400w, losing lumens in between.
Using 2-400w, you could have the lights more spread and more on top of the plants, creating just as many lumens for 800w than you could get for 1-1000w and cover more 'direct light' space in the process. If you don't have the room, that's understandable, but I would have to make room, IMO.

hope this has helped someone.

I just dont agree, you make it sound like 2 400's are better because they can be closer, then with that logic CFL's must be better yet because they can be even closer.

What he needs is 5000 per sq/ft and thats going to take a 1000 watt hps, thats 155,000 lumens

Now if his room is rectangle then I like the idea of 2 fixtures vs 1 but if its square the I like the single 1000 watts because the amount of lumens far out weighs any small light differance to the plants.

I also believe light intesity is directly proportional to potency and IMO why outdoor MJ is better. now thats just my opinion.


Do you know or have a chart that shows how many lumens get lost, say per foot or somthing? would be interesting.

 

[yumyumbubblegum]

You would only have to have an in-duct, and out-duct,
- but I can agree that inline ducting reduces more heat, faster, and is the same method I choose.
Growing sativa indoors I only had to move the lights once a week.
- I do also agree, it is easier with one light further away.

.....Sorry I couldn't help.
I just like all the pain-staking time it takes for me to make it how I want it.

I would like to run 2 400w but heat is a real big issue for me, I live in N.Ca and it hovers around 100 degrees (now) so I need to think ahead. I have a little portable ac / heater unit that keeps the room at around 80 degrees and already have the ducting for the light all figured out, my grow tent already has the input/output holes in it.. I will take pics when I have it complete...

 

[choking_victim]

I had looked at a chart previously at a local hydro store, I just recalled doing the math at the store and realized 2-400 were just as effective, but I don't have standing proof.
If anyone can find a chart, that would be very helpful. I'm on the look out now.

floros don't penetrate as well.

 

[choking_victim]

hahaha, lets just say a 1-1000w on a light mover is more efficient than all the above.

 

[choking_victim]

I found this....

"The brightness of the light goes up as you get closer to the bulb, or fades as you get further away.

A given amount of light fades by the square of the distance from the source. Just like the surface area of a sphere (area = 4*pi*R^2), if you double the distance, the brightness goes down by 2x2, to be 4 times dimmer.
If you triple the distance, the brightness goes down by 3x3, to be 9 times dimmer."

this doesn't necessarily answer our question straight up, but it does give an equation.

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

this is even easier..


The formula is quite simple and may help you understand. I=L/D2

I=Intensity
L=Light output
D2=Distance squared

So using the handy fluorescent rule of thumb, we are going to calculate how many lumens the plants will get two feet from the light.

75W x 85L = 6800 Lumens. (I have more lumens than this but we will use this as an example.)

I=L/D2
1700 Lumens = 6800L / (2’x2)
1700 lumens at two feet away will be the “Intensity”.

 

[yumyumbubblegum]

Thanks everyone!
One last question.... should I top my plants? I have a Durban Poison, a couple Blue Cheese"Big Buddah" a few Mangos and finally a couple THC Bombs, they are all about 1 1/2 mo. old.. I know this is not the place to post this but I figured what the heck....

 

[akirahz]

you could top, fim, lst, or even super crop them, its personal preference really

 

[yumyumbubblegum]

you could top, fim, lst, or even super crop them, its personal preference really

I guess a better question would be "how do I top"? or is there a thread I can read?:48: