MH (Metal Halide) and HPS (High-Pressure Sodium) are both consider HID's (High-Intensity Discharge) lights... Both need a specific ballast, though you can get a converter adapter to use both MH and HPS with one ballast. Do not use any household socket for a HID!! you literally may have a fire

Get this:
http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/E...ber=E-MT6H151G

It is a DIRT CHEAP ("fun fun") bulb with ballast... $20 before shipping. Though you will have to MacGyver it a bit and wire a three-prong plug, any may want to remote the socket to hang it easier... but its worth it.

Brand name strains only go so far, it is possible to great weed from some bag seed, as long as it has some good TLC...

Check out "Buds for Less" at any major bookstore (in the gardening section) They do a grow for less than $100 (but they do forgo an HID) and stick with CFL bulbs

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Newb's Own First Grow – AK-47s
HARVESTED!!!

Thanks alot! Anyone else have any input?

"Adequate veg time in between"
Just mean, if you're using a clone to get some clones from later (cutting out mom as the middle-woman) just give it enough time to veg and heal and get bushy before you clone from it... the whole "babies having babies" thing LOL

with 60" (5 feet) tall... give room for your lighting/hood+ distance between bulb and top of plants

This is a good reference for how far you should have your lights... (6-21" for a 400 HPS)

I think it is good that you are using a shorter strain, still they could easily double in size form flower to harvest... If you give about 1.5 feet for light headroom and another 1 foot for bottom (pot or hydro res) that only gives you 2.5 feet for your plants (rough estimate) still plan on your O per girlie...

No problem man, I've gotten a lot of advice on RIU, would be lost without it.. just paying it forward

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Newb's Own First Grow – AK-47s
HARVESTED!!!

Fantastic Chart

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Papaya & Haze 19 x Skunk #1 - Started 11/25/08 - *Harvested* 3/2/09 (4 Plants - Manicured, Dried & Curing = 450 grams)
Thought of the day: What a half ass term "Bubbleponics" is.

here is the metal halide version

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Newb's Own First Grow – AK-47s
HARVESTED!!!

Ah very informative. maybe Ill need to put the light in a fixed position all the way at the top of the cabinet then. Not sure what else that I can do, i already got the light and Im stuck with it.

Ill have to think on that. Thanks for the chart dude, that rocks.

Have it on adjustable chains if you can, just as long as it can be adjusted all the way too the top... I have a problem with mine, my HPS is semi-fixed, so I have my res sitting on a truck and phonebooks which I lower to change the light distance... much easier to just raise the light

Have you thought about topping/fimming? That should help with some height issues

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Newb's Own First Grow – AK-47s
HARVESTED!!!

Yeah I just took the practice mother I had set up and topped her to watch what happens. She seemed to focus on the surrounding stems and started growing tops in several different directions then, getting bushier bust still staying low.

That very well could be the solution, at least for this particular strain.

The chain idea is what i was thinking as well. Maybe some sort of wire and pulley, so I could raise it all the way to the top if needed.

Im sure Ill have to experiment with that some as the grow progresses.

Im gonna post my grow journal and pics of the process somewhere on here.

Nice charts leggo dude...
General rule of thumb is 40 watts/sq. ft. but reccomended by most to have 50...

Meaning If you have a 4 foot square grow area and are using a 150 watt hps to flower ur plants...Ur total watts/sq.ft will be around 37.5...Which is acceptible by any means..But hanging a 250 over them puts U over the 50 watt mark to 62.5
watts/sq.ft...
The way U determine watts/sq.ft. is simple just take ur total square feet and divide those into ur the total watts of ur lamp. 150/4=37.5

This is the chart everyone should use When determining Light source for there flower room.

The whole reason for this general rule of thumb is: 1gram=1 watt.

Overgrow sirs...U can expect monsterous colas and nugs by just supplementing the right amount of light to ur particular FLOWER area..Not flower room...Utilize watts/square foot in the biggest but best the smallest tightest stealthiest areas for the best results.

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So is a 400w HPS lamp to large for a 4x3 Armoire?

It cant hurt to have TOO MUCH light can it? As long as the temperatures are ok I cant use to much light right?