Just ordered 2 400 watt HPS bulbs, do I actually need a ballast? I'm pretty sure it does but is there anything at home depot that can handle the 400 HPS or do I have to actually purchase two 400 watt ballast?

yeah, you need the ballast dude. Since you need two, if I were you, I'd go to High Tech Garden Supply, but rather than just order, call him and talk to him.
He's a great guy! I got his $200.00 light, for half price. Tell him you need a couple of em and ask if he has any deals laying around. You may well be surprised.
ps, don't forget a hood too!

I was checking out some cost effective lighting and ran across these...
SH Hydroponics > Dual Spectrum II High Output Fluorescent Lighting Kit
Since this is my first grow and im only growing two plants these should be just fine, eh ?

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Hey crazyeyes, I am not going to get into the ongoing debate of flou vs hps or any other type of lighting.
However what caught my eye here was the price. This will probaly work, but if it were my money, and I wanted nice big ass buds, for about $20.00 more you could get a 430 watt hps system complete. this light will do your grow justice too! They have smaller ones too for a couple of bucks less money.
Check out High Tech Garden Supply, under products/lighting $119.00 for this one!

FLORALUX 150w HPS Mini System - $94.95

That is GREAT advise video!
The 430W HPS will provide the most bang for the buck!

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If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT.
~ Frank Zappa ~

Liberty means responsibility, that is why most men dread it.
~George Bernard Shaw~

Yeah, I think so too. I'll tell ya a small story, I called him up, we talked for a bit, and he sold me a 400 watt light for $100.00 plus $8.00 shipping, much less that what he had it on ebay for, on ebay he gets like $40.00 S&H
Anyway, he calls me back and says hes out of stock on that one, but he'll upgrade me to the next best one if I dont mind. I say ok, and a few days later it arives and inside is a letter explaining that my upgraded one was also out of stock, so he sent me the $200.00 model, no xtra charge!
Pretty cool guy.

High Tech Garden Supply is a good place to order from, just don't tell him what your growing.

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Hospitals have patience... I DON'T!!!

Haha I just read that whole thread in your grow log with the mazar...coolbeans there, should be purty kick ass ! I want to set up a pretty decent grow but as I am unemployed and money is a little harder to come by right now I lack the funds for a decent setup ...and like I said before this is my first grow an im counting on these two afgahni bag seeds to be females...
I am lovin the price on that little light there though...so far things are going pretty well growing under a 2' flouro tube, I got them in a little stealth box I fashioned lined with foil that runs straight up to the tube so the light has a straight shot right down the box...im gonna need beefier lighting though like NOW haha...im also using maricle-gro soil and fertilizer, and its time to move to bigger pots and was wondering if switching soils and fertilizer during this would hurt them ? any help would be appreciated we all never stop learning... its amazing ! oh and id love to supply pics but cant at the moment...

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okay, i am at a loss which light you like, but it dosent matter, its your decision, Do not change your soil, while miracle gro isnt the best, you'll shock the plants if you change it. It will work, thats what I am using right now. You can however change your nutes, I like organic, or as close to organic as I can get. I like Foxfarm, so do most people around here. The above mentioned site has a 3-pack which covers you from beginning to end for about $38.00
Probaly even have leftovers too.
I'd loose the foil, a flat white paint would be better. Foil will have hot spots. If you insist on using foil, put it up backwards, and never get a crease in it.

Oh yeah I saw the same package deal in a catalog I picked up at the local hydro store...only it was like $75 !!! X.x Thank you much for the referance videoman ! I might just grab that along with that 150w hps that should be great to start out with...

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