A great way to not spend much(newb guide)

MattDash

Member
Marijuana plants LOVE light!
A simple and effective way to handle this problem is to get a 5 gallon bucket( something larger in diameter works better) cut holes around the bottom approximately 3 inches up every 4 inches large enough for the screw part of the light(a 23w cfl) to fit through then attach your socket to the screw part on the out side of the bucket thus holding the light horizontally in a halo fashion then (with out light installed) cut the rest of the bucket off 5 inches above the light holes this is the most cost effective grow light you can make using the spectrums according to the plant phase you will produce larger buds. Using a phase specific spot light in the center of the halo in a hole large enough for the ballast to sit out side the bucket will greatly increase the effective light foot print. for extra sugar make sure to always have a few lights that have out of phase spectrum. example would be in flower, have 2 6500k bulbs along side the 2700k (2100k if you can find them cheap)
Dropping lights down the side of the plant is a key feature in making use of you're 4 pack of each spectrum. I have had great success with 4100k in the most current grow, I would suggest 1= 4 pack of 2700k 4100k and 6500k totalling around 35 bucks. Where as one 250 watt can cost 60.

Recommended reflector:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Heavy-Duty-Juvenile-10-Gallon-Rope-Tub/35006627
These are easy to use.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_41671-43469-6505_0__?productId=3775911&Ntt=light sockets&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=light+sockets&facetInfo=
http://www.lowes.com/pd_70290-66906-UT670606_0 2z8vi__?productId=3129337&Ntt=extension cords&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=extension+cords&page=1&facetInfo=$1 - $5

This is good video showing connectors.

The bulbs you will just have to shop around Lowe's has the 6500k and the 2700k packs and walmart does as well how ever I can't find links to them for best results I beg of you go with 12 bulbs of this size(23w) anything less does not do well.
 
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crawlintbss

Well-Known Member
lol i love when people come in asking for 5 gals and perlite. I just smile and laugh.

nice vid! can you post pics of this bucket setup built... with all this how to i was hoping to see the end product!
 

MattDash

Member
<top down < unpluged
Okay so, this was just to show you what I was talking about I don't have all 23 watt bulbs and I am in the process of moving so Just see it for what it is. In the top down picture you can see the smaller 23 watters do great and I could easily fit a huge number of them in there and they are about 4 inches apart. When you look at the unpluged you easily see where I had the lights dropped down ward. this just murdered 11 inches of my vertical room with the bigger lights and killed the reflective ability of the plastic as a lot of the light was lost behind the ballast i managed to get a 65 watt 2 105 watters and 2 23 watters in there, all the big lights are touching one good bump and pop goes all three! So be warned this is recommended for 32 watt max. I do have a small 4 inch fan mounted for heat this is a MUST.
You notice I mentioned to cut the bucked off? I am not in a reflective room here so i opted to leave the bucket full length for light concentration reason.

In future models I may use a hole saw that will get me the ability to safely mount the ballast on the out side, but using a skinning knife its just not happening.
 
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StellerKeller

Active Member
Dude, you're wasting money! The dollar stores always have those sockets for, get this... a buck!

The bucket fixture is genius. I'm now thinking plastic tote might work, too. Definitely has given me some ideas.
 

MattDash

Member
Dude, you're wasting money! The dollar stores always have those sockets for, get this... a buck!

The bucket fixture is genius. I'm now thinking plastic tote might work, too. Definitely has given me some ideas.
Awesome I did not know they had them :D I am in total agreeance with the tote. I had a few after thoughts on it while i was putting it together the size of the light fixture can totally be adjusted to work in any area a twist tie or zip tie works wonders to pull the cords up. In a tote you can put way more lights closer together and still put an exhaust fan in on top. Dank cfl nugs here we come! :)
 
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