A little light help?

newb19547

Well-Known Member
So I'm gonna get a 250 watt HPS and just wondering how many plants (rooted clones I should say) I can flower under it.....I'm planning on lollipoping them also. And also is this reflector really worth getting? It looks like the cheapest one possible and I'm thinking heat might be an issue.

http://cgi.ebay.com/250-WATTS-HPS-MH-DIGITAL-GROW-LIGHT-GIANT-HOOD-BALLAST_W0QQitemZ300368724593QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ef5f0271

I'd like to get an air coolable one but then I'd have to buy a fan for the ducting, correct?

like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/250-watt-Lumatek-Air-Cool-Grow-Light-kit-MH-HPS-2-lamps_W0QQitemZ280428454352QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414ad6a1d0

Oh yea...and price is kind of a concern so if heat shouldn't be that big of a deal then I'd probably go with the cheaper of the 2
 

1mikej

Well-Known Member
i believe the rule of thumb is no less than 50watts per sqft. so you have a 2x2 footprint of light. so 4 females. and you need a cool tube or air cooled hood and fan.
 

newb19547

Well-Known Member
well i should have enough fans to where most of the heat will be blown up away from the plants if i go with the cheapo one
 
So I'm gonna get a 250 watt HPS and just wondering how many plants (rooted clones I should say) I can flower under it.....I'm planning on lollipoping them also. And also is this reflector really worth getting? It looks like the cheapest one possible and I'm thinking heat might be an issue.

http://cgi.ebay.com/250-WATTS-HPS-MH-DIGITAL-GROW-LIGHT-GIANT-HOOD-BALLAST_W0QQitemZ300368724593QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ef5f0271

I'd like to get an air coolable one but then I'd have to buy a fan for the ducting, correct?

like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/250-watt-Lumatek-Air-Cool-Grow-Light-kit-MH-HPS-2-lamps_W0QQitemZ280428454352QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414ad6a1d0

Oh yea...and price is kind of a concern so if heat shouldn't be that big of a deal then I'd probably go with the cheaper of the 2
Let me put this in perspective for you. Are you willing to sacrifice the peace of mind knowing that your grow room is nice and cool and your babies are happy, to save a couple hundred extra bucks? I understand that not everyone can afford to spend extra cash, but heat is your enemy and it will cost you time, quality and a decent yield if you fail to make this a priority.

Plants need more than light, nutrients and water to survive in a closet, put in the extra now and it will reward you with great things in the future.
 

newb19547

Well-Known Member
Let me put this in perspective for you. Are you willing to sacrifice the peace of mind knowing that your grow room is nice and cool and your babies are happy, to save a couple hundred extra bucks?

Actually.....yes I am, lol. Considering no one knows or has told me how hot the 250s can get. I've had it pretty hot in there before with minimal problems.
 
unfortunately we don't know the physics of:

a) how the circulation in your room will affect the lamp.

b) the temperature that your ballast, bulb and reflector will generate.

c) if you will have the ballast in the grow space or out of the grow space.

d) your area temps

e) your household temps

f) the list could go on...

All anyone here can do is give you recommendations as to what would benefit your plants. All I will add to what I have already said is that by adding ventilation, your extra investment will surely pay for itself with the first grow. From my own personal experience, I will NEVER run a system without adequate ventilation again.
 

pitbudz87

Well-Known Member
Actually.....yes I am, lol. Considering no one knows or has told me how hot the 250s can get. I've had it pretty hot in there before with minimal problems.
ill put it to u this way im runnin 2 150 hps with ventalition not enough at all 100 cfm in 50 out bout to change it tho go ahead andget the cooled light you can get it way closer to your plants man ive pulled 15 plants in 6 oz cups underone 150 hps and had a damn good yeild some were close to an ounce and others an eighth
 

newb19547

Well-Known Member
Anyone know of a cheaper air cooled 250 watt then the one i listed above. Believe me...i want the extra cooling..its just i can get the cheaper one a lot sooner than a more expensive one. Hence giving me at least 1 more harvest then if i waited to get the better one. Basically I'm looking for something around $200 or less shipped. I've searched ebay and can only find a few. Also, are there certain reflectors that are better than other ones? Some look kind of small and deep
 
sometimes its better to just be patient, I am about to buy a brand new Quantum 6oo w/ cooltube, tent, hydro setup. Stuff that I haven't had in years but i have to wait until after the holidays. sure I could buy cheaper stuff now but trust me it will just cost me more in time, money and headaches along the way. just save up and your patience will be rewarded.

I think it is common for people to try and rush into this hobby, if you just take your time and do it the right way the first time I think a lot more people would be successful.

and to answer you question, that seems to be a good deal at around $250. just buy a 4" inline fan for around $75 - $100 bucks, ducting $20, Clamps $8, and a DIY charcoal filter $40. that should be good enough to pull the air out of the closet and out of the room and keep any smell controlled. add some mylar ($20) and you have a nice enviroment

all for around $400 bucks, not bad for a first setup. than you could easily grow 2 - 16 girls in a 2x2 space, the latter being a SOG style. Although stepping up to a 400 or 600 wouldn't cost too much more and would allow you to double or triple the size of your garden. I would say the difference in the cost of a light would be around $75 - $100 bucks, and an extra $10 to upgrade to a 6" inline fan. just a thought
 

newb19547

Well-Known Member
ive pulled 15 plants in 6 oz cups underone 150 hps and had a damn good yeild some were close to an ounce and others an eighth

Mind if ask what strain? I'm looking for a good yielder even though I'm growing in pretty small pots( maybe 1 gallon)and lollipopping.
 
yea I'm thinking it will be worth it now. Now I just need to know what kind of fan to get. Most 250s are 6" reflectors...this fan seems to fit the bill (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-6-Inline-DUCT-FAN-BOOSTER-outdo-SUNCOURT-DB206-six_W0QQitemZ400085887703QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d26fa2ad7). My closet is 4' x 3'4" x 7'6"....so it should be strong enough. I even have access to my attic in there.
Keep in mind that the fan you are looking at is a duct booster, they are intended to assist in moving air long distances with the help of an inline fan. Most of the time the motors on these fans will burn out relatively quickly if that are doing the majority of the pulling. when connected and used properly as an aid to your inline fan they work great at reducing stress on the system.

this is a better option:

http://www.hydroasis.com/hy/productdetail.aspx?id=1883&product=6”-active-air-in-line-fan-306-cfm
 

newb19547

Well-Known Member
any idea how many watts that fan is? I kind of have a problem with the electricity in my place, lol.
 

pitbudz87

Well-Known Member
Mind if ask what strain? I'm looking for a good yielder even though I'm growing in pretty small pots( maybe 1 gallon)and lollipopping.
well ive done bagseed everytime but i have a blue mystic in there now and two blue mystic mothers on the way and a afghan kush on the way to being a mother the afghan kush is a good producer
 
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