Best light configuration (MH & HPS) and is this safe?

A

ajs85

Member
Hey everybody,
I started my babies out with 4 125w 5500k CFLs, 1 100w 6500k CFL, 1 100w 2700k CFL, and 1 150w 2700k CFL, now they are in veg mode and it is time to put up the MH and HPS's I think (this is my first grow).
However, At this time I have one 400w 4100k MH and 1 1000w 2700k HPS (both are from reputable companies and came with wing-type reflectors, however my wife gave me a 2nd MH with a "home made" ballast from ebay, but thats my 2nd question). Until I figure out what to do with the 2nd MH so I dont start a fire, how should I configure an MH and HPS so all of my plants (about 20) get an equal amount of light from each? Any way I can think of doing it there are going to be some plants on the ends that receive way more low spectrum light or way more high spectrum light.

Second question:
My wife was trying to help and bought me another MH light from ebay with a "home made" ballast.

http://cgi.ebay.com/400-W-METAL-HALIDE-GROW-LIGHT-BALLAST-BULB-CORD-SOCKET_W0QQitemZ200358288947QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea648de33&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

What I was wondering, is if as long as I keep the wires soldered and covered up nicely is there any more risk of fire or other malfunction than a standard ballast? I did not want to skimp but she was just trying to help me with my new hobby and didnt know the finer points.

Thanks everyone!
 
TVMASDL

TVMASDL

Active Member
I'm not sure, but a 400w MH might be sufficient for 20 plants on veg.

How big is the grow space?

A home made ballast sounds questionable, but I dunno.

That 1000w HPS can always be used from veg to flower as well, I've seen quite a few grows that go that route.
 
A

ajs85

Member
Two things are making me use all three lights in both phases (veg and flower): Number one, I have basically no budget so the electric bill does not matter to me, and also heat shouldnt be an issue since the room im growing in is VERY large (I forgot the actual dimensions, ive owned the house for 9 years, its something like 30x30, its HUGE) and i actually NEED the heat to keep an ambient temp of 80*.
Number two, the more light the better, ive been told by every person and tutorial and video ive ever come across. So naturally I assume ill get a better yield and/or faster grow from two 400w MH's and one 1000w HPS.

TVMASDL said:
I'm not sure, but a 400w MH might be sufficient for 20 plants on veg.

How big is the grow space?

A home made ballast sounds questionable, but I dunno.

That 1000w HPS can always be used from veg to flower as well, I've seen quite a few grows that go that route.
Click to expand...
 
TVMASDL

TVMASDL

Active Member
Well I'm not sure about the home made ballast deal, if it seems like it's overheating or running strangely I would ditch it ASAP.

As for configuration maybe you could try just setting the two 400w MH's to either side of the HPS, ya know, like:

MH HPS MH

That would probably give you relative light coverage from all spectrums for your 20 plants.

Is that kind of what you're looking for? :hump:
 
A

ajs85

Member
Yeah, exactly what I was looking for, thanks :) Just wanted to make sure they were all getting equal light from both types.

TVMASDL said:
Well I'm not sure about the home made ballast deal, if it seems like it's overheating or running strangely I would ditch it ASAP.

As for configuration maybe you could try just setting the two 400w MH's to either side of the HPS, ya know, like:

MH HPS MH

That would probably give you relative light coverage from all spectrums for your 20 plants.

Is that kind of what you're looking for? :hump:
Click to expand...
 
TVMASDL

TVMASDL

Active Member
Yeah! This ought to be a good one with no $$$ restraints really.

Have you thought about what kind of setup you are going to go for?

Soil? Hydro? Aero? :hump:
 
A

ajs85

Member
Soil. it is already started. they are sprouting and in very early veg under some CFLs at the moment. Ill start the thread in a day or two.
TVMASDL said:
Yeah! This ought to be a good one with no $$$ restraints really.

Have you thought about what kind of setup you are going to go for?

Soil? Hydro? Aero? :hump:
Click to expand...
 
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