Need Help Chosing Lighting!

YouHighBro

YouHighBro

Member
So I found this deal on amazon that seems amazing, and although the price tag leads me to believe the quality is not the best, all of the reviews have refuted my intuition...

http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Light-hydroponic-Dimmable-Hydrofarm/dp/B0076RDRUK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Now after looking at that I am hoping to get some advice as to which 6" fan I should use to cool the fan? I am planning on attaching the fan to one end of the light and having a duct run the air out to an exhaust out of the tent.

I am also open to suggestions for 4'x4' tents, I have been trying to find something sturdy but keep seeing too many bad reviews that have made me nervous ab out the purchase. So far it looks like this is my 1st choice since it has metal corners that snap into place, as opposed to the plastic corner pieces I have seen for many other tent brands.

Any advice? Thanks :eyesmoke:
 
radrolley

radrolley

Well-Known Member
YouHighBro said:
So I found this deal on amazon that seems amazing, and although the price tag leads me to believe the quality is not the best, all of the reviews have refuted my intuition...

http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Light-hydroponic-Dimmable-Hydrofarm/dp/B0076RDRUK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Now after looking at that I am hoping to get some advice as to which 6" fan I should use to cool the fan? I am planning on attaching the fan to one end of the light and having a duct run the air out to an exhaust out of the tent.

I am also open to suggestions for 4'x4' tents, I have been trying to find something sturdy but keep seeing too many bad reviews that have made me nervous ab out the purchase. So far it looks like this is my 1st choice since it has metal corners that snap into place, as opposed to the plastic corner pieces I have seen for many other tent brands.

Any advice? Thanks :eyesmoke:
Click to expand...
doesnt look too bad but i prefer high velocity fans with cool tubes. much easier to control heat.
 
C

computergroove

Active Member
Read the reviews on the ipower bulbs. They only last like 3-6 months and there are a ton of reviews that say that the bulbs pop after 2 weeks. I just looked at this exact package about a week ago and I decided to follow my gut and get lumitek ballasts and bulbs. There is a company on the west coast I found by buying the best prices ballasts on ebay from. I paid $144 each for lumatek 600 watt ballasts. The Lumatek lights were $50 each and I have used them before and they last for like 5 years (you should replace them after a years worth of use though). Someone here said "ballasts are an investment". I have used my Lumateks for 2+ years and I can swear by their reliability.

For a fan I use CAP Valuline's. You can get them on ebay or Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Inch-ValuLine-Centrifugal-Inline-Fan/dp/B0033BONPQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1376455568&sr=1-1&keywords=cap+valuline+6" and contrart to the first review the noise is low. It comes with 2 wall brackets with some rubber noise/vibration reducing feet. He probably wasn't using them properly.

Cant help you with the tent. I always grow in larger rooms.
 
budbro18

budbro18

Well-Known Member
go to htgsupply.com

best hydro site ive used. cheap stuff but quality. ive been usin there 600w digital ballast for over 2 years and its perfect!

Bulbs last a long time only had 1 burn out on me prior to a year and i change them about every year.
 
YouHighBro

YouHighBro

Member
radrolley said:
doesnt look too bad but i prefer high velocity fans with cool tubes. much easier to control heat.
Click to expand...
can you show me an example? not very familiar with fans but this will be in a bedroom so sound is a bit of an issue, is there anyway to tell which fans you can use the speed controllers on? I read somewhere that most fans cannot use a controller if they are AC powered since it messes with the motor, but I don't know how to tell whether or not the motor is AC powered or not...
 
Dr. Skunk Bud

Dr. Skunk Bud

Active Member
YouHighBro said:
So I found this deal on amazon that seems amazing, and although the price tag leads me to believe the quality is not the best, all of the reviews have refuted my intuition...

http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Light-hydroponic-Dimmable-Hydrofarm/dp/B0076RDRUK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Now after looking at that I am hoping to get some advice as to which 6" fan I should use to cool the fan? I am planning on attaching the fan to one end of the light and having a duct run the air out to an exhaust out of the tent.

I am also open to suggestions for 4'x4' tents, I have been trying to find something sturdy but keep seeing too many bad reviews that have made me nervous ab out the purchase. So far it looks like this is my 1st choice since it has metal corners that snap into place, as opposed to the plastic corner pieces I have seen for many other tent brands.

Any advice? Thanks :eyesmoke:
Click to expand...
That light will work but you should see if you can get one with a bigger reflector you wont regret it.
 
YouHighBro

YouHighBro

Member
Which 600w bulbs do you guys recommend? I think I'm going with Lumatek based on quality and warranty, I know they make a 600w HPS bulb but can't find a MH bulb from them... I would like to find a 600w MH compatible with this ballast, what do you all recommend?

Also when it comes to lighting and the ballast, when people say the light is of inferior quality, does it mean that they give off less lumens and just have an overall lower lifespan that "better quality" bulbs? I am thinking if this is my first grow I can buy the iPower kit, use it for one grow then upgrade to a Lumatek ballast and still use the same cool tube that came with the iPower, maybe I can sell the ballast on craigslist or something?

I'm trying to keep my initial investment low, because I can always upgrade for future grows... or will compromising the quality be a bad idea all together?
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
YouHighBro said:
Which 600w bulbs do you guys recommend? I think I'm going with Lumatek based on quality and warranty, I know they make a 600w HPS bulb but can't find a MH bulb from them... I would like to find a 600w MH compatible with this ballast, what do you all recommend?

Also when it comes to lighting and the ballast, when people say the light is of inferior quality, does it mean that they give off less lumens and just have an overall lower lifespan that "better quality" bulbs? I am thinking if this is my first grow I can buy the iPower kit, use it for one grow then upgrade to a Lumatek ballast and still use the same cool tube that came with the iPower, maybe I can sell the ballast on craigslist or something?

I'm trying to keep my initial investment low, because I can always upgrade for future grows... or will compromising the quality be a bad idea all together?
Click to expand...
[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=42xnf_QM23I[/video]

I go by this video... I use I power or Apollo bulbs and replace after every grow or 2 considering I get 4+oz each harvest... These bulbs are nothing..

And I honestly, would just get a quality ballast instead of getting ipower kit, then spending 150 more later down the road for a quality ballast... I say spent 155 and get a hydrofarm phantom from eBay , I got one and its cool to the touch. Never had lumatek so I can't compare but I hear phantom is better not to mention it has 2 built in breakers and both lamp adapters already built in... If you buy I power now and phantom later, the ipower will sit around and be a waste of cash. Just my opinion

ballast- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrofarm-Phantom-600w-E-Ballast-120-240V-HPS-MH-digital-dimmable-grow-light-/130602854306?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e688967a2
tent(I skimped and my duct holes aren't 6 inch)- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Secret-Jardin-Dark-Room-II-Pro-DR90-Grow-Tent-DarkRoom-DR-90-3x3x6-/220874275771?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336d21fbbb
bulbs- Apollo 50 for both mh nd hps..
Cooltube- http://www.ebay.com/itm/COOLTUBE-Reflector-Air-Cooled-6-8-Grow-Light-COOL-TUBE-GLASS-HOOD-/160918803674?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item25778214da


get the hydrofarm phantom, and the 150+ on the ipower can be saved and used on other things.
Get the jardin and the cheap tent you bought or might buy wont be a waste of cash like mine...
I use that cooltube, and I like it. And to still Need inline fan and filter
 
YouHighBro

YouHighBro

Member
fir3dragon said:
[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=42xnf_QM23I[/video]

I go by this video... I use I power or Apollo bulbs and replace after every grow or 2 considering I get 4+oz each harvest... These bulbs are nothing..

And I honestly, would just get a quality ballast instead of getting ipower kit, then spending 150 more later down the road for a quality ballast... I say spent 155 and get a hydrofarm phantom from eBay , I got one and its cool to the touch. Never had lumatek so I can't compare but I hear phantom is better not to mention it has 2 built in breakers and both lamp adapters already built in... If you buy I power now and phantom later, the ipower will sit around and be a waste of cash. Just my opinion

ballast- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrofarm-Phantom-600w-E-Ballast-120-240V-HPS-MH-digital-dimmable-grow-light-/130602854306?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e688967a2
tent(I skimped and my duct holes aren't 6 inch)- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Secret-Jardin-Dark-Room-II-Pro-DR90-Grow-Tent-DarkRoom-DR-90-3x3x6-/220874275771?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336d21fbbb
bulbs- Apollo 50 for both mh nd hps..
Cooltube- http://www.ebay.com/itm/COOLTUBE-Reflector-Air-Cooled-6-8-Grow-Light-COOL-TUBE-GLASS-HOOD-/160918803674?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item25778214da


get the hydrofarm phantom, and the 150+ on the ipower can be saved and used on other things.
Get the jardin and the cheap tent you bought or might buy wont be a waste of cash like mine...
I use that cooltube, and I like it. And to still Need inline fan and filter
Click to expand...
Awesome feedback! I went ahead with the Lumatek... I got one for 180 flat and with a 5 year warranty I'm pretty stoked on it, I also purchased a cool tube similar to the one you posted from ebay but with the wings, not the reflector on top. I still need to purchase bulbs for my Lumatek 600w ballast, but I'm not sure what will serve me best... I don't want cheap bulbs but dont want the top of the line bulbs either... its for a 9 plant grow, starting from clones, so does the apollo 50 work well with lumatek?
 
Sire Killem All

Sire Killem All

Well-Known Member
YouHighBro said:
can you show me an example? not very familiar with fans but this will be in a bedroom so sound is a bit of an issue, is there anyway to tell which fans you can use the speed controllers on? I read somewhere that most fans cannot use a controller if they are AC powered since it messes with the motor, but I don't know how to tell whether or not the motor is AC powered or not...
Click to expand...
all inline fans are brushless and should be used with a "Variac" controller not the common speed controller. They are more expensive but are made to be used with inline types, some spped controllers clam to not produce the hum from turning it down but it is still killing ur fan and ur money as they dont lower the volts jus the pulse it receives which is why the common controller will kill ur fan it already has a pulse regulator built in and don't run on same type of electric wave as a brush motor. i wish i woulda found the info i did before i bought a speed controller now it is waiting to go back, Fan running @ full speed and a Variac on the way. here is a 5amp version should be enough to run most any inline fans. http://www.rakuten.com/prod/5-amp-variac-variable-transformer-500va-max-0-to130-volt-output/246444169.html. save urself time and money get this and ur fan will thank you
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
YouHighBro said:
Awesome feedback! I went ahead with the Lumatek... I got one for 180 flat and with a 5 year warranty I'm pretty stoked on it, I also purchased a cool tube similar to the one you posted from ebay but with the wings, not the reflector on top. I still need to purchase bulbs for my Lumatek 600w ballast, but I'm not sure what will serve me best... I don't want cheap bulbs but dont want the top of the line bulbs either... its for a 9 plant grow, starting from clones, so does the apollo 50 work well with lumatek?
Click to expand...
the bulbs are apollo brand, the price is 50 for both mh and hps bulbs. i bought ipower bulbs when i got my phantom ballast, im used to a 400w and these 600w ipower ones stoked me... they are bright as hell. havent tried hps. im gonna do a 12/12 type thing and veg a week or 2 and 12/12 from there because i use bagseeds still. this is my 5th grow.

after this grow, or maybe 2 grows im gonna upgrade again like i normally do.. i still want/need
-blockbuster 6 reflector
-brand new apollo hps and mh bulbs
-secret jardin tent (the cheap one i got, doesnt have 6 inch ducting holes and i cant vent anywhere but in room)
-some other petty shit like fire extinguisher etc... maybe a new ph meter not sure.. would like to go super soil too.. just ready to move on up... bagseeds still give good bud.. looks just like the high grade around here. and i got all kinds of seeds... no need for me to buy any...
 
YouHighBro

YouHighBro

Member
fir3dragon said:
the bulbs are apollo brand, the price is 50 for both mh and hps bulbs. i bought ipower bulbs when i got my phantom ballast, im used to a 400w and these 600w ipower ones stoked me... they are bright as hell. havent tried hps. im gonna do a 12/12 type thing and veg a week or 2 and 12/12 from there because i use bagseeds still. this is my 5th grow.

after this grow, or maybe 2 grows im gonna upgrade again like i normally do.. i still want/need
-blockbuster 6 reflector
-brand new apollo hps and mh bulbs
-secret jardin tent (the cheap one i got, doesnt have 6 inch ducting holes and i cant vent anywhere but in room)
-some other petty shit like fire extinguisher etc... maybe a new ph meter not sure.. would like to go super soil too.. just ready to move on up... bagseeds still give good bud.. looks just like the high grade around here. and i got all kinds of seeds... no need for me to buy any...
Click to expand...
Wish more of my seeds would have germed! I wouldnt have to spend the money on clones, but oh well. I appreciate the help with apollo bulbs, I am going into the hydrostore to pick some up tomorrow!
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
YouHighBro said:
Wish more of my seeds would have germed! I wouldnt have to spend the money on clones, but oh well. I appreciate the help with apollo bulbs, I am going into the hydrostore to pick some up tomorrow!
Click to expand...
Np man. If you need anything else just post!
 
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