Ok all complete newb.. looking for consultant

S

sogop2savelives

Member
OK.. here goes.. was looking to start a much larger op.. however looks costs will be too high!. So i am looking for some info to see if going smaller is worth it.. this is a for profit venture..
scaled down I am looking at creating a closet 12 foot long and 4 foot deep Thinking 5x4 for propagation (seeds/clones) and 6x4 for veg/flowering... plan on wrapping whole thing inside in mylar..
here is my questions... what kind of lighting do i need... how many plants can i fit and what kind of yield am i looking at... i was thinking a drip for propagation side.. and ebb/flow for flower side...
I will then be taking proceeds to start expanding .... my full size i want to get to will be grow room of 12x20 .... but lighting prices are KILLING me!.
I will gladly throw someone a few bucks for consulting.. if necessary..
thanks all
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
I don't mean to hijack your thread or anything but im kinda in the same boat as you are in except i think i found me a cheap decent light. http://www.ebay.com/itm/250-Watts-Digital-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-Giant-Hood-Sun-Lamp-Reflector-Ballast-250W-/390356584403?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae310c7d3#ht_3489wt_1135

tell me what you think, and exactly what are you building your closets out of? plywood and 2 x 4's?

oh and i forgot, you could use CFL's as well but the light i got above would be better then having a lot of CFL lights hangning imo but its prolly more expensive. i started my plants in a computer box with 2 26w CFL's from walmart but now they are big it simply isnt enough light so i need to do something fast and i need suggestions aswell so if you got any im up.. i transplanted into a 5 gallon bucket and put it by the window for sunlight but once i build something and get a light that will change :P
 
roidrage152

roidrage152

Active Member
What kind of budgets are you looking at? Definitely don't reccomend CFLs for anything but a small cab grow. If budget is what you are looking for, stuff like "drip" and "ebb and flow" systems are gonna add alot to your costs. I think you should spend money where it will count more, like on your lights, and stick to the "water yourself from the sink" method until you bring in some cash. For example a 6x4 veg room top of the line cost me in the area of $1500. But in a pinch I could probably have done a workable quality room for a few hundred. If you want to just slap something together that will allow a plant to survive in there, maybe you could do less I dunno.
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
i got plans on watering mine. im thinking of getting that light i posted and building a closet but im not sure how a HPS or MH light works when i should use which and how high they need to be above the plants to prevent burn. i cant go much higher then maybe 7 or 8 ft i would like to keep it shorter then that but if i cant thats fine.
 
roidrage152

roidrage152

Active Member
fir3dragon said:
i would say 200 max but i would like to stay at 150 or so
Click to expand...
CFLs would be fine for a computer box grow. I guess if you wanted ideas for expanding, I would need to know what kind of space you have to work with in addition to the $150 budget. I'm assuming the price per lumen and per watt has gotta be way higher on CFLs than anything else. I've personally never used them, and assume people did because of availability and space restrictions. In regards to that kit you posted, I wouldnt go for that, you can get better bang for your buck in a different package. Screw the timer and hanger addins, these are cheap items you can DIY. Worst case a timer is under 10 bucks at walmart or something. That package also comes with an e-ballast, you can get better value from a switchable magnetic ballast. I've seen on multiple occasion specials for 1000w bulb/ballast/reflector kits for $200.00 retail. Lower wattages have to be much cheaper, each item is significantly cheaper at lower wattages.
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
well im gonna build a closet and put it inside of my closet in my room i would say maybe 2 ft wide like 9 ft long maybe 8 ft high? im not sure lol those are rough estimates. worse comes the worse i can have it out in my room and just make sure its light proof.
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
could you possibly post a link to a better deal? i dont know much about HPS i need to read up more about them
 
Toolage 87

Toolage 87

Well-Known Member
$150 to $200 budget?

1 - If you are planing on growing in hydro DWC is your friend since no need for soil so you don't have to pay alot for the water since soil grows slow.
2 - For lighting I would go with a 70w HPS for flowering since a 70w HPS should run about $50 for bulb and ballast.
3 - If you want to do a seed to harvest then if you spend around $150 you can get a 70w MH and ballast and a 70w HPS and ballast.
4 - Clone in soil. If you don't want to then you can build your own Aero Cloner for around $50 unless you wanna shell out around $200 for a factory built unit that is a 80 site.
5 - If you want to do a PC case grow then MH and or HPS is your best bet since it is more then enough to cover that area and no need for alot of CFLs. Depending on the 70w HPS or MH you get they can preform almost if not better then a CFL that is around 100w



Remember this a 70w MH or 70w HPS can cover a perfect 1 square foot area.


Price - $140 if you get things around these prices
$50 - 70w HPS
$30 to $50 - for a 30 gal to 60 gal air pump
$5 - for a 5 inch stone not the stick kind and not those green little rock kind
$50 to $100 - PC cast tower if you don't have one
$5 - container for the DWC res


I did some digging around and i found a small journal that used a 70w HPS in a PC case grow. Check it out [url]https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/463887-jack-herer-dwc-70w-hps.html
[/URL]
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
Do i have to get a ballast? will i have any heat issues? could i put a 70w hps bulb in a regular socket and use it? what ballast should i use? i cant find any combos with lights and ballasts.
 
Toolage 87

Toolage 87

Well-Known Member
fir3dragon said:
Do i have to get a ballast?
Click to expand...
All H.I.D (MH and HPS) lamps need a ballast to run.

fir3dragon said:
will i have any heat issues?
Click to expand...
I find that the 70 MH puts out little more heat then a 45w CFL. I had the tops of my plants with in about 3 to 5 inches from the bulb with no problems but my grow space wasn't enclosed so the heat was able to escape easily.


fir3dragon said:
could i put a 70w hps bulb in a regular socket and use it?
Click to expand...
It depends on the bulb you get some can be used on a regular light socket some can't be. I have my 70w MH and 70w HPS lamps on a ceramic light fixture that is made to handle the heat of a 150w lizard basking light.

fir3dragon said:
what ballast should i use? i cant find any combos with lights and ballasts.
Click to expand...
It depends on the lamp that you get. Most MH and or HPS don't come with a lamp and ballast pack. The ones that do you need to shell out alot more because more then likely the pack includes a air cooled hood
 
fir3dragon

fir3dragon

Well-Known Member
ohh, would you say that light i posted is a good deal then? is it safe to buy it off ebay when i live in a state where its not medically allowed?
 
canibud

canibud

Active Member
400w hps min. More light = more bud. there is a point where you can have to much but if your talking for profit not just personal id say 1000w
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top