About to purchase first lighting system

[brisey]

HI All,

Well im finally going to take the plunge and go for my first grow.

Just wanted to check the lights I am going to buy from ebay with you more experienced growers out there.

400w HPS Dual Spectrum Grow Light! - Hydroponics HID! on eBay, also Hydroponics, Plants Seeds Bulbs, Garden Plants, Home Garden (end time 15-Mar-09 12:55:07 GMT) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/400w-HPS-Dual-Spectrum-Grow-Light-Hydroponics-HID_W0QQitemZ280320745047QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Hom eGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN?hash=item280320 745047&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1686%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318)

What do you think. comments greatly welcomed.
Will cost me around £100 including p&p so want to be as sure as possible that im making the right choice.

I shall be using a cupboard measuring 3.5'L x 2.5'W x 6.5'H.
Looking to grow 4-6 plants.
Will have hole in roof that goes staight into the loft.
Also using at least 2 fans.
Other concerns are about getting enough air in and odour problems but beleive I can work these out.

So, any advice would be greatly welcomed.
Loving the forum, learnt so much, havent stopped reading for about a month now :o)

[Dutch Pimp]

400 watts is a strong light. You must keep your temps between 70-85 degrees and with a 400 watt light; about 15 inches above the canopy, the whole grow.

People report a lot of trouble with the ballasts and bulbs, they order online. You have to ask yourself, this? If this doesn't work right?..whats, involved in sending it back? There are advantages to buying locally.

Something to think about....enjoy.

[bigtopsfinn]

I say get everything at once from a reputable company, especially when ordering from online. This way you save on postage, and sometimes you can get a deal if you spend a certain amount.

This is the site where I recently ordered a fan, carbon filter, and cooltube for my 400w hps, and I am very satisfied. They have everything you need individually, but you can also buy a complete package at discount...

Udopea | Headshop | Growshop | Shishashop | Shishas | Bongs | Pfeifen | Pflanzenzucht - Minimum-Set, 400W mit Abluft und Kohlefilter Minimum-Set, 400W mit Abluft und Kohlefilter SET17 (http://www.udopea.de/product_info.php/info/p15567_Minimum-Set--400W---exhaust-air---charcoal-absorber.html)

If I were you, I'd buy this and add a cooltube, and you should have no problems with the heat from the hps... (BTW- they say to put the fan before the cooltube so the fan doesn't overheat, but the fan can take up to 75C, so it CAN pull the air through the cooltube, which I found out was MUCH more efficient.)

Good luck:jointsmile:

[brisey]

Thanks for the replies. Definately things to think about.
I think part of me was wishing people would say everything was absolutely perfect :o) but when is that ever the case :o)

Things that attracted me to this light was the price and also the fact of only using one bulb throughout the grow.
Do you feel a 250w hps would be more suitable for my situation?

Thanks also for the link, going to have a good look through that site now.

I know I have to spend money to get a succesful grow but like most people money is a wee bit tight.

all the best.

[Dutch Pimp]

250 watts works well with 2-4 flowering females...IMO

:)...http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/162491-white-widow-cabinet-grow.html

[bigtopsfinn]

The problem again with the 400 is the heat. I grew with a 400 and just a 15" axial fan blowing directly on my one plant (NOT RECOMMENDED-but it worked for me somehow), with the door open at all times when the light was on. Problem was the smell. Now I have the heat and smell under control, but I had to get the right equipment.

The 250 sounds like a better idea for you... (Not sure about the footprint and if it will reach 3.5', but it should) You will still need to have some kind of active exhaust, but shouldn't have to be anything fancy. Get the hang of that first, then you can get the 400w or 600w or 1000w package if you really get serious.

[cannakeeper]

I think Dpimp and finn have very good advice(as usual):thumbsup:, I used egay religously until I got dicked by them and Gaypal so I'll NEVER buy anything off there again. I ended up searching the net for bout 5 hrs until I found EliteHydro...they had the best price for the best eqip and shipped light speed. I bought a Lumatek digi ballast, Eclipse centif fan, cooltube and an HPS bulb for bout $400. They are in Cotati Cali but they drop-ship from distrib nearest you and they vowe to stand behind their products. This chic had the most professionalism i've ever dealt with. I am very happy with them. Depending on the temps outside your cabinet, you could prob get away with a 400. Good luck to ya.

[brisey]

Thanks all.

Ive been convinced then to lower my light to 250w, i'll try 4 plants and see how it goes. Can always take away a runt if there is one.
I'll probably start a grow log because I have found reading other peoples the most informative and hopefully i'll be able to get some advice along the way.

Would you guys be able to point me in the direction of some simple instructions for setting up an extraction. Extraction fan, tubing, cooltube, carbon filter. I dont think I have properly got into my head the way everything should be, think ive confused myself :wtf:

All the best.

[brisey]

Oh, P.s.
Dutch pimp, thanks for your help but that avatar is distracting me. :)

[bigtopsfinn]

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-growing/132514-noobs-guide-growroom-set-up-work-progress.html

That goes through it pretty thoroughly...

Basically, best to always pull air through the fewest bends possible. I have mine like this: carbon filter at the top of my closet, tubing from the cf bends down and around to my cooltube (don't use duct tape around the cooltube because it can melt), tubing then from the cooltube goes out my closet and to my fan. I put some duct on the other end of the fan to dampen the noise a little.

There's a nice little formula in that thread concerning how many cfm's you need for your space and light.

[Rusty Trichome]

Do you feel a 250w hps would be more suitable for my situation? Yes. Personally, I'd think seriously about getting a 400w HPS, but you might have slight heat issue. Will it be a closed closet door at all times, or just when someone comes over to visit?
Were it me, if closed all the time, 250w...if open most of the day...400w.

To test your ventilation (sort-of) put 250 watts (a couple of regular 100w bulbs) in there, close the door(s) and see how hot it gets. Then add the fans, and look at the results. Won't be a perfect test...but will give you an idea of what to expect.

I would avoid buying shit just to have shit. Cool marketing does not make an item, nutrient or additive necessary, and is all too often a frustrating waste. See if you need it, first. If there is a need, buy the best you can afford. :jointsmile:

[brisey]

It will mainly be a closed door. Thinking is I can have door opened when im home, though this all depends on the smell. Dont really knwo how bad the smell will be, suppose I wont know for sure until well into the grow.
Been looking for seeds with the least odour, northern lights keeps popping up for this. Any other good ones???

Think I will go with the 250w hps, will be a bit cheaper and my thinking is I can spend the saved money on a better extraction system than what I was planning.

All help and advice is greatly received once more.

All the best.

[brisey]

HI all,

I purchased a 250w hps in the end, I also got a 150w blue cfl.
I plan to use the cfl for the seedlings so I can get it nice and close.

When should I start using the hps? And will it be ok to use the hps and cfl together during the veg? And thirdly, I take it I will need to turn the blue cfl off during the 12/12 flowering period??

Many thanks in advance.

[bigtopsfinn]

HI all,

I purchased a 250w hps in the end, I also got a 150w blue cfl.
I plan to use the cfl for the seedlings so I can get it nice and close.

When should I start using the hps? And will it be ok to use the hps and cfl together during the veg? And thirdly, I take it I will need to turn the blue cfl off during the 12/12 flowering period??

Many thanks in advance.

I'd say keep the cfl for about a week, then bring the hps in. Some people might say use it right away, or some say after two weeks. It really depends on you and your growing conditions. Start with the hps at least 2x the normal height, and gradually lower it so the plant can get used to it.

No problem using the hps and cfls throughout veg and flowering. :thumbsup:

[brisey]

Cheers Mate.
The grow hath commenced.

[Roughrider]

I'd wait more than a week before using the 250w HID light. Wait until your plants have a decent root system...there is some shock when you switch to the big light. I know I've made that mistake--just thrown plants under an HPS and watched them stop growing for a week (or more). It happens. What CFLs have problems with is canopy penetration...which isn't a problem with small plants. CFLs are actually better for small plants, IMO. A 150w CFL will be plenty to take quite a few plants through the first couple of weeks.

Also--I agree about starting your light up a good 6 inches higher than you'll keep it, and lowering it a couple of inches a day for 2-3 days. Again, this will keep your plants from getting any sort of shock. Start your lights about 12-14" above the plants, and end up around 6-8" (or whatever seem to be working).