175w metal halide for entire grow?

[herbaltivo]

I am a first time grower (new card holder) and i have a 175 watt metal halide pendant lamp (actually 2 of them, but one has a bad ballast) from a previous saltwater reef tank that is now a fish only tank.

My question is can I grow 3 or 4 plants with this one 175 pendant and can I use it throughout the entire cycle or do I really need a sodium vapor lamp?

This will be the first of many, many questions I'm sure.

Thanks!

herbaltivo

[BlueBear]

I am not sure if this metal halide pendant lamp is the same as a typical MH light, but I use a 175 MH in my mother cab and it could probably work to grow 3 or so, but depending on your medical needs, it may not be enough to supply what you need.
A hps would be allot more productive in the long run, but there are other options, such as Compact Fluorescent lights, you can find some grows in the Cabinet/Closet section that may give you some ideas.
What is your medical reason if you don't mind me asking? Hope all works out for you, feel free to ask any questions, but also try to read threw some of the posts around here and use the search feature and you will be able to make the most of your questions because they will be informed.
Adieu

[Garden Knowm]

Hi Herb,

I think it will work fine. You should definitley flower early.. 175 wayys is not a lot of light and you will have very little penetration.

As long as you flower early (4-8 nodes) and keep the light less than 12 inches from your plants. (ideally 4-6 inches, if you can manage the heat) you will have a nice harvest.

Please keep us posted..

pictures?

iloveyou

[herbaltivo]

I actually will be germinating 7 plants, and after sexing I hope to have 3 females. 3 flowering plants is the limit in Colorado, and I plan to stay well within the limits.

The MH light is just like any other 175w MH light, except it is in a black pendant fixture that has a piece of plexiglass to keep the heat off the water. The internal surface of the pendant is white.

I have had chronic muscle spasms in my neck and upper back for 7 years that cause some pretty severe pain, not continuously, but enough that it interferes with my daily activities.

Since I'm just getting started, no need to spend a bunch of money on seeds when I have some leftovers from a couple of z's from the midwest from a buddy of mine.

I had this superseed from the stuff I regularly get that is usually totally seedless, but I can't seem to find it. It was like 4x the size of the bagseeds I have. Oh well, maybe it'll turn up sometime.

[herbaltivo]

So I'm getting that more light during flowering is important. I can rebuild the ballast for the other lamp, so I could have 350 watts of MH by the time flowering comes around.

I'm building a small room for this in the garage like 1m x 1m x 2.5m high. I can certainly put mylar on the interior walls and put in some sidelighting also.

I'm just wondering if the reason everybody uses is sodium vapor for flowering is b/c it is better than mh for flowering somehow.

[Garden Knowm]

The MH light is just like any other 175w MH light, except it is in a black pendant fixture that has a piece of plexiglass to keep the heat off the water. The internal surface of the pendant is white.



are you growing hydro?

yes, HPS lights are better for flowering..

iloveyou

[the image reaper]

that MH lamp will grow plants, but there are other choices that would be a huge improvement ... good enough to get started, and get your feet wet, though ... search these forums well, and you will find all the answers you need ... if not, then ask away! ... good luck ... :smokin:

[BlueBear]

The HPS color spectrum mimics the sun during late summer/fall harvest. Wiring 2 together would be nice, just be prepared for a little more heat.
Sorry to hear about your neck and back, I have some LMT experience so I have ran into allot of those kind of problems.
Adieu

[faithlessxxx]

.

Indeed. HPS==Red fall/autumn sun.
I'm vegging under one though, and it works fine.
Will be filling out with cool white CFL's though, but only because the room got bigger.

.

[herbaltivo]

OK, could I use a HPS bulb with my MH pendant and ballast or is the ballast for a HPS different? Is a 175W HPS even available?

I know the socket is the same, so maybe I could use my one 175w MH setup with the bad ballast, buy a ballast specific for the HPS and just get a HPS bulb.

You are all correct though, this is just to learn and get a grow or two under my belt using free seeds and free lighting equipment, dirt, etc. just to get my feet wet.

I spoke with a contractor buddy of mine today that is going to come by and frame out the closet in the garage for me.

He can hang the drywall too then I'll tape and mud it. I can manage that level of activity.

If there is some sort of lighting FAQ either on this site or somewhere else that somebody can point me to so I can stop pestering the board that's fine too...

Thanks!