LST or not to LST

[Markass]

in my opinion, lst is a great thing...it allowed me to get 6 nice tops on one of mine..it had 6 big growths that I kept tied at the same height under a cool tube..the other two have nice colas, but the one had six good colas good for 8-15 grams apiece..the individual colas on the other two gave me about 9 and 12 I think...definitely pays off to do a bit of topping and training..:thumbsup:

[Weedhound]

in my opinion, lst is a great thing...it allowed me to get 6 nice tops on one of mine..it had 6 big growths that I kept tied at the same height under a cool tube..the other two have nice colas, but the one had six good colas good for 8-15 grams apiece..the individual colas on the other two gave me about 9 and 12 I think...definitely pays off to do a bit of topping and training..:thumbsup:

This is an example of someone who got over six oz from three plants with a 400w (in soil ).....but as you can see he did a fair amount of training on them to get there. :thumbsup:

[MaryLane]

Hmm, I am in CA also and electricity can really kill you here. 1000w may be a bit much based on my experience with electricity usage over aquariums.


Those Hortilux bulbs you mentioned look like just the ticket. I'm going to do more research on utility costs but even a 250w HPS is better than having to use T5s (unless I get 1000w worth of them, and then I'm back to 1000w power usage lol) or T12s or something.

Cooltubes are expensive for what you get. :wtf: I think that's definitely the way to go if I want serious lighting. I may go with a 250w HPS and try some grows with it. I could always go to more plants to increase yield, and I think if I can keep the light close enough to the buds I won't lose much potency as compared to using a 600w, or maybe even a 1000w.

Remote, digital ballasts are the way to go but they're expensive, at least, in my experience they are. A good 1000w MH set up for an aquarium is easily $1/watt after reflectors, cords etc. I may check Home Depot or Lowe's and see if they have any industrial type remote ballasts.

I could go taller. I've got two or three spots in my home I could use. It would be pretty easy to go up to 72", but I would have to give up about 8" on the width. Why is so much vertical height needed if I'm going to SCROG? Would 3 gallon buckets be sufficient? This would give me more room to play with in the cabinet.

What is DWC?

Hey M/L ,
As far as costs a 600 and 1000 are almost the same , bulbs too . I prefer EYE hortilux hps bulbs myself = enhanced blue / green spectrum for veg , yet still kix ass during flower . I don't believe in MH due to less lumens and running hotter .

I manage to cool 2 -1000w hps in cooltubes w/ a 6in. 630 cfm hurricane centr. blower . 2 1000w hps 2 blowers and dehum. running 20 on / 4 off = 180.00 a mo. on my bill - but im not in california like Weedhound w/ big elect. costs . A single 1000w. set up = prob 1/2 that to run per month .

36 -26 -36 sounds like my wife LOL . :hippy: I honestly would try for something a lil taller . I've seen 6ft tall x 30in wide x 24in. deep = c 13 pre fab'd wardrobe cabinets at IKEA , Homedepot , lowes that work great for like 100.00 . If your as tight as I am search Craigslist.com for free shit 2 . I can post a pic. of my old retired cab like this w/ a 250 hps in it for ideas on ventilation etc... I was able to cool it w/ 2 cheap ass 4in. inductor duct booster fans . 20.00 each. - but don't buy 1 of the lights likes in it w/ enclosed ballasts = they suck = you prob. already knew this by your remote ballast comments , you've been doing your homework - :thumbsup: Always draw w/ a blower - never push .

I helped someone build a 6' x 3' x 2' = c-22 cabinet last year w/ a 400w hps inside a cooltube only cooled by a 35.00 6in. 250 cfm inductor booster fan and he was able to do 3 - 5gal. dwc buckets in it and yield very well - like 3/4 lb. 1st try . <- this sounds right up your alley but in dirt not DWC .

The hobby is way way fun , almost addictive . The pursuit of perfect super killer buds that are as close to free as you can get . I've kept track w/ a cpl. of my gardens elect. , nutes , bulb depreciation , water bill , hydroton etc... My last N/L x Nev. Haze grow cost me $17.00 an oz. to produce . Im a reg. mmj user -n- will not / do not sell - but I bet it'd go for $350.00 oz. or better here in the ghetto . 17.00 sounds lots better .

Good luck -n- keep us informed
Peace
Crispi :jointsmile:

[MaryLane]

Wow those are gorgeous!

in my opinion, lst is a great thing...it allowed me to get 6 nice tops on one of mine..it had 6 big growths that I kept tied at the same height under a cool tube..the other two have nice colas, but the one had six good colas good for 8-15 grams apiece..the individual colas on the other two gave me about 9 and 12 I think...definitely pays off to do a bit of topping and training..:thumbsup:

[MaryLane]

Yes, I think I am falling in love as well. :rastasmoke:

Yeah, I know it doesn't have to be complete. I found a few more seeds in my stash box so I'm thinking about germinating them and sticking them in a cheapo Rubbermaid type growbox with some of the spiral CFLs. It would be good experience and practice if nothing else.

I always painted a matte white in my aquarium hoods so I imagine that'll do just fine for pot too, but I had seen so many recommend mylar that I figured it made a big difference.

I'm a voyeur myself! I lurked on these forums for almost a year before even signing up.

I am in Cali myself. I just moved back to the state after finishing my undergraduate coursework in the deep south. It's so good to be back. I've actually got some anxiety problems that I have prescription meds for (Fluoxetine, Klonopin) so I'm going to go to a doc and get my 215 as soon as possible. That will give me access to good buds to hold me over while I'm getting my own grow together. I'll also be able to pick up some good clones etc. as well once I get it. Not many dispensaries where I'm at, but it's better than the situation in Bakersfield right now.

I cannot thank you guys enough for all your help so far! When I start a grow I will definitely post a log so others may learn and benefit from the information that has been so generously passed on to me. Weed and knowledge should be shared after all, ya know?

Isn't he something? I love that guy

X-C helped me totally rebuild my growroom and increase my yield to double and triple what I was getting so he is the design man in my book.

A couple thoughts to add.....you know this entire project does not have to be complete before you put a seed in the ground and see how it grows....adding and changing things is part of the blast of growing. If you have the true basics down you can begin if you want....there's nothing wrong with growing a few and just see what they do. It's great practice.

I personally do like the mh bulbs but X-C is right that they run hotter....not sure if that is an issue for you though. Mh for veg/ hps for flower is the norm but like X-C says your plants won't shed a single tear with the Hortilux bulb and they'll grow like beasts.

Garden tape......you can buy it at wallyword, lowes, any nursery etc.....Doesn't bite into your branches as they grow and easy to change around if necc.
Re-Usable Plant Ties

I've recently had some terrible issues with mylar and room heat and hot spots. I just took down all my mylar and painted the area with flat white and I think it keeps the room cooler....not to mention no more parts of my plant that look like I've had it out in the sun under a magnfying glass. Just some cud to chew on there. Skip any aluminum tape or foil.....will cause same issues but even worse than mylar can.

I agree that if you have to make a choice at the moment due to $$...spend them on your lighting. You can always build some sort of hydro bucket but once you've got the watts....well that's what you've got for good.

i can already tell this is going to be a fun thread. Yes ML, we're voyeurs but we're pretty harmless too.

[MaryLane]

Hey, since money is really tight right now, what do you guys think about a CFL fixture like this? The 125w daylight set up looks like something I can do, and 125w CFLs is equivalent to around 400w-500w worth of incandescent lighting, if I'm not mistaken. It's no MH or HPS, but it could give a good start and would not be bad supplemental lighting to put between plants or something should I be able to get a HPS like I would like to. It would make a good vertical light install for a small arena SCROG with 1 plant I think. If nothing else I can go to Lowe's and get two 3 light CFL fixtures and starting getting some experience.

I found a HPS ballast I would like to save for. Is anyone familiar with the Powerhouse Ballast? Is it a quality unit?

[Weedhound]

I think X-C is correct with the cost of lighting.....1kw HPS is costing us about a hundred a month in electrical, including fan, dehumid etc....OUTRAGEOUS in summer.....if you are in Bakersfield you already know that. And must be having a FINE summer indeed.

With lighting you can always add later if you don't mind everything having its own ballast. I would look around at some hydro shops and talk to some people....some are good and some are bad (hydro store owners) but I think that's where I'd start in the lighting dept.....don't know if you order stuff online; some folks do and some don't....or HomeDepot etc may have all the parts but you'd better know exactly what you are looking for if you go there.

I read JS's thread also and his whole scrog (beautiftul...beautiful) shows the ideal really of what you want......all your buds at the same height and getting the same good lighting.

I say YES...start some seeds! I bet you will surprise yourself. It gets addictive IMMEDIATELY and before you know it you're wanting more, more, MORE......

[PharmaCan]

MaryLane - The link you posted for the light is kind of a rip-off. They want to charge an extra $30 for the power cord, which should be included with the reflector.

Here's the same unit for the same price but the cord is included with this one.

PC :smokin:

[Weedhound]

PC...wassup?

I was going to have ML check out page seven of my old thread....X-C helped me together something for vegging from HD in like....one hour....me.....believe me if I can......

that will work well for you for vegging if you decide to try it ....but not for flower.

http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...row-log-7.html

[bejay]

would probably go ahead and get a decent hid light like a 400 watt for a cabinet but 3 ft isnt really tall enough you need to consider that the light will take up probably a foot of space by the time you maintain a safe distance from the cabinet and plants.
you might check out the sites below they usualy have have decent prices on lighting
Maryland Hydroponics
http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/hid-hu...s-c-25_49.html