Builing Veg Box, (Only CFLs) vs. (MH + CFLs)

[UpInVapor]

Hi all, I have a closet that I am putting a vegetative box and a flowering box in. The closet is 5' x 4.5' x 9'. I am putting a 2' x 2' x 4' veg box and a 4.5' x 2' x 6' flowering box in the closet. I started building the veg box last night and went to look at CFLs for the grow. I have a 400W HPS that I am going to use for the flower box along with some extra CFLs for good measure. I was originally planning to use only CFLs for the veg box, but after looking around I am thinking maybe I should get a 250W MH from HTG Supply - High Tech Garden Supply . What do you guys think? Should I just get a lot of the 26 or 42W CFLs or this MH and a few CFLs? I read somewhere that using a MH for veg instead of just CFLs would make the buds more dense in flowering, is this true? Also, the smell only comes with the flowering, correct? I want to make sure I do not have to filter smell for the Veg box.

Also, how much extra heat would this MH make for the room? I am planning on venting the Veg chamber with a speed controlled 120mm 90CFM PC Fan. Will this be enough if I also use the MH or should I increase it to 2 of these PC Fans?

Thanks for any help.

UpInVapor Reviewed by UpInVapor on 03-02-2010. Builing Veg Box, (Only CFLs) vs. (MH + CFLs) Hi all, I have a closet that I am putting a vegetative box and a flowering box in. The closet is 5' x 4.5' x 9'. I am putting a 2' x 2' x 4' veg box and a 4.5' x 2' x 6' flowering box in the closet. I started building the veg box last night and went to look at CFLs for the grow. I have a 400W HPS that I am going to use for the flower box along with some extra CFLs for good measure. I was originally planning to use only CFLs for the veg box, but after looking around I am thinking maybe I should Rating: 5

[UpInVapor]

Bump, anyone?

[Darkone7]

Although I prefer T-5 type floros to CFL's in a small veg cab almost any floro will do as well or better than MH.
Even a 250w MH will give off multiple times the heat that double that wattage in any floro type will give.

As for odor,of course vegging plants are not as stinky as flowering but they do give off a "green" smell once they get any size to them.
It is not a strong odor though and can easily be covered with any odor neutralising spray or similar item without having to use a charcoal filter.

Hope this helps bud.

[UpInVapor]

Although I prefer T-5 type floros to CFL's in a small veg cab almost any floro will do as well or better than MH.
Even a 250w MH will give off multiple times the heat that double that wattage in any floro type will give.

As for odor,of course vegging plants are not as stinky as flowering but they do give off a "green" smell once they get any size to them.
It is not a strong odor though and can easily be covered with any odor neutralising spray or similar item without having to use a charcoal filter.

Hope this helps bud.

That is very great advice. You just saved me some money and a hell of a headache trying to figure out how to filter the small veg cabinet. I am buying an inline valueline or active air 6" fan with a controller to vent the flowering room and did not want to have to spend so much on the veg chamber. I think I will just vent it with PC fans then and maybe use some dryer sheets hanging right outside the exhaust so the pc fans blow against the dryer sheets. Hopefully that will take care of any smells... or possibly some ona gel set right outside the exhaust...

[McLuvin]

Have you considered LED lighting? Also you can use a bathroom fan from home depot, and a thermostat, or timer for venting.
A charcoal filter, or an ioniser should take care of most oder.

Hope this helps :smokin:

[lifted247]

Yeah, T 5's and CFL combo would be great in your veg room, hes right even a 250 Mh will significantly add to the heat already put off by the HPS, youll have to really watch your humidity and temp if you do that. But CFL and t5 would be way more efficient for that area, make sure you ventilate extremely well, your gonna have to have air coming into the closet from a outside source also, is your HPS air cooled?

[UpInVapor]

I had considered LED but decided against it since I am just starting and want to keep costs down as much as possible. I may look into LED after a while once it has had some time to get more in use and a little cheaper.

I went ahead and bought the 250W MH last weekend. I hope it doesn't get too hot in there with that since I definitely have to use it now. I am going to air cool the HPS in the flower chamber. I bought an Easy Cool 6 hood for it last weekend also. The 250W MH in the veg chamber will use a batwing type reflector and not be cooled. I am working on a way to set up a PC fan blowing across the bulb not in a tube or anything but keeping a 90CFM PC Fan on it I am hoping will keep it somewhat cool enough to keep around 8-10" from the plants.

[bigsby]

Why wouldn't you just daisy chain the two lights and vent both sides at the same time? You would need to create a duct cut through from one the other. It shouldn't be too difficult.