HPS

[Ghost Toker]

I finally got an HPS on it's way!!! I'm real excited as I haven't even put my plants into flower yet. It's a 400w Hps w/ a reflector and ballast. My question is how far should I keep it from my plants (when it gets here!!), and secondly are all HPS bulbs in the red spectrum the plants need?? It comes w/ a bulb that supposedly puts out 52,000 lumens. I'm gonna supplement that w/ 1 150 red spectrum cfl, my 4ft Fluro tubes (think I'm gonna leave the cool whites in so there's some blue during flowering, but I'm not sure on that either??) and 1 24" fluro tube w/ an aquarium light. Every thing other than the hps is going to be shining up from the bottom as supplemental light. I'm only growing two plants so I should get some killer buds!!! Any help would be great thanks in advance as always.

-GT

Ghost Toker Reviewed by Ghost Toker on 09-17-2006. HPS I finally got an HPS on it's way!!! I'm real excited as I haven't even put my plants into flower yet. It's a 400w Hps w/ a reflector and ballast. My question is how far should I keep it from my plants (when it gets here!!), and secondly are all HPS bulbs in the red spectrum the plants need?? It comes w/ a bulb that supposedly puts out 52,000 lumens. I'm gonna supplement that w/ 1 150 red spectrum cfl, my 4ft Fluro tubes (think I'm gonna leave the cool whites in so there's some blue during Rating: 5

[BlueBear]

Try to keep it no further than 12 inches away, but that is if you have good venting or cooll temps. By the time that you get about 20 inches away you are starting to lose well over half of your lumen output. Those other lights may beef up your heat more than you want if you don't have good temps, but you can still try.
Adieu

[Zandor]

Place a temperature probe at the top of your canopy to monitor the temperature under your lights at the top of the plants. That way you will know just how close you can place your light and not burn the plants. Use the other lights you have as low light and side light that would be fine. Don't block the HID lights. You don't cut fan leafs off to get more light to the lower parts of the plant, you just tuck them out of the way or tie them to the stock.

[BigNugs4U]

Generally, HPS bulbs are red/orange spectrum. However, that is not to say that ALL HPS bulbs available for purchase WILL be red spec. Some may be more of a yellowish color, like the red EYE hortilux.

With regards to your cool whites in there, ideally, yes, you would have blue and red specs during flower and/or veg. However, it is not necessary in order to produce great results, contingent on the plants' genetics.

[BigNugs4U]

Yes, no more than 12 inches for a 400w is ok, the closer the better (keeping temp. in mind) because of the fact that the lumens are exponentially diminishing.

[BigNugs4U]

Zandor, is that female-seed-indentation document on the faq accurate? Can you really identify a female from seed as it claims?

[BlueBear]

I haven't read about anyone using that FAQ yet. Nuggs, I take it your new to C.com , well welcom to the board.
Adieu

[Luckycindy]

Place a temperature probe at the top of your canopy to monitor the temperature under your lights at the top of the plants. That way you will know just how close you can place your light and not burn the plants. Use the other lights you have as low light and side light that would be fine. Don't block the HID lights. You don't cut fan leafs off to get more light to the lower parts of the plant, you just tuck them out of the way or tie them to the stock.

Luckycindy here, I have a post in feedback and suggestions, I don't know what's making my leaves curl in, pics at feed back and suggestions, look through all post by Luckycindy (Help)

[BigNugs4U]

well the reason i was asking zandor was coz it was on the faqs, i believe he posted it but i could be wrong

[Luckycindy]

Hay Zandor, I postedsome pics on indoor growing, what advice can U give me (LuckyCindy)