decisions decisions

[timmywilson]

Anxious to begin out here. Growing in a hydrohut mini. If you are unfamiliar with this product, it is something like 3.25'x3.25'x6.5'. Anyway, I have everything that is needed except for lighting and ventilation and a couple other odds and ends. I am really anxious to begin this project and the only thing holding me back is the cost of ventilation and lighting. I initially planned on a 400w using conversion bulb to give me both metal halide and high pressure sodium spectrums, but I have been reading a bit more about CFL's.

I guess the first question is this: How much and of what type of CFL's would I need to match the power that the HID lighting would bring me ? Is it worth it in cost savings ?

The other question is ventilation and odor elimination. Is a dayton fan or something similar necessary for this size grow room ? Would this small area really require a carbon air filter or could I get by with a less expensive alternative ?

I am just anxious to get started as I have most of the components for this project but still need to buy the lighting and the ventilation and then I will be good to go.

timmywilson Reviewed by timmywilson on 11-30-2006. decisions decisions Anxious to begin out here. Growing in a hydrohut mini. If you are unfamiliar with this product, it is something like 3.25'x3.25'x6.5'. Anyway, I have everything that is needed except for lighting and ventilation and a couple other odds and ends. I am really anxious to begin this project and the only thing holding me back is the cost of ventilation and lighting. I initially planned on a 400w using conversion bulb to give me both metal halide and high pressure sodium spectrums, but I have Rating: 5

[SeedlessOne]

Ok CFL lighting will never be equal to HID lighting. I have seen some people use CFLs with great results so dont get me wrong; but HID is going to give you more quanity and denser buds. A dayton fan would cool that Hut. As far as a scrubber only use one if you are consered about odor. And if you are but dont want to use a scrubber than get a strain that has low odor. Northern Lights has little to no odor at all. But if you need to mask odor than get a scrubber, but also i would suggest getting a inline fan instead of a dayton if using a scrubber. Does this answer your questions???

[timmywilson]

Yeah it does. I think I am just gonna hold out a lil while longer and get the goods. Thanks for your input.

[harris7]

Hps is the most efficient light known to man. so there is no savings on power

the only benefit to CFL's is that they give off little heat. so you can get a smaller vent system and you can get the lights closer to the plants.

think about this a 400W hps gives off 50 000lm's

you would need to buy 4 200W clf's (at 12 000 lm each).
So 800Watts of power. double. Not to mention that they are huge and would take up a large amount of space. AS well you will need to buy reflectors for each one, so thats like 20-30$ each.

hmm. They seem like a great idea for really small grows.

[timmywilson]

Seedless if you have time though, could you please explain to me why go with an inline fan instead of the Dayton if using a scrubber ? Just curious about why that is. Thanks again.

[harris7]

not to mention that the big ass CFL's arn't cheap. you'll be paying 80-100$ each.

so it's 2-3 times the initial investment too

[timmywilson]

So then Harris I guess all of the discussion and grow reports that I have seen here and elsewhere on CFL's are done by people who are just selling themselves short using the smaller CFL's ? Notably the sticky thread entitled "Compact Flourescent Light Discussion" started by BobBong ? I am with you though, I am gonna hold out a lil while longer to get the real deal. Might as well go full bore and maybe the yield will help pay for the light.

[harris7]

what do you mean? are bigger ones better than smaller.
i dont know.

If you buy the smaller ones your going to have to deal with buying a hell of alot of fixtures for them

the big (i think only) benifit is the lower heat

[ridethefire]

Hey guys just popped in and wanted to clear some things up...

not to mention that the big ass CFL's arn't cheap. you'll be paying 80-100$ each.

so it's 2-3 times the initial investment too

I bought 250watt CFLs -Huge bulbs- and they only cost me $20 each...

think about this a 400W hps gives off 50 000lm's

you would need to buy 4 200W clf's (at 12 000 lm each).
So 800Watts of power. double. Not to mention that they are huge and would take up a large amount of space. AS well you will need to buy reflectors for each one, so thats like 20-30$ each.

CFLs have two numbers- The wattage that the bulb uses, and the wattage the bulb emits. My CFLs emit 250 watts each but only use 85 watts-Which wont add up to 800+ watts...

Check out my grow (link on my sig), you can see the lights and the results I am getting from them...


Stay high! :rasta:

[Cornelius]

Ride, they are 85 watt bulbs. Powerful yes, but 250 no. They are as bright as a 250 watt incandescent bulb but use only 85 watts since they are more efficient. They are not however as efficient as HID lights like a high pressure sodium.

Timmy, do yourself a favor and get a High pressure sodium light. With some basic wiring you can make the ballast switchable so you can run a Metal Halide bulb as well for veg.

If things get hot buy/build a cooltube

Get an HID light and you will not be sorry