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 Dr. Awesome
Registered: 01/17/09
Posts: 55
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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 small grow recomendations? 
#324970 - 12/02/09 01:41 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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hey guys, been a while since Ive made a post, but ive got a new micro grow project that i would like some feedback on. what i am looking to do here is grow between 1 and 4 plants in a small indoor greenhouse from home depot. it will be modified to of course me completely light proof, but when it comes to lighting i want the absolute max i can get without needing to spend a bunch of money on a cooling setup. teh mini greenhouse i plan on buying is about 18"D x 24"L and about 60"H. Ive considered growing using a home made battery of 12 42w CFL's but after doing some math, the wattage/lumen ratio just isn't anywhere near where I'd hoped it would be compared to a 400w MH or HPS. so Ive been looking around at lower wattage HPS in the 70-150w range and i am thinking of doing a combination of HPS and CFL for this grow.
does anyone know what i could get away with as far as lights go before heat becomes too much of an issue? Ive never used these lower wattage HPS bulbs before so im not sure how much heat i will have to deal with. id prefer to not have to use more than a couple computer fans to keep the mini greenhouse at optimum temps.
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DudeTron
Registered: 10/24/09
Posts: 407
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
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Re: small grow recomendations? [Re: Dr. Awesome]
#324995 - 12/02/09 05:52 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Well, with my limited amount of knowledge I can offer the following advice...
Heat will be an issue with almost any realistic lighting setup unless you don't heat your house this winter. Also, your plants need fresh air/ventilation. Usually a single setup handles both issues. Humidity is also something you're controlling with good ventilation.
If smell/security is not an issue, you can ventilate/cool for cheap using computer fans. If you want to use a carbon scrubber axial fans may or may not cut it, but for just moving air they're fine.
Is that box really a greenhouse type thing? I'm assuming it's some kind of storage or cabinetry unit... If not, you could find one in those dimensions for cheaper than an actual greenhouse.
Lowes carries 70w HPS security lights which can be converted to externally ballasted bare-bulb setups for under $50 a piece... they have a 150w that prices at $89 in my area. Check craigslist too.... If you live in a medical state especially, there's going to be some deals to be had. Easiest way I've found is to search for 'ballast'.
Anyway good luck man.
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rodfarva
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 229
Loc: Sobe
Last seen: 12 years, 11 days
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Re: small grow recomendations? [Re: DudeTron]
#325026 - 12/02/09 07:43 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Ive considered growing using a home made battery of 12 42w CFL's but after doing some math, the wattage/lumen ratio just isn't anywhere near where I'd hoped it would be compared to a 400w MH or HPS.
Are you comfortable with your skills in making a safe rig that wont overheat, burn, or pose a shock risk with all the adjusting and on/off you will have to do?
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Dr. Awesome
Registered: 01/17/09
Posts: 55
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: small grow recomendations? [Re: rodfarva]
#325387 - 12/02/09 05:08 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
rodfarva said:
Quote:
Ive considered growing using a home made battery of 12 42w CFL's but after doing some math, the wattage/lumen ratio just isn't anywhere near where I'd hoped it would be compared to a 400w MH or HPS.
Are you comfortable with your skills in making a safe rig that wont overheat, burn, or pose a shock risk with all the adjusting and on/off you will have to do?
yes i am confident in my abilities to wire up such a rig, however the cost of 12 42w CFL's is a bit much to swallow for the performance id get out of it.
i think i would prefer to use a lower wattage HPS with and maybe only using 8 CFL's (2 in each corner) for side lighting, the main reason im finding myself drawn to using lots of CFL's aside from the low heat they produce, is that i can mix and match to add either more blue or more red spectrum.
also does anyone have experience using and of those ozone generating CFL's? Ive read that they can be pretty effective but they are pricey so i wanna make sure they are worth it before dropping 60 bones on a CFL
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rodfarva
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 229
Loc: Sobe
Last seen: 12 years, 11 days
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Re: small grow recomendations? [Re: Dr. Awesome]
#325887 - 12/03/09 04:56 AM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Dr. Awesome said:
Quote:
rodfarva said:
Quote:
Ive considered growing using a home made battery of 12 42w CFL's but after doing some math, the wattage/lumen ratio just isn't anywhere near where I'd hoped it would be compared to a 400w MH or HPS.
Are you comfortable with your skills in making a safe rig that wont overheat, burn, or pose a shock risk with all the adjusting and on/off you will have to do?
yes i am confident in my abilities to wire up such a rig, however the cost of 12 42w CFL's is a bit much to swallow for the performance id get out of it.
i think i would prefer to use a lower wattage HPS with and maybe only using 8 CFL's (2 in each corner) for side lighting, the main reason im finding myself drawn to using lots of CFL's aside from the low heat they produce, is that i can mix and match to add either more blue or more red spectrum.
also does anyone have experience using and of those ozone generating CFL's? Ive read that they can be pretty effective but they are pricey so i wanna make sure they are worth it before dropping 60 bones on a CFL
I feel, safety first. Even a small fire could expose your grow. Err on spending more $$ for proper equipment. From what i understand the worst thing that could happen there is you grow better stank.
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Dr. Awesome
Registered: 01/17/09
Posts: 55
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: small grow recomendations? [Re: rodfarva]
#326195 - 12/03/09 05:46 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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its not really an issue of how much money i spend, as it is getting as much out of the money that i do spend. i already have another grow going with a full aeroponic system and 600w light with air cooled reflector. and it certainly does produce some stellar smoke.
i just wanna know if a few computer fans could keep it cool enough if i were to use a 70 or 150w HPS in there as well.
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 Inverted
CNC Machinist/Greenthumb
Registered: 06/01/08
Posts: 9,953
Loc: North Star 
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Re: small grow recomendations? [Re: Dr. Awesome]
#326244 - 12/03/09 07:05 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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Refer to this thread/journal for a good guide. I've done lots of research over the years.
http://www.growery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/308928
I'm growing in basically the exact situation. I wanted to see how much I would pull in a small area. I'm using 200w of 42w CFL's and a 250w HPS, or 150 if I don't get enough money together in the next week.
I'd go with a 250 and CFL's for undergrowth supplemental lighting.
Should be perfect amount for that space! 
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Don't criticize what you can't understand
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Dr. Awesome
Registered: 01/17/09
Posts: 55
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: small grow recomendations? [Re: Inverted]
#328426 - 12/07/09 10:47 PM (15 years, 1 month ago) |
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well, biggest i will be able to go is a 150w for this grow tent. i know that with proper ventilation, i could get away with a 400w HPS in there, but my goal isnt to cram as much light in there as possible. my goal is to get as much light as possible, without needing more than just a couple computer fans to vent
it.
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