So i have an indoor setup and I'm gunna grow about 8-10 plants. I was going to use 8-10 cfls that use about 60 watts and produce about 1200 lumens each, but I just stumbled upon 2 metal halide bulls 400 watts and about 3500-4000 lumens each. Question is should I either use the MH or the cfls or both? Like one during veg n the other for flowering? Also 2nd question would the cfls or MH produce better buds?
Agreed with what he said. ^^ It just takes way too many cfls to even come close to creating as much light as MH/HPS can do. You want to use MH/HPS as it is superior for growing compared to cfls. The only area that cfls could win would be heat output. Otherwise, MH/HPS is more efficient on energy (produces more lumens per watt of electricity used than cfl), will produce better growth during vegging and will create much denser heaver buds during flowering. But as far as 8 to 10 plants go, I don't really know what you have set up for space, but one plant can easily get big enough to eat up a whole 400 watt light. To be able to do that many plants, you probably need at least 25 square feet of growing area with a couple 600s at least.
Virtually any other form of light will produce better bud then CFLs. CFLs are great for compact smaller areas but for 8-10 plants you would need a billion of them. CFL grow spectrum only extends 2-4 inches from the light. MH, HPS, LED all have a intensity factor dozens of times greater then CFLs...makes primo bud.
what rhap said, you would need a minimum of 600w of HID lighting to even come close to evenly disperse light on 9 plants flowering. *for a decent quality yield.
Im growing in my bedroom and I can't use a metal halide because it would be too much for the outlet, (or would it because I would deff prefer MH) but I was going to use 16 cfls for a 4x4 area, how do u think the buds would turn out?
How would that be to much for the outlet. If you live in the US the building code and its been like this for longer then you have been alive is either 1650 watts or 2200 15 or 20 amps. A blow dryer uses 1200 watts on average. You would have to live in a vintage house not to be able to take the current from any light that is sold just about. Even then vintage housing depending on state has to have its wiring up todate.
Oh really? Some dumbass told me an outlet could only take like 4 amps, also note I live in a 2 story apartment. So it would be ok if I had 2, 400 watt metal halides?
Yup...waaay back I had my grow in my bathroom and everything hooked up to the socket. Your buddy filled you with misinformation. If say you pull to much of a a load the circuit breaker trips and thats it. If you look at your circuit breaker panel you will not find a 4 amp fuse. Go take a peak.
I agree with the HID suggestions; What are your plans for ventilation? If you go with HID you need to have good ventilation; CFL's produce a lot of heat also though not as much as HID. Good ventilation can be noisy and adds to the overall cost of the setup, just some factors to think about.
Thanks rhaps and for ventilation I was going to have 2 fans inside blowing around with a DIY carbon fiber filter for the odor
unless he has other things wired into that circuit he's not thinking of/unaware of had a buddy run an amazing grow in his closet, 16 plants running beautifully. Threw a load of laundry in at the wrong time before running out of town (at night, but before the lights/fans/etc etc turned on), came home and everything was dead.
I am a cheap ass I do not run the heat in the winter usually unless its like 40 or below outside. I use a space heater. Had the space heater on Max computer on and grow lights and flip. Just have to watch it.
You will need something pulling the hot air out of that closet and the circulating fan; 16 - 30W CFL's are the bare minimum needed and this will give you just fluffy buds and the weight will be on the low end; 24 - 30W CFL's would be much better. the cost of those bulbs would be $160 - $240...food for thought.
After doing some looking around I found 2 ballast sets that are 400 watt each and come with 2 MH bulbs and 2 hps bulbs. So now the question is which bulbs do I use MH or HPS and note I do not want to spend a lot of money on the electricity bill!!
How many watts x number of hours is ur kWh. Look on ur electric bill and see how much a kWh costs u. Then just do the math
Look into Convertible 400 Watt MH/HPS HID Systems. Hydrofarm® Sunburst Convertible MH/HPS Indoor Plant Grow Lights at Home Harvest® Garden Supply