I have a 3x3x5.5 tent with 2-3 plants vegging (well about to be) I have 2 6500k cfl lamps AND a 250 watt mh lamp. Should I run both? Or is the 250 watt enough? also, can I use that same ballast and lamp for a 400 watt hps bulb? Or stick to a 250 hps bulb? I was thinking of using the mh and then the hps. While running the cfls with both just for extra. Thoughts? This is rosie and she needs your help picking her a lighting set up she has been the runt of my group with several issues. She is berry bomb strain. Her sister is pineapple chunk and critical. Had a silverback that died during germination for some reason. Tap root started showing and then it just died. Here's a pic of that seed as well if anyone knows what may have caused this Sent from my SM-N900V using Grasscity Forum mobile app
my opinion use the 6500k till you get to 5-7 nodes and she's looking tough and throw on the switch for the 250. keep the flouros about 2 inches above the plant once its got its second set of leaves. no, you should not run a higher wattage bulb on a low wattage ballast. sorry. keep on posting, im interested in how the berry bomb grows out.
[quote name="Emma & Dave" post="19413884" timestamp="1390796210"]my opinionuse the 6500k till you get to 5-7 nodes and she's looking tough and throw on the switch for the 250.keep the flouros about 2 inches above the plant once its got its second set of leaves.no, you should not run a higher wattage bulb on a low wattage ballast.sorry.keep on posting, im interested in how the berry bomb grows out.[/quote]Thanks for the input! I'll Def keep you posted. I have sprouting now pineapple chunk to replace the silverback. Is it safe to run both cfl or just keep it at one for a few days? I started my 18/6 light cycle yesterday. Sent from my SM-N900V using Grasscity Forum mobile app
[quote name="Emma & Dave" post="19413884" timestamp="1390796210"]my opinionuse the 6500k till you get to 5-7 nodes and she's looking tough and throw on the switch for the 250.keep the flouros about 2 inches above the plant once its got its second set of leaves.no, you should not run a higher wattage bulb on a low wattage ballast.sorry.keep on posting, im interested in how the berry bomb grows out.[/quote] Here she is now. I helped her she'd her shell. She was buried too deep and didn't get a chance to shed herself as I had to go in and find her and what notSent from my SM-N900V using Grasscity Forum mobile app
[quote name="Emma & Dave" post="19414019" timestamp="1390797632"]what wattage are the cfls at?[/quote]They're both 65 wattSent from my SM-N900V using Grasscity Forum mobile app
cute lil thang. and yeah, one 65 watt will be fine till they get a couple sets of leaves. if you start to see any significant stretching, move the light closer, if you are already closer than 2 inches or having heat issues. back it off a half inch and throw in the second light. the plant will tell you exactly what it needs, you just have to listen.
[quote name="Emma & Dave" post="19414179" timestamp="1390799454"]cute lil thang.and yeah, one 65 watt will be fine till they get a couple sets of leaves.if you start to see any significant stretching, move the light closer, if you are already closer than 2 inches or having heat issues. back it off a half inch and throw in the second light. the plant will tell you exactly what it needs, you just have to listen.[/quote]OK cool. Thanks for the info! Right now I've got it about a foot and a half away. At a steady 76 degrees. Sent from my SM-N900V using Grasscity Forum mobile app
very nice, i would suggest moving the light an inch closer every day or so. same thing i do with my LEDS, start em at 36" inches back and move them up till the plants tell me to stop, and if you are listening to your plants, you'll know when the light is in the right spot, the plants leaves will raise to approx 45 degrees upward, like they are thanking the light.
the two cfl's will work good for veg, but going to want to put in some extra power when it comes to flower time. I've grown start to finish with cfl's and have never been happy with the outcome in the end. More popcorn style budding and lower yields. You could throw on that Metal halide during veg to bulk up those plants during your Veg stage though. If that is all the lighting that you can use then i would keep using the cfl's till veg is over then turn on your hps with cfl's to flower, Just go get the Red spectrum bulbs for the cfl's instead of the Blue style and you should be good to go.
[quote name="djmygraine" post="19416561" timestamp="1390847005"]the two cfl's will work good for veg, but going to want to put in some extra power when it comes to flower time. I've grown start to finish with cfl's and have never been happy with the outcome in the end. More popcorn style budding and lower yields. You could throw on that Metal halide during veg to bulk up those plants during your Veg stage though. If that is all the lighting that you can use then i would keep using the cfl's till veg is over then turn on your hps with cfl's to flower, Just go get the Red spectrum bulbs for the cfl's instead of the Blue style and you should be good to go.[/quote]Well I have a 250w metal halide I'm going to use for veg as soon as I get my duct fixed up. And a 400w hps for flower. I just don't trust cfl. It's one of those things where "you get what you pay for" if you want to have a cheap electric bill, you're going to have a cheap harvest. Idk I feel like go big or go home
The cfl lights are fine for the first week or two but after that you are going to want to use the MH. You could still use the cfl but they are not needed. 250 is enough to grow 2-3 plants. Any more than that you are going to need more lighting. Another option would be to use the cfls for lighting dark spots.
[quote name="Kronicly Insane" post="19419103" timestamp="1390874755"]The cfl lights are fine for the first week or two but after that you are going to want to use the MH. You could still use the cfl but they are not needed. 250 is enough to grow 2-3 plants. Any more than that you are going to need more lighting. Another option would be to use the cfls for lighting dark spots.[/quote]That was my plan. I'll use a 400w hps for my 4 girls. They're very slow to sprout in this mg soil. I have to wait on my new duct fan to be installed before I run any hid though
true that. I run a 1000 watt hps during flower to bulk up my ladies from cfl and floro's. seems to work great for me, since that 1000 watter puts out some heat. The floro's and cfl run cooler in my veg area. I never did a 400 watt hps after floro / cfl or metal halide during veg setup though. Don't think it would be to bad idea for a set up for a small space though.
I would run 2 600's over 1000 if you can afford the slight increase in price. It will cost less to run and give your plants a little extra light. You can also have better control over dark spots grow.
eventually that is what i will end up doing. But for now my 1000 watter does the trick for the space I am using for now. The only thing i don't like about the two 600 watters is that yes they cover more area, but don't think they will penetrate as deep as the 1000 watt will.