Help with lights-

New_Caprica · Jan 28, 2016

My husband and I are starting to get things purchased to start our first grow. We have been going back and fourth for over a week debating about what lights to get. Only thing purchased currently are a 4x4 grow tent and a 2x4 grow tent for the clones/veg stage,

I am one that loves to save money and thought doing a CFL setup for the veg stage would be great. Amazon has some amazing 4 bulb fixtures that plug into one. My plan was to get a bathroom vanity light strip with at least 4 bulb sockets and replace each one of those with a 4 prong socket and have some CFL Grow Lights and maybe some LED light bulbs. Husband and his friend think that is a bad way to go, that it is going to be too hot and just not efficient.

I also wouldn't mind doing LED lights in the grow tent but so many mix reviews. Is it possible to buy a few smaller led lamps/lights instead of some of those larger, more expensive ones?

What are some of the better light brands out there?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

rkymtnman · Jan 28, 2016

there are lots of options for you. how deep are your pockets?

if it was me, a 400 watt Metal halide in the veg tent and 1000watt hps in the flower tent. most bang for your bucks.

Sirgreggins · Jan 28, 2016

I use a 2ft 4 lamp T5 (side lighting) and a 400w metal halide at 50% power for veg, and a 600W HPS for flower. Rkymtnman has solid advice. I keep my veg lights at a lower wattage because I don't want my electric bill any higher than it needs to be. I grow in the same tent sizes mentioned above and since I'm in the basement I have no heat issues. Actually, things are a bit cooler than i'd like but I'd rather too cold than too hot. Where will your tents be (basement, garage, etc)?

If heat becomes an issue, a couple fluorescent shop lights and 6500k bulbs will veg your plants nicely while keeping heat to a minimum.

Dr. Who · Jan 28, 2016

Ok, I'm biased by my size and needs......BUT,,,for the veg. spend the dollars on an 8 bulb T5 light fixture and have good airflow for cooling.

In the 4x4...No less then a 600w and I would go the 1k now or you'll end up inevitably wanting the 1k! A Gavita pro in a tent sounds like heat overkill and I would tend to say go air cooled hood (square one for a square tent - I say to look at the Sun System BlockBuster 6 hood)

To actually get a quality effective LED,,, you should go COBB and that means you build it yourself.....enjoy electronics?

Spend it now for the best and not feel left out or needing what you "shoulda/coulda" got later!

breakdancer0003 · Jan 28, 2016

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/181631823613?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82

600 watt mars hydro is good bang for the buck, in a 4x4 tent i would recommend 2 if you plan to fill the whole space. I use 3 for veg then add 2 1000 watts to a 8x4 i have a few pictures in my fledgling grow journal of the LEDs working

if you go HPS i would highly recommend an air cooled hood

New_Caprica · Jan 28, 2016

Sirgreggins said:
I use a 2ft 4 lamp T5 (side lighting) and a 400w metal halide at 50% power for veg, and a 600W HPS for flower. I grow in the same tent sizes mentioned above and since I'm in the basement I have no heat issues. Actually, things are a bit cooler than i'd like but I'd rather too cold than too hot. Where will your tents be?

In our basement, in what was our laundry room, so the room is not finished solid freezing concrete. How are the electricity bills?

rkymtnman said:
there are lots of options for you. how deep are your pockets?

if it was me, a 400 watt Metal halide in the veg tent and 1000watt hps in the flower tent. most bang for your bucks.

Well...our pockets aren't that deep and we planned on just doing the veg lights for now and once our plants start getting to the point they will need to transfer over to the grow tend we'd purchase the next set. I'd say we are willing to spend a total of $800 on the lights?

Thank you again, I started losing my mind reading all these sites. I told my husband we might need to walk around Detroit and find a grower and get some advice. :lol:

Dr. Who · Jan 28, 2016

New_Caprica said:
In our basement, in what was our laundry room, so the room is not finished solid freezing concrete. How are the electricity bills?

Well...our pockets aren't that deep and we planned on just doing the veg lights for now and once our plants start getting to the point they will need to transfer over to the grow tend we'd purchase the next set. I'd say we are willing to spend a total of $800 on the lights?

Thank you again, I started losing my mind reading all these sites. I told my husband we might need to walk around Detroit and find a grower and get some advice.

Looking for deals ....

Dr. Who · Jan 28, 2016

New_Caprica said:
In our basement, in what was our laundry room, so the room is not finished solid freezing concrete. How are the electricity bills?

Well...our pockets aren't that deep and we planned on just doing the veg lights for now and once our plants start getting to the point they will need to transfer over to the grow tend we'd purchase the next set. I'd say we are willing to spend a total of $800 on the lights?

Thank you again, I started losing my mind reading all these sites. I told my husband we might need to walk around Detroit and find a grower and get some advice.

This covers your 4X4 and it's not important about the "square" hood = 237.09 and free shipping
http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLSETX1000DHMAC6-Digital-Dimmable-1000-Watt/dp/B005F6BI1Y

Here's the T5 for starting at 128.00 !
http://www.amazon.com/DoubleLux-DL8048-Flourescent-Lamps-System/dp/B019IMM7VK/ref=sr_1_11?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1454014764&sr=1-11&keywords=8+bulb+t5+fixtures

You now have plenty left for fans and other goodies as what I've shown you is total $365.09 !!

Good luck!

kiwipaulie · Jan 28, 2016

rkymtnman said:
there are lots of options for you. how deep are your pockets?

if it was me, a 400 watt Metal halide in the veg tent and 1000watt hps in the flower tent. most bang for your bucks.

This is what I do. However I recommend investing in a 8 inch exhaust fan that will easily do your filter and cool tube and a 6 inch exhaust etc for your 400w

bigsteve · Jan 29, 2016

I have a perpetual grow and can tell you that you will need 4 square feet of flowering for every square foot of vegging space.

Good luck, BigSteve.

New_Caprica · Jan 29, 2016

bigsteve said:
I have a perpetual grow and can tell you that you will need 4 square feet of flowering for every square foot of vegging space.

Good luck, BigSteve.

Thanks, I am going to need the luck! I do not know why I am having such a hard time choosing a method of lighting, I feel like they all have their own perks. I am happy I joined this site, it is a great resource reading through everyone's grow journals/posts.

It is getting more real-our tent arrived this afternoon!

driel · Jan 29, 2016

Ive done a couple small CFL grows and they're a pain in the butt in the long term because its a lot of micro management with the lights. Your plant will grow and you have to readjust the lights around the plant on a week to week basis. I recommend going with a 400w or 600w MH/HPS that you can get for relatively cheap. Good LED lights out there are hard to find without dropping a small fortune and a lot of chinese junk that claims it'll last years but then burns out after only 1.

bigsteve · Jan 30, 2016

More/stronger lights means more heat. Especially if you are working in a tent. Give some thought as to how you are going to keep temps down when the weather is warmer. Those small, 4-6 inch clip-on fans are about worthless. I would look at a smallish box fan that you can place in the tent opening. Make sure the fan is set on "suck" as you want to pull out the warmer air inside the tent.

Good luck, BigSteve.

New_Caprica · Feb 10, 2016

Dr. Who said:
Ok, I'm biased by my size and needs......BUT,,,for the veg. spend the dollars on an 8 bulb T5 light fixture and have good airflow for cooling.

In the 4x4...No less then a 600w and I would go the 1k now or you'll end up inevitably wanting the 1k! A Gavita pro in a tent sounds like heat overkill and I would tend to say go air cooled hood (square one for a square tent - I say to look at the Sun System BlockBuster 6 hood)

To actually get a quality effective LED,,, you should go COBB and that means you build it yourself.....enjoy electronics?

Spend it now for the best and not feel left out or needing what you "shoulda/coulda" got later!

We have been slowly getting ready. We aren't in a rush for the HPS (which is what we've decided to go with) since we just got our seeds. We will probably buy it in the next few weeks.

Would you suggest 1 1000Watt for a 4x4 area of growing? Or is 2 600 watts better? I was reading its better to have 2 600 watts, but I feel like that is overkill. I believe I read for my 4x4 set up I really only need 800 watts.

Thanks again for all the help....soon I can start my own journal!

kmog33 · Feb 10, 2016

New_Caprica said:
We have been slowly getting ready. We aren't in a rush for the HPS (which is what we've decided to go with) since we just got our seeds. We will probably buy it in the next few weeks.

Would you suggest 1 1000Watt for a 4x4 area of growing? Or is 2 600 watts better? I was reading its better to have 2 600 watts, but I feel like that is overkill. I believe I read for my 4x4 set up I really only need 800 watts.

Thanks again for all the help....soon I can start my own journal!

2 600s is more light and about the same heat as a 1k. You could totally utilize 1200 watts in a 4x4 but IMO it is a little bit overkill. Depending on your needs, a single 600 would be fine. And running a 1k vs a 600 is about $20-30 a month more on your electric bill and is harder to keep cool. 600s are very easily capable of doing over one pound runs, with system in check and the right strains can do 2+. So it really just depends on your need and what you want to spend.

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New_Caprica · Feb 10, 2016

bigsteve said:
More/stronger lights means more heat. Especially if you are working in a tent. Give some thought as to how you are going to keep temps down when the weather is warmer. Those small, 4-6 inch clip-on fans are about worthless. I would look at a smallish box fan that you can place in the tent opening. Make sure the fan is set on "suck" as you want to pull out the warmer air inside the tent.

Good luck, BigSteve.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KWYJQYA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 This is what we bought-do you think this isn't efficient? I am planning on getting a bigger fan to help circulate air but hardly blow on the plants. We also purchased the air carbon filter and the Active Air Speed Adjuster.

This is what I got so far. We are getting a couple small clip on fans for our veg area. Our veg area is divided into two areas so we have 2 sets of T5s. Growing area in there is 1.5ftx4feet, there is a top section and a bottom section and both areas are 1.5ftx4 and probably 38" height for both areas. . 2 small fans should be fine, right? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N1YYLDY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 what we ended up with for T5s.

Dr. Who · Feb 11, 2016

kmog33 said:
2 600s is more light and about the same heat as a 1k. You could totally utilize 1200 watts in a 4x4 but IMO it is a little bit overkill. Depending on your needs, a single 600 would be fine. And running a 1k vs a 600 is about $20-30 a month more on your electric bill and is harder to keep cool. 600s are very easily capable of doing over one pound runs, with system in check and the right strains can do 2+. So it really just depends on your need and what you want to spend.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quite right... a 600 alone will work out ok. Now if you intend to run any Sativa's or Sativa heavy cross's...You might want to go with that 1K or the 2 600's.....personally, I would do the 1K as if at any time you increase your area or do a room. You'll have one already.
As far as your electric bill goes, rates vary all over and it's tough to say with conviction but, $20 sounds about right....

kmog33 · Feb 11, 2016

Dr. Who said:
Quite right... a 600 alone will work out ok. Now if you intend to run any Sativa's or Sativa heavy cross's...You might want to go with that 1K or the 2 600's.....personally, I would do the 1K as if at any time you increase your area or do a room. You'll have one already.
As far as your electric bill goes, rates vary all over and it's tough to say with conviction but, $20 sounds about right....

I agree with this, except I personally would go with the 2 X 600s because I'm a fan of them and increased efficiency and footprint from two. You could either get a double mogul hood or two separate. But the 600 vs 1k thing is a whole different topic lol.

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Kcbscrogger · Feb 11, 2016

I run a 4x4 tent with a 600w and have a hard time controlling temps in summer so if you have 2 600's you will need some good air exchange or you're going to have problems.

Dr. Who · Feb 11, 2016

Kcbscrogger said:
I run a 4x4 tent with a 600w and have a hard time controlling temps in summer so if you have 2 600's you will need some good air exchange or you're going to have problems.

Air cooled hoods

Help with lights-

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