Opinions on First Grow Setup?

Long time smoker...first time grower.

I have recently purchased a condo and can finally grow my own. I have tossed around the idea of HPS, MH and CFL. I dont have a lot of room to grow so I plan on using a tent setup with a 400watt MH for veg and a 400 Watt HPS for flowering, with a digital ballast and vortex fan etc. My other option is a rubbermaid with 6 42 watt CFL's. My question is whether or not you guys think I should start out with the rubbermaid option spending approx $400 or to just spend the extra $300 and get the full tent setup? I only plan on growing 3-5 plants and up to a maximum of 10.

Thanks

bro if this is ur first time, why the fck do u want to spend 400 or 700? that's nutz for a first time. also, the larger the setup, the more sketch it is when maintenance has to come in for anything. sometimes they have to come in to do checks or whatever and you have no choice but to let them in.

id start w. a minimal CFL setup and see how things go.

yeah man your crazy spending so much and not knowing what u getting into lol start with CFL and get daylight bulbs and you will surprised how good they work then once u know how things workout in your condo you can get a hps or just buy some soft white cfls they work great too in small places

I dunno.

If he purchased seeds, then its probably worth the investment.

Though, I'd go (and am) the HPS route for veg, untill they are ready to flower then switching the veg room over to CFLs or T5s (maybe MH)

Seems one wants/needs the HPS for flowering. Veg you have a lot more room for experimentation. and the HPS does just fine for veggin. And it gives one a bit of time to get the system set up and tweaked. (I've gone through numerous major changes on my room nad its a first grow)

im still new myself but i would advise cfls for veg, they are really cheap. and your first grow will have other problems besides lighting. the general idea for flowering is go HPS, its the best for the job. im using cfls, attached to a t8 flouro tube fixture, in a small box and its kickin off nicely.

a bit more advice, should get a ph tester kit, and a combo temp/humidity gauge as well. these will help you control your set up and hopefully prevent some basic problems

Ery

HPS is overrated for the cost of setup and elect. bill. ppl do fine w. CFLs and tubed fluoros. unless you want to become a drug dealer then yeah upgrade on plants. i suppose everyone that grows wants to try to save money from buyin bud in the first place, why make things more expensive???

vandula said:

HPS is overrated for the cost of setup and elect. bill. ppl do fine w. CFLs and tubed fluoros. unless you want to become a drug dealer then yeah upgrade on plants. i suppose everyone that grows wants to try to save money from buyin bud in the first place, why make things more expensive???

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Yup. HPS uses more electricity then the equv of a Floro or CFL. for same intensity. NOT.

HPS is, I believe, the most efficient at light output power : consumption out there. Floro/CFLs are rather behind.

CFL:
23W (real) = 1600 Lumens
x10
230W (real) = 16000 Lumens


HPS:
150W HPS = 16000 Lumens.

CLFs is using near 100W (33% more )then the HPS

10 CFLs = (3pac for $8 ) $8x3 36 (plus a little for the left over) say $39
y adapters @ $2.50 each x 5 = $10
($49 now)
Lamps $6 x 5 = $30
$79 total for a CFL set up that uses 230W

150W HPS + $99 @ lowes


$20 up front? no brainer in my book.

Now add the heat factor in. The CFLs 230W is 230W. Thats all in the grow room. With a HPS, you can remotely locate the ballast.

u cant buy a 150W HPS for 100 at a store, that's the flaw to ur argument smart guy.

do an online search even, u wont find it for that cheap. HPS and MS fixtures alone at stores, w.o a ballast are bw 50-80 bucks, add the ballast and that's way more than 100.

superior argument otherwise.

well have to be honest about this my grow set up consits of a air purifier purchesed at charity shop tumble dryer hose for air cut up wardroab and board with 6x20w cfl and 2x12w cfl total cost uk 30 pound or approx 55-60 dollars us found dont have spend lots start at the bottom and learn thats my advise learn about how first mate

vandula said:

u cant buy a 150W HPS for 100 at a store, that's the flaw to ur argument smart guy.

do an online search even, u wont find it for that cheap. HPS and MS fixtures alone at stores, w.o a ballast are bw 50-80 bucks, add the ballast and that's way more than 100.

superior argument otherwise.

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I got my 150W HPS at Lowes for $99. I might still have my receipt. Was no more the 3 months ago. I also thought it odd that the 100W HPS was also $99. I had to match SKUs just to make sure.

So is it flawless now ? j/k

You can find them for even less than $100 at, say, Home Depot.

ive seen 400 watters for 100 htgsupply.com