The right lighting for my closet?

[Drumfounded]

Hey everyone! So I'm merging with a close fellow grower and I'd like to start a small closet grow just to keep some separate personal smoke going.
The closet is approximately 36" deep, 48" wide and 7' tall.
My plan right now is to run two plants in 5 gal DWC and to scrog them.
I have three chocolope seeds I plan to start with.
My main question is lighting. Right now, all I have are thousand watts which I know would be too much. I have two spare 400 watt light systems, so I could definitely use one of those. However, this being a secondary grow, I don't want to put too much time or money into heat issues and ventilation. I would like to keep it as simple as possible without sacrificing too much of the overall product.
So for anyone who has experience in a space this small, what would you suggest? I think i may be cutting the closet in half, or maybe a little larger so that the growing area is only about 4-5' tall. This would leave me a space above for equipment and whatnot. Do you think a 150w mh/hps would do? Think I could get away will even less such as a T5 or CFLs?
Also, any input or suggestion on any other aspect of the grow would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[nomofatum]

150w is way to small for 4x3.
150w = 16,000 lumens or 1316 lm/sqft
400w = 51,000 lumens or 4250 lm/sqft
600w = 92,000 lumens or 7667 lm/sqft

You want a minimum of 5000 lm/sqft for quality results, 8000 max without CO2.

 

[DroBlowBoy]

If you are running one plant scrog, or three plants scrog. Three feet by four I would run 6, but I go for the quick grow, and flip normally at foot. I think if you, want bigger plants 2 would fit the, bill. I would think you wuld only need foot of room for, storage in my exprience, yet depends what your storing. I use super soil so the only thing above is Ballas fan and carbon filter. A 400 light would be good for 3+ plants, then you don't need, new one. If you only take a foot for storage you have about 3 to 4 feet of growing. Good luck brother.

 

[Drumfounded]

• 150w is way to small for 4x3.

150w = 16,000 lumens or 1316 lm/sqft
400w = 51,000 lumens or 4250 lm/sqft
600w = 92,000 lumens or 7667 lm/sqft

You want a minimum of 5000 lm/sqft for quality results, 8000 max without CO2.

Thanks for dropping that knowledge. So you're saying I should actually go for 600w? Would a 1kw be overkill?

If you are running one plant scrog, or three plants scrog. Three feet by four I would run 6, but I go for the quick grow, and flip normally at foot. I think if you, want bigger plants 2 would fit the, bill. I would think you wuld only need foot of room for, storage in my exprience, yet depends what your storing. I use super soil so the only thing above is Ballas fan and carbon filter. A 400 light would be good for 3+ plants, then you don't need, new one. If you only take a foot for storage you have about 3 to 4 feet of growing. Good luck brother.

Yeah, I figured I wouldn't need that much room. I'll only be housing a ballast and fan/filter as well. Part of the idea is to plan ahead for if I ever want to run a perpetual or at least house a mother and clones in the upper part of the closet. Thank for the reply man!

 

[nomofatum]

Thanks for dropping that knowledge. So you're saying I should actually go for 600w? Would a 1kw be overkill?

Yeah, I figured I wouldn't need that much room. I'll only be housing a ballast and fan/filter as well. Part of the idea is to plan ahead for if I ever want to run a perpetual or at least house a mother and clones in the upper part of the closet. Thank for the reply man!

I would use your 400w HPS and add supplemental lighting myself. Add 6500k and UVB (5w of 10% uvb bulbs per sqft or 10w of UVB 5%.) I count the UVB as 90 lm/w in my total even though lumens don't really apply to UV light. Add up to a total of like 6000 lm/sqft if you are worried about heat but still want quality.

If your 1000w is dimable you could always use that solo, at 1000w it will be hot as hell and need extra venting with little gain for all the extra expense and trouble vs 600. Quality will be noticeably better in the mixed lighting option.

 

[Drumfounded]

I would use your 400w HPS and add supplemental lighting myself. Add 6500k and UVB (5w of 10% uvb bulbs per sqft or 10w of UVB 5%.) I count the UVB as 90 lm/w in my total even though lumens don't really apply to UV light. Add up to a total of like 6000 lm/sqft if you are worried about heat but still want quality.

If your 1000w is dimable you could always use that solo, at 1000w it will be hot as hell and need extra venting with little gain for all the extra expense and trouble vs 600. Quality will be noticeably better in the mixed lighting option.

I really appreciate the response as I have a bit of knowledge with spectrum and wattage, but I'm still trying to understand the lumens and footprint when it comes to lighting. I would have no problem purchasing a 600w or adding ventilation if I need to, I was just hoping to keep it simple. However, if the effort is worth it, I'll do it. For instance, you said the 1kw would probably be more hassle than its worth. How about a 600? As far as your suggestion to use uvb, is this for vegging or for increased resin? I've recently switched all my hps bulbs to a different brand, can't think of it right now. It was recommended by a friend as it apparently has blue spectrum in it and helps increase resin production. I still use straight mh for veg.

 

[nomofatum]

I really appreciate the response as I have a bit of knowledge with spectrum and wattage, but I'm still trying to understand the lumens and footprint when it comes to lighting. I would have no problem purchasing a 600w or adding ventilation if I need to, I was just hoping to keep it simple. However, if the effort is worth it, I'll do it. For instance, you said the 1kw would probably be more hassle than its worth. How about a 600? As far as your suggestion to use uvb, is this for vegging or for increased resin? I've recently switched all my hps bulbs to a different brand, can't think of it right now. It was recommended by a friend as it apparently has blue spectrum in it and helps increase resin production. I still use straight mh for veg.

There isn't a single HID bulb on the market that puts out a reasonable/decent amount of UVB. To get to levels that will have significant effect on your plants you need UVB bulbs. It's the exact same mechanism as getting sun burnt for a human, our response it to create melatonin to block the UVB, cannabis produces resin/thc to block UVB( as well as prevent moisture loss and repel/kill bad insects.)

UVB is for either breeding (used on seedlings) or enhanced resin production. The extra bonus is UVB bulbs put out at least 3x as much UVA as UVB, the UVA has significant impact on stem size, allowing support of more bud.

 

[Drumfounded]

There isn't a single HID bulb on the market that puts out a reasonable/decent amount of UVB. To get to levels that will have significant effect on your plants you need UVB bulbs. It's the exact same mechanism as getting sun burnt for a human, our response it to create melatonin to block the UVB, cannabis produces resin/thc to block UVB( as well as prevent moisture loss and repel/kill bad insects.)

UVB is for either breeding (used on seedlings) or enhanced resin production. The extra bonus is UVB bulbs put out at least 3x as much UVA as UVB, the UVA has significant impact on stem size, allowing support of more bud.

Is UVA/UVB similar to MH? Where could I find more about uvb/uva? I just recently learned about the benefit of MH and increasing resin production but it was just word of mouth. I haven't seen any articles or solid evidence and it's not because I'm questioning you, I'd just really like to educate myself more on the subject.

 

[nomofatum]

Is UVA/UVB similar to MH? Where could I find more about uvb/uva? I just recently learned about the benefit of MH and increasing resin production but it was just word of mouth. I haven't seen any articles or solid evidence and it's not because I'm questioning you, I'd just really like to educate myself more on the subject.

There wasn't much out there, honestly what sold me was when I tried the $15 Exo Terra 10% UVB CFL from amazon on my two autos. After 48 hours of being exposed, you could see that every tric was pointing directly toward the bulb, not toward the much more intense LEDs 3" above, but at the UVB CFL, and you could see the difference from unexposed side to exposed side within a few days. I wish I took pictures, I use 6ft tanning bulbs now though, so every surface is evenly exposed so it's much harder to see.

 

[Drumfounded]

There wasn't much out there, honestly what sold me was when I tried the $15 Exo Terra 10% UVB CFL from amazon on my two autos. After 48 hours of being exposed, you could see that every tric was pointing directly toward the bulb, not toward the much more intense LEDs 3" above, but at the UVB CFL, and you could see the difference from unexposed side to exposed side within a few days. I wish I took pictures, I use 6ft tanning bulbs now though, so every surface is evenly exposed so it's much harder to see.

6' tanning bulbs? Get it man. Are the expensive? Thank you again for taking the time to explain this stuff to me, I think I might try to add some uvb to this closet!

 

[nomofatum]

6' tanning bulbs? Get it man. Are the expensive? Thank you again for taking the time to explain this stuff to me, I think I might try to add some uvb to this closet!

Nope, just no fixtures for them, I made my own. They are actually quite cheap.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/wolff-systems-maximum-9-9-uvb-bronzing-lamps/prod4150017.ip

I run 2 on a Fulham Worhorse 8 ballast and sockets, sockets are attached to mylar wrapped 1x4s and the 1x4 is screwed into an aluminum rack for my LEDs and CMH fixtures.

 

[Drumfounded]

Nope, just no fixtures for them, I made my own. They are actually quite cheap.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/wolff-systems-maximum-9-9-uvb-bronzing-lamps/prod4150017.ip

I run 2 on a Fulham Worhorse 8 ballast and sockets, sockets are attached to mylar wrapped 1x4s and the 1x4 is screwed into an aluminum rack for my LEDs and CMH fixtures.

Good for you man. I love hearing and seeing people ingenuity. I would really like to start building and experimenting with things such as this, just gotta get in a groove with this grow first

 

[midcoastgrow]

Exo Terra 10% UVB CFL

Thanks for the knowledge. I use a very very similar bulb for simulated sunlight for my gecko. Makes a lot of sense it would have a very positive effect on marijuana as well.

Edit: Is that tanning light not super intense? It's got a recommended time of 15 minutes for people. And also low lifespan, 1200 hrs.

 

[nomofatum]

Thanks for the knowledge. I use a very very similar bulb for simulated sunlight for my gecko. Makes a lot of sense it would have a very positive effect on marijuana as well.

Edit: Is that tanning light not super intense? It's got a recommended time of 15 minutes for people. And also low lifespan, 1200 hrs.

It's 15 minutes when it's in a bed of 24+ bulbs. Not crazy intense. Will see what I think of lifespan next year, but even if it really is 1200 hrs, at $12 a bulb I don't care.