Grow Journal #1

[323cheezy]

I hate to see so much power wasted on seedlings... Next grow you should try to start seedlings under t5's..... you can get almost the same lumens since they can be an inch ot two away...Ive seen alot of people have problems starting with the 400w....plus think of the electric bill.....those 400w are awesome for flowering.....but they make your grow room hot(need alot of fans)...one of my babies grew almost 3 feet under T5's in one month....they look good though...

 

[bonz]

t5`s are nice for veg but dont even compare to hps in lumens

 

[Emperor2008]

So you think or know that T5's do great for veg?? I am going to use a 400 watt HPS for flowering with a 430 watt agro bulb???But i need to consider the T5's..if they do as well as a 400 MH..I could use the drop in Temps...thanks for the advice. I will check into it..meanwhile here is my first week of veg..I am keeping the res. ph at 5.9 and the PPM around 650 for another week then I will step it up a bit..of course the one in soil is hopefully going to make a great Snow White mother..

 

[bonz]

i know. i have friends using and i am looking into getting some. i`m still looking though, the ones i saw at my hydro advertised 10,000 lumens and the ones that friends have are way less.
they wont compare to the mh for veg, but for the wattage use and the lumens they produce i fell it`s a worthwhile loss.
if you already have the 430 hps i would just stick with that and spend the money on venting. do you mean you have both a 400 and 430 hps or do you mean 400 ballast 430 bulb.

 

[Emperor2008]

what I have now is a 400wattMH for veg and a diffrent light(400HPS w/430 watt bulb for flower) I am having a heat problem and wondering isit worth getting rid of the 400MH in exchange for some T5's..will the T5's be a good vegging light??

 

[bonz]

they will work fine for veg. just realize the size and speed of growth will be smaller.
i use the 430 set up also and i love it, for both veg and flower, thats why it has the extra 30% in the blue,also more lumens i believe than a regula 400.

if it was my call i would get a good fan for the same investment and it will deal with the heat and have a better yield.
do you have any venting now?

 

[323cheezy]

If your doing a major operation and are expecting major profits....or your just a high roller....do the 400 for veg...me its my first grow, dont have much ventillation or money for the electric bill....I noticed that some begginer have stunted growth due to high temps and no ventillation when they use 400mh to start....hoever people who are more experienced and have more than 10 seedlings going (about 20 -40)...need 400mh to have sufficent light cause those seedling can really take off....but if your new, only have 5-10 seedling, a t5 is just as good....think of how small those seedling are....and how much power your using....when there about 7-8 nodes, then put them under the 400....like i said ive seen my seedling grow 4 feet in a month and a half under t5's.....

 

[bonz]

hey i`m looking into those things and was wondering what lumens you get. i saw some at my hydro store that had 10,000 lumens but the ones i see in here aren`t. false advertising or just bigger lights. i forget the size of these.

 

[323cheezy]

well for each each 48w tube theres about 2000 lumens(2 foot)....so for a 4foot bulb its 4000 lumens....so i figure if you want a good investment... get the 4 tube 4 foot t5's(16000 lumens) somewhere around 150 -200 dollars.... they have an 8 tubes 4 footer long t5 too....mine is dinky..... it only 2ft and two tbes( on box 4000lumens) for 100 dollars....i have one orange and one blue spectrum bulb (mh/hps) for my veg....but i tak my babies outdoors half the time... i know most hps 400w, depending on bulb, are 22000-28000lumens...but you have to put them farther away....so the farther they are the more lumens you waste ....ya dig...

 

[bonz]

yup. i think i will stick with my 430 watt hps with 52,000 lumens. much cheeper at 35 bucks
thx mang

 

[Emperor2008]

Here is the update two weeks into veg they are 5-5 1/2" tall...I think about 5 or 6 nodes?? I put T8's on them and that got rid of my heat problem..I am working on new exhaust and fresh air intake by next week. I am thinking one more week on the veg maybe and then under the 430HPS?? Here are some pics of the Grow...Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

 

[Emperor2008]

Here is a little peek into the room nowadays..

 

[bonz]

looks good man. ya definatly use the 430

 

[Emperor2008]

For Sure...Thanks Bonz

 

[323cheezy]

I hate to see so much power wasted on seedlings... Next grow you should try to start seedlings under t5's..... you can get almost the same lumens since they can be an inch ot two away...Ive seen alot of people have problems starting with the 400w....plus think of the electric bill.....those 400w are awesome for flowering.....but they make your grow room hot(need alot of fans)...one of my babies grew almost 3 feet under T5's in one month....they look good though...

Ya man like i said.....those bitches get really hot under a 400... Theyre to young for you to be roasting thum.....they too young for such a lethal dosage of light....next time just start then under the t5's until about 7 nodes...then put em under the 400....why use so much electricity on those migits....?????? and u said t8's...I ve seen them at home depot...there more for lighting schools..lol.. i heard t5's are better for growting.....i guess cause the stay cooler, dont make noise, or save electricity.... I think your still doing good depite the couple of setbacks u had.....and your vent system is lookin good....ill be watching...

 

[bonz]

here is some info on the different types of flouros and effectiveness.

BC Hydro - Power Smart for Business - Full-Size Fluorescent Lamps

 

[323cheezy]

Thanx bonz.....your a smrt dude...but sometimes even tho are advice differs....we both show each sides of the subject... and hopefully these guys will make there own good judgement.... i did think that he was right too change to floro's.....even tho you told him to keep them under the 400...

T5 lamps. T5 lamps are only available in metric lengths and are therefore not a good retrofit option, but they can be an effective choice in new construction or major renovations. Their efficacy is similar to that of T8 lamps, but their smaller size affords better optical control. The T5 lamp is currently designed for operation only on high-frequency, rapid-start, or programmed rapid-start electronic ballasts. T5 lamps also offer high lumen maintenance, putting out as much as 97 percent of their original light output at 40 percent of rated life. T5 lamps are also designed for a high optimal operating temperature, which improves performance in enclosed fixtures and warm spaces.

 

[bonz]

everyone has thier way of doing things. it dosen`t mean it`s wrong.
thats kind of how i do it. i will get different ideas from other growers and then put my own solution toigether that suites my needs. they may not suite the next guys. my advice comes from what i do not what i read others do.
i am currently doing a new grow with some dutch treat seeds 12/12 from seed with cfl`s, another experiment, this time i am sharing it on here.

 

[Emperor2008]

Thanks to both for the info..the fluoro's did solve my heat issue and so far so good...so you guys think about 7 nodes and go to flower??

 

[bonz]

i dont go by the amount of nodes, you could have 7 in 1.5 feet or 7 in 8 inches. i switch when i feel that if it grows 2 to 3 times taller i will still have enogh room. usualy about 1 to 1.5 feet for my 7 foot room, i have good space above hood to