Found something that may solve my money issues!!

[AmishMan53]

So i have been stressing about trying to keep my cost for lighting cheap, under $200, while attempting to grow 9 plants. Then i found the following:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/5978/BS-LU0400MT.html

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/1837/MHS-10450.html

The first link is what seems to be a standard hps ballast. The second link is a 400w conversion lamp (MH) for use with a 400w high pressure sodium ballast. So this may be a dumb question, but i'm assuming i can use the bulb on that link in the ballast from the other link during veging, then switch to an actual hps bulb for flowering, effectively keeping my price at around $110 before supplemental lighting. I will probably add 2-4 CFL's for safety, but i want to hear from you guys: will this work out for a 9 plant grow, with about 1month vegetation period?

 

[hotrodharley]

Stop fucking around and buy the biggest HPS you can buy and do the whole damned thing under it. Don't half-ass stuff with conversion bulbs.

 

[PersonalJesus]

Get a decent digital ballast... they can be used with MH or HPS... and I agree with Harley, I spent more money starting out than I wanted to because I tried to go the "cheap" route. Trust me when I say this, you will want to upgrade eventually so why not start out with the best equipment for the job.

 

[hotrodharley]

You can grow an entire crop under MH or HPS alone. Either one. Your best bud will be from HPS. Use CFL to veg with. Cheap and effective as heck for a few weeks. Then plop her under the sodium.

 

[RIKNSTEIN]

So i have been stressing about trying to keep my cost for lighting cheap, under $200, while attempting to grow 9 plants. Then i found the following:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/5978/BS-LU0400MT.html

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/1837/MHS-10450.html

The first link is what seems to be a standard hps ballast. The second link is a 400w conversion lamp (MH) for use with a 400w high pressure sodium ballast. So this may be a dumb question, but i'm assuming i can use the bulb on that link in the ballast from the other link during veging, then switch to an actual hps bulb for flowering, effectively keeping my price at around $110 before supplemental lighting. I will probably add 2-4 CFL's for safety, but i want to hear from you guys: will this work out for a 9 plant grow, with about 1month vegetation period?

hotrods right...on my list...

http://www.amazon.com/iPower-Premium-Dimmable-Digital-Reflector/dp/B002TNDCVK/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1362892791&sr=8-9&keywords=hid+grow+lights

 

[SSHZ]

That will easily be the LOUDEST ballast you have ever heard. Cheap ballast are very loud!

 

[AmishMan53]

don't be a prick hotrod, welcome to newbie central where newbies like me ask newbie questions. I've read everywhere 6500k for veg and 2700k for flowering. Any xxxxk number tells me to ask about it, but 2700k certainly didn't sound like "veg with this" to me. Also, when you don't have the money, you cant buy. But since i don't NEED a MH, i could probably afford a better HPS bulb.

To everyone else, thanks for the considerate responses, and would a 600k HPS work for 9 plants or will i need to stick with 4?

EDIT

how about a simple direct answer to a few specific questions that will make me not have to continue asking questions that are not directly answered, but with explanations that only end up making me have more questions

Whats better?
A: 2 cfls for veg and 600w hps for flower
B: 400w MH for veg and 400w hps for flower
C: 1000w hps for both cycles
D: 2ft 4 bulb T5HO with 4 6500k bulbs for veg and 4 2700k bulbs for flower

Is any of the above going to work for 9plants? Keep in mind the entire growing location is going to be surrounded in mylar and time off will be pitch black (no light, not even moonlight). This means 8' high, but walls of mylar will be built around the plants so their will be no light escaping the grow area either. If 9 plants not possible, assume this is a 4 plant grow.

What are the numbers on the nutes that are preferred? 20-10-10 for veg and 10-20-10 for flower? or am i way off?

Yes, money is very limited in this grow so i will not be surprised to be told that my budget won't reach a 9 plant grow. A long term investment (1 plant grow for self preservation only) is not my angle. The grow will be paying for itself as well as upgrades. I just need to get started and lighting is the big expense, and with so many varieties and sizes of lighting, it's only natural for me to think that their may be some cheap starter solutions, and a 3000 dollar LED isn't the only method. I would appreciate kind responses, and an understanding that not everyone is rich, has the same growing situation, and has the same knowledge. What i see is lights labeled "grow light", and a 10'x10'+ grow area. I've done all my research, but i find it smart of me to consult "professionals" when i'm thinking about spending over a 100 dollars for a light, something that usually costs me 48 cents (incandescent lol).

 

[althor]

9 plants under a 400 watt will be about 6 plants too many...
Unless it is SOG. If you plan to veg/flower, 400 watts isnt going to be worth a shit for 9 plants.

You will be hurting yourself trying to push 9 plants under a 400 watt light. You will have stringy, airy bud. The sides not in the light will be straight shit. You can get 3-4 plants max under a 400 watt light and get a good end product.

 

[AmishMan53]

Thanks a lot althor, that answer helps me out a lot. After i editted my post, i found another light that is within my price range. It's an apollo 600w ballast for both hps and mh. it's the following link.

http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Dimmable-Hydroponic-Reflector-Pressure/dp/B004L3AQ1U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1362919524&sr=8-4&keywords=apollo+grow+light

out of 59 reviews, 58 are 4stars and above. I'm gonna stick to 4 plants and with your reply i feel this will do the trick. I talked it over with my brother and we are only going to have a 2 week veg period for our first grow. Knowing that the plant can double in size during flowering, we don't want the plants to hit the ceiling unexpectedly so we'll get to see how much room we have after harvest for veg extension (maybe start with 1-1.5 month vegging after grow if we see it possible). Also at that time we will be able to afford much more lighting so that we can light the sides.

Thats all i needed to know about the lighting. All i have left is nutes to worry about. What nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium level are your nutes? I understand MJ usually eats up some nitrogen during the veg cycle and then starts wanting potassium through flowering. All i need to know is the percentages of NPK the nutes are you guys use. I presume half strength to start, and then 3/4 strength during flowering unless they start getting some deficiency then i would go full strength, unless suggested otherwise.

My ph goal is 6.5.. will have a testing kit for that and a thermometer/hygrometer. I have no questions about that.

 

[Sand4x105]

What others are saying, "GO BIG"
But alas... Your wallet says... Afford something else...
---
Just so you understand, The more light you have the better...
Less light = Air Bud...
If you are growing small plants two foot tall, in Veg then move them to Bud... No problem with any light...
You must start some where...
Buy the most/biggest MH/HPS you can afford...
We all have a budget... and most of us exceed it...
Good Luck man, Hotrod was just being flipp... he wasn't being an ass...
More like a WTF... Start already...get it going...
Good luck man...
----
Logic... the plant that you veg under the middle of the big light you buy will grow the best...
If you rotate all 9 plants under & around the light you will be giving equal light to all plants...
Which means, your best growing plant will be the ones that spend most of the time under the middle of the light...
So, the outside 4 or 5 plants will be smaller, with air buds...

 

[Sand4x105]

Nutes...
Start at 1/8 th strength...
Mix a small batch...
If plants are ok with 1/8th move up to 1/4....
In Veg I use 30-10-10
Bud I use 10-30-10 or 20-30-20...
Again good luck, you will be fine... you are doing your homework...

 

[AmishMan53]

Thanks a lot sand, i didn't think about rotating the pots, but i figured the center plant would get the most light. I don't really need to rush a large grow so i'm gonna start with 4 plants, I just originally didn't think 9 plants would be so hard to light thoroughly, and my previous post mentions that 600w mh/hps ballast i plan on getting to start my lighting. After my first grow i will expand it enough for 9 plants. Lets just hope i don't end up smoking all the bud that i can't sell any

EDIT

Hah, you posted again before i could. Didn't think 1/8th would be enough, but if i get 20-10-10 i could probably start with 1/4 then. Mind if i ask what strain you grow with those nutes? We are planning to get from nirvana and are either going with Ice or Full Moon.

 

[althor]

Thanks a lot althor, that answer helps me out a lot. After i editted my post, i found another light that is within my price range. It's an apollo 600w ballast for both hps and mh. it's the following link.

http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Dimmable-Hydroponic-Reflector-Pressure/dp/B004L3AQ1U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1362919524&sr=8-4&keywords=apollo+grow+light

out of 59 reviews, 58 are 4stars and above. I'm gonna stick to 4 plants and with your reply i feel this will do the trick. I talked it over with my brother and we are only going to have a 2 week veg period for our first grow. Knowing that the plant can double in size during flowering, we don't want the plants to hit the ceiling unexpectedly so we'll get to see how much room we have after harvest for veg extension (maybe start with 1-1.5 month vegging after grow if we see it possible). Also at that time we will be able to afford much more lighting so that we can light the sides.

Thats all i needed to know about the lighting. All i have left is nutes to worry about. What nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium level are your nutes? I understand MJ usually eats up some nitrogen during the veg cycle and then starts wanting potassium through flowering. All i need to know is the percentages of NPK the nutes are you guys use. I presume half strength to start, and then 3/4 strength during flowering unless they start getting some deficiency then i would go full strength, unless suggested otherwise.

My ph goal is 6.5.. will have a testing kit for that and a thermometer/hygrometer. I have no questions about that.

Yeah, 600 watt with 4 plants will be just about ideal.

If you are going with 2 weeks veg, your soil will contain more than enough natural nutrients to feed them for that first two weeks.
When you kick into flower, I would do a half-dose of veg nutrients. Next feeding I would do a half dose of veg, half dose of flower.
Each feeding I would give less veg and add that less to the flower nutrients until you have converted entirely to flower nutrients.
Around week 5-6 you should be hitting it with pure flower nutrient at full strength. Keep a close eye on the leaf tips, when they turn yellow (only at the tips) back up just a little on the nutrients. If your tips are green, add just a little more nutrients.

 

[AmishMan53]

not sure i need to clarify, but from what i understand is veg period isn't until the first leaf or two appears. If that takes 2 weeks after germination, then their will be 2 weeks after that before flower period.

Althor - do you mind listing the NPK of your veg nutes as well as flower nutes? Is their a nute brand or something to look out for that i can get at wal-mart or lowes? I saw some tomato nutes that were 21-18-18 but i don't know what cycle that would work for, or even if it would work for either cycle. I didn't thoroughly browse the specifics, at that time i was simply looking at prices.