1 150 watt hps + 2 135 watt cfl's enough for 3/4 plants?

I need heat to grow in winter and cfs lights arent cutting it.

Ive decided to buy at end of month a proper grow tent (80x80x160cm) and a 150watt hps (dual spectrum) to compliment my 2 135watt cfl's.

Will the hps bulb inside the insulated tent be sufficient to keep heat levels up and will 150+135+135 (420) watts of power be enough for 3/4 plants?

As much as id like a bigger hps bulb, initial cost and energy costs are an issue so trying to keep wattage under 500 watts total if I can help it.

Any replies gratefully accepted

Id try a 250w hid and go for the 42w cfls. Place the hid in da middle of yr tent and use 4x42w cfls,one in each corner.ull get 4 nice bushes in there then with good coverage.just lollipop them in da first two wks of flower,as yr penetration is low with the smaller hids.im running a 150w with 4x42w cfls and get descent yields.i run a 150w,cause I have heat issues,but the 250w is def a better investment if heat ain't an issue.

U can convert yr current cfls into a veg room....

Sounds good , I need the heat from the lights, the tent will be in a shed with no other heat sources so maybe a 250 watt would be better. Budget is of course an issue though and dont really want to pay more than £70 for a light if I can help it.

last time I looked the 250W was much more common and cost only a tiny bit more then the 150W

Well after doing another ebay search (would I be better off trying a dedicated hydroponics website for price?) Ive seen this kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MH-HPS-Hydroponic-250W-Grow-Light-Kit-Ballast-Euro-Reflector-250-watt-Bulb-/261181598555?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_Feeding_Bottle_Warmers_Coolers_LE&hash=item3ccfa2eb5b for £65, cheaper than any 150 watt kit ive found. Does it look good enough to get me started? I feel with this i could get rid of the cfl's completely, and just re-add them at flowering if certain buds need a light boost.

oldtoker7 said:

Well after doing another ebay search (would I be better off trying a dedicated hydroponics website for price?) Ive seen this kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MH-HPS-Hydroponic-250W-Grow-Light-Kit-Ballast-Euro-Reflector-250-watt-Bulb-/261181598555?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_Feeding_Bottle_Warmers_Coolers_LE&hash=item3ccfa2eb5b for £65, cheaper than any 150 watt kit ive found. Does it look good enough to get me started? I feel with this i could get rid of the cfl's completely, and just re-add them at flowering if certain buds need a light boost.

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seems legit enough, normal magnetic ballast (wil also produce some heat) and a budget reflector, but Im sure it will do the job, use the MH in veg and first weeks of 12/12 and use the HPS to finish of them Bud`s and sure use them CFLs as extra light at shaded places or on top of the Bud`s or use em to start new small seedlings a few weeks before harvest, so you have nice small strong seedlings ready to go in under the 250W once you harvest, but I wouldn't grow more then two plants under a 250W tho, if 4 you will need to keep em small and bushy and use the CFLs

Thanks for advice, right now im thinking of following the mainlining tutorial to keep them small , 2 oz dried per plant would keep me and wife in personal while the next batch grows so if I could get that minimum per plant id be happy.

yoo i got a 250w lumatek ballast with a 250w lumatek dual spectrum bulb . im growing 1 autoflower ak49 65days seed to blaze and 1 freebee that i got with them its a power africa ( feminized seed not ! Auto. ) and there doing great my auto ak49 will be done in just 6 weeks with roughly 35-50 grams of that one ( expected with that type auto ) as for my power africa that will be week 2 into flower

oldtoker7 said:

Thanks for advice, right now im thinking of following the mainlining tutorial to keep them small , 2 oz dried per plant would keep me and wife in personal while the next batch grows so if I could get that minimum per plant id be happy.

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2 oz per plant is like averages … IF !!! the genetic is good, and the conditions are close to optimal (74-80F and 40-60% RH with good air flow/circulation and strong light) and you do your part (mainly staying out of the way so the weed can do its stuff)

I have seen first time growers get 8 oz from 4 small plants under a 400W MH/HPS

what Kelvin is them 135W CFLs you have ? 2700K or 5000/6500K ?

as I see it there is two choices, safe up for a 1x1m tent and a 400W and maybe use them CFLs for seedlings/veg and cut off a few weeks of your grow cycles (would fit if the CLFs is 6500K) or stick to the 80x80 tent and a 150/250W HPS to add to the CFLs once the plants are bigger and do a scrog or similar so you can keep the Buds close to the Bulb`s and maybe go for another 150/250W HPS later on when money is`t so tight, that is attest if you want to do 4 plants, that or the 400W IMO

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Ok well after more ebaying ive found a 400 watt grow light with both types of bulb for £70. If 400 watts is good enough for 3/4 scroged plants then thats what I'll buy

A 400W cover about 3x3 ft so could both fit a 80x80 or a 1x1 tent pretty well and will for sure be able to flower 2-4 plant`s in that kind of space depending on size (length of Veg

if it was me I would for sure go for the 400W with a 4" ventilation/filter to fit and a 1x1m tent, and grow 4 plants in there with a 4-6 week`s veg time, start new once out side the tent with the CFLs a few week`s before harvest in Cup`s so I could have nice small strong seedlings ready to take over and that way cut the grow time a bit and maybe do 1-2 more run`s a year


best of luck

Slip

its good until they start to stretch or even flower... then that 150 is very good on just one of them... the cfls.. will keep them green but wont do what that 150 is

you could run a bigger light and have an exhaust fan on a thermal switch so if the temps get too high it will vent the tent then shut down when the temps go down.