First proper grow, input greatly appreciated.

Cantripping

Active Member
Hi all. I've been slowly planning/accumulating gear for my first proper grow. I"ll be using a bathroom, growing over the tub (2x4'.) The bathroom will not be used for anything but growing, and has been thoroughly cleaned.
The plan is to use black felt on the inside and outside of the door to block light but allow air to flow into the room. I have an ultra-quiet bathroom ceiling fan with more than enough CFM for the small space to draw air into the room and vent it outside (I have no upstairs neighbours) as well as a 3' slim tower fan to blow over the plants and lights.
Lights will be suspended from the shower-rod; I want to be able to grow 5 plants, with the option for a few more in the future if I have the need. I already have a good quality custom-made dual ballast that can run a pair of 600W bulbs (one MH and one HPS) as well as another 400w ballast (this hasn't arrived yet so I'm not sure if it is MH or HPS or both, but it's free.) Much more than enough on my residential 120V circuit if I were to run it all at once.
The problem is I'm not really happy with the selection of MH and HPS bulbs that are out there. A lot of them don't seem the hit the wavelengths that chlorophyll and all that other good stuff needs (~460/660nm) with much intensity. At first I was just going to grab a pair of 600w bulbs and have at it, but the more I started reading, the less I wanted to do that. So after much digging I came across some bulbs that looked interesting, and would love some feedback on a potential setup. I went with Eye simply because it is readily available in my location, and they have very detailed info on their products, so I know exactly what I'm getting. As follows:

Veg
One 400w bulb - looking at the Eye Hortilux to provide a good amount of coverage to the whole blue spectrum. (6500K, 96 CRI, 42000 mean lumens.)
Two 150w Eye Aqua bulbs (MT150AQUA2) to supplement - Spectrum HERE. Maybe there is something I'm missing, but it looks like these would be perfect for vegging, especially when combined with the nice broad spectrum of the hortilux.

Flower
I plan to pick up a pair of These (NHT400DX/PN): 400W HPS bulb, 85 CRI, 22000 lumens. Spectrum can be found HERE. Is there some reason that everyone isn't using these? The color rendering is amazing. I must be missing something.. If not they look like they provide pretty great red light output and would be perfect for flowering.

Thanks for taking the time to read, May your bowls always be packed!
:P

 

JohnBaked

Active Member
I would highly suggest securing your lights into the ceiling rather than on the shower rod, better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your hard work ( and home if it starts a fire)
 

Cantripping

Active Member
I considered that, and if I end up with a bunch of different lights I might mount some from the ceiling. The shower rod is screwed in though, it's not going anywhere.
 

trevronious

Well-Known Member
You sound like you've done your research with everything, good show. On the subject of specific wavelengths you may want to have a look into LED in terms of the customizability with spectrums. Granted you already have a pretty legit setup with your HIDs, even something supplemental with LEDs might get you where you want. The technology is there if utilized properly.
 

Cantripping

Active Member
Thanks for the reply. I looked into LED but I already have some ballasts that I got for cheap/free, so I figured I would try to stick with that line of equipment.
I'm more concerned about those bulbs in particular. They look like they would be very useful, but maybe there is something in their design/functionality that would make them a bad choice? I haven't picked up any of the bulbs, I have a set of 175/150W sitting around right now that came with the ballast but they are terrible! so I'm looking to upgrade before I get growing.
 

Warlock1369

Well-Known Member
I'm going out on a safety standpoint only at this time. Bathroom are ment to hold in moisture and not let it leak to other rooms. Most of the time with cement board walls. This will put all your electrical at risk. Make sure all your wires have a drip loop under any plug. And get a flam defender that matches the size. You do live in your grow area. Don't wanna die in it.
 

Cantripping

Active Member
And get a flam defender that matches the size. You do live in your grow area. Don't wanna die in it.
I ended up going with the Fireball instead - it should work just as well in my space and is easier to get ahold of in Canada. They're triggered by direct flame instead of heat.
Love your grow btw! I would love to get an RO machine and proper hydro set-up, but one thing at a time right!
 

srh88

Well-Known Member
I'm going out on a safety standpoint only at this time. Bathroom are ment to hold in moisture and not let it leak to other rooms. Most of the time with cement board walls. This will put all your electrical at risk. Make sure all your wires have a drip loop under any plug. And get a flam defender that matches the size. You do live in your grow area. Don't wanna die in it.
while that is true, most people cut corners today, its hard to find a bathroom that isnt just drywall, most the time now.. if your lucky the only cement/concrete/mortar will be under the tub so it has no flex
 

Cantripping

Active Member
It's all drywall, yeah. Already had to cut away some of the ceiling for the new ceiling fan. I have air conditioning too so the air being drawn into the room should be nice and cool and dry when it needs to be.
 
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