Growing with Low Wattage HIDs

I didn't have much luck with this topic in Indoor Growing, so thought I'd try here.

Just out of interest, does anyone use like 50-120w HID units in their grow?

I ask because my grow area is about 94(h) 52(w) 70(d), or 3x1.7x2.3 feet and I think I may be able to get more from a crop by adding something in addition to CFLs, but don't really have the space or ventilation for a 250watter nor the money for LEDs.

I found some pretty cheap 70watt HID units with HPS bulbs in them on eBake, not sure how available metal halide bulbs would be..


Anyway, thanks, and rep to any useful info of course

I'm sure that it's best to have an HID as your main source of lighting and to use CFLs as supplemental lighting but probably not the other way around.. Not that it couldn't be done with cfl as main and HID as supplemental but it would be beneficial to have HID as main. It's going to be a challenge to get a response from this question because it's is a question of personal preference.. A 250w hps doesn't emit to much heat but with 3 ft of height you wouldn't have much height for growth. If I were you I would buy a 125w cfl with reflector for around $80 for main overhead and continue with smaller CFLs for supplemental lighting. A 250w cfl may be to big for that space.. 125w should just fit.. Just my 2 cents though...

I've grow in small cabs like yours, a 70 hps can definately improve things, a 150 even more, but then heat and height becomes more an issue in the small space. In a small cab, I find there is always a heat issue. Good ventilation is a must.
Gonzo makes a good point - there are some pretty decent sized CFLs out there for cheap. They just weren't around when I built my cab, otherwise I might have gone with them. You can haul some decent yields with cfls if you use them right. I've got a tiny 2 x 1 x 2 ft auxillary cab with 2 -23w cfls that looks to be growing about an oz or more- still a couple weeks to go so we'll see....

I really appreciate your suggestions and experience guys, thanks a bunch!

I think you're right with the heat issue. When my current setup is done (150W of CFLs) I think I should be able to control the heat, but thought that with a small HID I might get better light penetration and might be able to control the heat if I fiddle with things or use a cooltube.

Maybe I should just wait 'til my fans arrive then add as many CFLs as my ventilation can handle. I'm using 3 60CFM 120mm fans (nice and quiet hopefully) with ducting and a carbon filter.

Pullin' weeds - wow, an ounce from two 23w CFLs? I got just under an ounce from my first grow with around 120W of CFLs. Though let's not forget I had no idea what I was doing and it ended up hermi'ing

I'll be posting those results when its all done, but it's looking good (and sticky and smelly... MMmmm)
Here it is a a week or so ago...

I use a 250w in a space smaller than yours. 40" H 19"W 19"D. I purchased a used blower from a dryer for ventilation, 20$ from an appliance repair store.

Doomah said:

I didn't have much luck with this topic in Indoor Growing, so thought I'd try here.

Just out of interest, does anyone use like 50-120w HID units in their grow?

I ask because my grow area is about 94(h) 52(w) 70(d), or 3x1.7x2.3 feet and I think I may be able to get more from a crop by adding something in addition to CFLs, but don't really have the space or ventilation for a 250watter nor the money for LEDs.

I found some pretty cheap 70watt HID units with HPS bulbs in them on eBake, not sure how available metal halide bulbs would be..


Anyway, thanks, and rep to any useful info of course

Click to expand...

I always say, 250 watt HID lamps are the smallest I would ever use. Those will get you some nug. The next thing I usually say, is, if your going to get a 250 than why not a 400, and so on, he he. But as supplemental lighting, I suppose the ones you mentioned would work.

is it possible to get small MH units? Would love something for my veg cab!

and theres a DIY round here on how to turn a security light into a 70w hps

I agree with Purple, 250w Hid is the smallest I would go - in fact that's exactly what I went with only because heat issues scared me off from the 400w. Have you considered a panel of t5s? You can get a t5 bulb and fixture for $15 or $20 at home depot, and if you're sticking with CFLs try these that saw posted in another thread:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

lazaah said:

is it possible to get small MH units? Would love something for my veg cab!

and theres a DIY round here on how to turn a security light into a 70w hps

Click to expand...

Yeah you can get smaller home MH lamps at home improvement stores.