Stealth Hydro Bubbleponics 24 Plant Site Setup, Confused on Lighting. HELP!!

C Moore

Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #1

Hi, all experienced bubbleheads I'm a first time grower, and I need as much help and advice as I can possibly get to avoid wasting my time and around $1,400 bucks on equipment, seeds, ETC... I'm starting a Stealth Hydro Bubbleponics 24 Plant Site Setup, but Im Confused on which HID Lighting Would be the most efficient for 24 of Barneys Farm LSD Feminized Ladies to grow with a high yield. On a $300 budget. I'm close on getting Two 400 watt HID lights fixtures from amazon for just $145 each or One 1,000 watt light fixture for $298. Which one would you suggest that would be the most efficient? Either or Neither?? HELP

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #2

Well how big is the space your growing in for your flower room ? Two 400 watt lights spread the light but i still don't think they will spread light like a 1000 watt light.

I've been debating the same thing. Had one 400 watt light was going to buy another 400 or a 600 but went with a 1000watt instead of ebay for same price a lil less actually at 285. Definitely happy I went with the 1000watt the light it spreads out a couple 400watt lights don't compare.

Id say go with the 1000 watt. Never mind simply that there's just more wattage period.

 

C Moore

Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #3

Yea I was thinking the samething, but I have plenty of space, it's a entire bedroom. But do you think that one 1,000 watt light would be more efficient, than two 400 watt lights for all 24 plants?

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #4

Its simply more wattage and lumens from the 1k than the two 400w. I grow in a bedroom also about 10x12 the plants are in a corner but the 1000w lights the whole bedroom up with ease. Equal light every where. I got the light hanging horizontal too. I was going to hang it vertical so it would get deep into the foilage of the plants but just going to leave it as is till I finish up everything.

Here's a pic I took last night lights to bright makes camera look like a blind.

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #5

Here's one I just snapped with the lights off.

 

C Moore

Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #6

Wow, that's a good setup. Actually I'm aiming to get the exact results with a similar setup. But it looks like you're using more than 1 light fixture. That's why I wasnt exactly sure if one 1,000 watt light would be efficient enough for all 24 plants. And with my budget I was going with the 2 400 watt lights or 1 1,000 watt light but I'm leaning towards the 1,000 watter after seeing your setup.. But I also plan to use Mylar film all throughout the room to reflect more light onto the plants..

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #7

Yah I had one 400watt light I started off with. So the question was for me to buy another or go bigger. And when your spending the money may as well just go big once. Learned this from everything I sink money into. Better to just spend it once.

So I just have a total of 1400 watts in there. If I was you id buy the 1k watt light get a nice harvest and buy another one with the money you make to make your next harvest that much better. Or you can buy a light mover. Less energy used than running two 1k watt lights but you still get twice the coverage. That's my next move along with a new big grow tent. And a rdwc set up.

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #8

Let me put the light difference this way. It all dependant on the ballast and bulb. The bulb I got is hortilux I believe so its a good bulb but the size compared to the 400watt is about triple. Then the ballast. Its just about three times the size alsoo. But weight wize it must weight dam near 40lbs compared to the lil 400 ballast which weighs about 8-10lbs. I was definitely surprised.

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #9

Two bad 600 watt lights aren't a lil cheaper to get two instead of one 1k. Then I would say its worth it. The 600w light puts out the same lumens as a 1k watt light so with 2 your getting more lumens per sq ft and 200 more watts of energy.

 

C Moore

Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #10

Yea that's a good point but all the 600 watt lights that I've seen is more expensive than the two 400 watter and the 1 1,000 watter.. I've came across a 1,000 light fixture for just $189.00 but I'm concerned about the quality that It might lack.. Check it out and tell me what you think--- http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002UDXDAE/ref=mp_s_a_10?qid=1297966475&sr=1-10

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #11

Its looks like its a magnetic ballast. That's why its a lil cheaper. I wouldn't go with it. I had good luck right off ebay. 285 bucks switchable mh/hps digital ballast. Cool tube with reflector and bulb. Shipping was included too.

Be able to keep your girls under a mh for veg and switch it to hps for flowering.

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #12

Yah its weird though isn't it. It has something to do with the 600 putting out the same lumens as a 1k watt light but using less energy. So I think they price it so you spend the money for its energy efficiency.

 

C Moore

Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #13

Lol, yea weird isn't the word.. I'm still kind of confused so it's best to stay away from the magnetic ballast? It's cheaper but less energy efficient?

 

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Evo8Emperor

Well-Known Member

• Feb 17, 2011

• #14

Yah there old and noisey. Don't put out the same as a digital ballast either.