Will this setup be good to grow about 6 plants?

Ok im planning on making this new setup it will look a little something like this...

In this picture the fixture only has 4 actual bulb sockets outlets...the fixture i have has 5 instead of 4 which would be 10 bulbs total & not 8 with the y-sockets. So There would be 6 42w, 2 27w, 2 23w....and there will be another extra 23w bulb in a clip on socket lamp i got from lowes. Also i have a 250w HPS system, and 2 48inch" Flouro Tubes(dont know what kinda they are but they say they are 40w a bulb= 80w of flourotubes.) So what i need to know is will this setup/lighting equiptment going to be enough for 6 or more plants??

the set up you've got there i would use for seedlings until the've got 5 sets of leaves. get yourself a 400w HPS

I agree if you want good bud you need at least a 400hps,, those are great for veg.

so your telling me that out of all the lighting i have i still have to purchase more lighting?? i thought different..i thougt i had enough lighting to grow from Veg-Harvest.

I think you have plenty of light. So many people just say, "No you can't grow with that, go get a 400w HPS." It's just not true, many people have great setups with great results without any HPS involved.

My only concern is that the 10 CFLs on top are a bit concentrated, and might be a problem when the plants get big. Also, since they are all connected, you can't adjust the height individually.

But, if you have 10 over the top, and maybe the tubes on the sides of the plants. Maybe when they get larger and larger, you can incorporate the HPS as well.

By my math you have 25,100 lumens just from your CFLs. The 250w HPS puts out another 28,500 lumens. That's over 50,000 lumens without even counting the flouro tubes.


The truth is that you can grow any number of plants with any number of lights (within reason), you will just get out what you put in. If you have 15 plants under a 400w HPS, you might be able to get them all to flower and veg, but they won't produce a ton of bud. If you have 7 plants under the same system, you will get the same if not more bud.

I think that all of your lights total would be better than a 400w HPS. It has to be the same if not more lumens, and more lights so you can spread them out as they get bigger to give side-lighting, etc. Anyway, it's certainly possible...Good Luck!

Thanks man....thats true a lot of people say "just get a 400hps" but i knew i had enough lighting...so what lighting should i use first and for the sweet purple im going to grow it says the the veg. stage has to be 7-10 days. so what would you suggest i use for the 7-10days for Veg. then what should i switch to for flowering??

Thanks. For everyones input.

Are they clones?If not you need way longer veg.If they are seeds i like to start with floral tubes,they dont dry out the soil as fast,after one week i would go with the cfls,the ones highest in blue;like65k.If there clons start and veg with the 250hps you will get a much better veg and yeild.I think you're have a ok yeild as long as you dont overcrowd them and keep the lights as close as possible.Good luck.

I agree with ron. If they aren't clones, they will certainly need longer to be good yielding plants in the flowering.

Start with your bar of CFLs or the 250w HPS, they both put out about the same amount of Lumens and would be just fine to veg your babies to a foot or two.

Im planning to purchase the seeds from Drchronic and they prefer inducing the veg. stage to 7-10days....heres the link take a look at why they say only 7-10 days for veg. skunk , seeds, cannabis seeds, uk , marijuana seeds,

I also agree to use the CFLs for your veg stage. If you haven't got the lights yet, be sure to get the 'blue' CFLs, the ones rated in the 6500k range like Ron says. At least have a majority of the CFLs in that range.

Once you are ready to flower, kick that HPS on and maybe switch out some 'blue' CFLs for 'red' ones.

i think youll do fine with that light set up.. how ever.. having no actully experience.. who am i to say..
hah!
whats the worst taht can happen.. nothing right? add some CFL tubes running verticle if your concerend. knowing this from my coral reef keeping experience.. a light is only as good as its reflector.
reach bulb should have its own individual parabolic ( or parabolic folded bat wing style ) reflector for max output. now that doesnt appaer to be possible in your case. so if possible id pick up some reflective allunium and custom build your self some reflectors.. heres some ideas.



remember. vikings used hand held parabolic mirrors to harness the sun and burn other ships sales...

i dont actually have the CFL's yet....but i do have the 250w HPS & 48" flouro tubes.....also what size pots should i start of with(i dont want to transplant during any stages)..so the 250w HPS is good for Veg. for my germinated seeds??

A 250w HPS puts out about 25,000 lumens, and 48" tubes usually put out around 3000 lumens each, so 31,000 lumens will cover a 2' x 2' area nicely, and you're best bet for keeping it in that area is a ScrOG setup. Depending on when you want to flower you can adjust your plant size, you need about a gallon of soil for each foot of growth, and plants will double to triple in size during flowering, so depending on what height you're going to start flowering at you can change the pot size, flowering at 12" and you'd want at least a 3 gallon pot.

entropic said:

A 250w HPS puts out about 25,000 lumens, and 48" tubes usually put out around 3000 lumens each, so 31,000 lumens will cover a 2' x 2' area nicely, and you're best bet for keeping it in that area is a ScrOG setup. Depending on when you want to flower you can adjust your plant size, you need about a gallon of soil for each foot of growth, and plants will double to triple in size during flowering, so depending on what height you're going to start flowering at you can chance the pot size, flowering at 12" and you'd want at least a 3 gallon pot.

Click to expand...

thank bro you usr answered a lot of my questions........what is a ScrOG setup??

Str8 I have used 6 42w cfl's for veg of 7 plants of which 3 are now flowering.
Of course the more light you have the better and more bud you get.
What you have will definately work for up to 7 plants in veg and 3 or 4 in flower.

It will definatley work for a first grow op.
Just keep the cfl's within 2" of the plants.

Happy growing

ScrOG (Screen of Green): https://www.rollitup.org/view.php?pg=faq&cmd=category&id=71

i would try the ScrOG method but then i have to buy extra stuff....maybe on another grow...i'll try.