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 Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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 Do I need a Ballast? 
#492809 - 10/28/10 10:38 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hey everyone,
New to growing marijuana, I've been doing shrooms for awhile now. I've been doing a lot of research, about 3-4 hours a night for the past week. Im starting two small plants, Hempy style and I have a 200-watt CFL for just seedling stage, and I've been seeing a lot of ballasts around, if I used a 250-watt HPS bulb do I need a ballast or can I just use what Im using for my CFL. What I'm using now is just one of those metal domes from home depot. Its a relatively small area, its tucked in the corner of my closet, maybe 2.5 feet wide by 3 feet deep its tall though prolly 7 feet. I plan of keeping the plants short to medium height.
Thanks for the help guys!
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 Amnesiac
Registered: 10/13/08
Posts: 102
Loc: Under the sea
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 Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Shroomofdoom]
#492813 - 10/28/10 11:02 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yes, you will need a ballast or you hps light won't do anything. A hps ballast consists of a constant wattage coil, a capacitor, and an ignitor.
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Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Amnesiac]
#492814 - 10/28/10 11:11 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Alright thanks for the quick response! I'll keep my eyes open, I wont need it for a couple weeks anyway so I have time, I just wanted to make sure.
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Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Shroomofdoom]
#492955 - 10/28/10 08:08 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Another quick question, do you think a 150-watt hps lighting system would be alright for a 2 by 2 grow tent? I have found a 150-watt hps system with ballast for about 80 bucks.
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Stoneth
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.
Registered: 10/06/08
Posts: 24,983
Loc: No where ville, USA 
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Shroomofdoom]
#492957 - 10/28/10 08:15 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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It'd work, but you would be much happier with 250 watts or greater.
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Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Stoneth]
#492960 - 10/28/10 08:20 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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I've been looking at 250-watt grow systems, and I can get a 400-watt for like the same price, heres the link,
http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Switchable-Hydroponic-Pressure-GYO2002/dp/B002J7PYSU/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1288318788&sr=1-2
thinking thats my best bet, I hope I dont get in trouble for posting that link but.
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Stoneth
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.
Registered: 10/06/08
Posts: 24,983
Loc: No where ville, USA
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Shroomofdoom]
#492971 - 10/28/10 08:37 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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You should also check ebay, I seen some great deals lately.
Also with a room that small, you may want to think air cooled hood or tube, to beat the heat.
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Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Stoneth]
#492984 - 10/28/10 08:54 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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I found an air cooled tube for 199.95 with free shipping, Thanks for the recommendation, so the hole on the end is all I need to cool the light? or will i need to buy one of those ventilation blowers?
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Stoneth
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.
Registered: 10/06/08
Posts: 24,983
Loc: No where ville, USA
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Shroomofdoom]
#492988 - 10/28/10 09:03 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yeah you'll need a nice fan.
Being the space is small I'd recommend something along the lines of no less than 3x the room's cubic feet.
If smell is going to be an issue you should look into inline fan/filter combo.
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Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Stoneth]
#492995 - 10/28/10 09:18 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Alright, I'll for sure look into it, they are just so expensive. Might be outta my price range right now to buy both the light and inline fan/filter combo, Might have to buy the light and use a oscillating fan for a little while till I can afford the inline fan/filter combo.
When I do pick one up, would a 4 inch inline fan be enough for my space? its 2x2x4
Thanks Stoney, appreciate the help.
Edited by Shroomofdoom (10/28/10 09:21 PM)
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NizzyJones
Fight Evil with Funk
Registered: 08/18/10
Posts: 371
Loc: Somewhat North of Normal
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Shroomofdoom]
#493115 - 10/29/10 09:42 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Fan diameter should match your ventilation ducting/outlet, you'll need to look at the CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating to determine how much air the fan actually pushes.
Quote:
stoney.69 said:
I'd recommend something along the lines of no less than 3x the room's cubic feet.
Using his reccomendation:
2' x 2' x 4' = 16 cu. ft.
16 cu ft x 3/min. = 48 cu. ft./min.
And you'll probably want something rated higher than that since it's going to be pushing through a filter.
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Stoneth
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.
Registered: 10/06/08
Posts: 24,983
Loc: No where ville, USA
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: NizzyJones]
#493117 - 10/29/10 09:58 AM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
NizzyJones said:
Fan diameter should match your ventilation ducting/outlet, you'll need to look at the CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating to determine how much air the fan actually pushes.
Quote:
stoney.69 said:
I'd recommend something along the lines of no less than 3x the room's cubic feet.
Using his reccomendation:
2' x 2' x 4' = 16 cu. ft.
16 cu ft x 3/min. = 48 cu. ft./min.
And you'll probably want something rated higher than that since it's going to be pushing through a filter.
You mean pulling through a filter, I hope.
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Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Stoneth]
#493334 - 10/29/10 10:05 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks guys, Im going to go with a 250-watt HPS+MH cool tube combo setup, I just feel with the small space that a 250-watt would do just fine, going to use ducting to vent the cool tube outta my grow room. In line fan and carbon scrubber are gunna be later down the road. Once I have the cash. I'm probably going to use a small oscillating fan for now, and maybe rig some computer fans to bring in fresh air.
Thanks for all the help!
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Shroomofdoom
Menace 2 Society
Registered: 10/28/10
Posts: 401
Loc: Dark side of the moon
Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
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Re: Do I need a Ballast? [Re: Shroomofdoom]
#496733 - 11/09/10 09:44 PM (13 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hey guys one more quick question, I ordered my 250-watt hps+MH and the ballast says 600-watt, does that mean I can use a 400-watt bulb and even a 600-watt bulb on it? Im not sure why they sent me a 600-watt ballast but it would be badass if I only have to buy the bulb if I want to upgrade.
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