Grow Lights - cheapest

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 03:10 pm

I've been wanting to get a grow going for a while now, and I think I've found a space to grow a couple of Lowryders.

Basically, what is the cheapest way of giving these babies light? Will a mini florescent tube be enough if its on 24/7?

Any help would be great...thanks

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 03:31 pm

I've got one of those Daylight lamps, will that work?

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 03:58 pm

Neither would be very good tbh, get yourself a CFL.

echc1 · Post by **echc1** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 04:28 pm

you can get a 2 bulb rig with fan and 2 envirolites 200 watt warm white....about 170 pounds...costs about 5 pound/week to run...cheapest running costs iv found.....they do work as i'm on my 4th year of using them...2or 3 grows/year...4th year with same bulbs........note that 1 in every 100 is a duff bulb....they buzz if no good...buzz loud that is.....so be on good terms with the supplier as you may have to exchange the bulb.....it can be seen in the growshop n seeds section working ( old grow) good luck...and it will pay for itself compared to buying from a dealer and you know whats in yer weed and what yer smoking any growshop will help...if your stuck try www.alibongo.co.uk as they stock them aswell as seeds and all the things you need,mail-order and a loyalty card system too

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 04:44 pm

Boner wrote:Neither would be very good tbh, get yourself a CFL.

The twisted florescednt tube-bulb thing?

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 05:03 pm

http://www.greenshorticulture.co.uk/cat.asp?cat=95

CFl's are Compact Fluorescent Lighting, I know you asked about a mini fluorescent tube but they dont produce enough lumens, the CFL's are made specifically for growing, you can get a 125watt one for £40 and that wouldn't need any extraction to get rid of the heat which is what I'd go with.

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 05:14 pm

ok, was thinking of the 99p Ikea ones, now that would be too good to be true!

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 05:15 pm

what colour bulb would u suggest for lowryders?

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Fri 5th Sep 2008 05:24 pm

The red are used for flowering so thats what I'd go for, in a perfect world you'd probably want to use both red & blue for Lows.

I tried the Ikea ones myself (I think I had 4 on the go) and they produced a couple of joints worth of smokeable weed which really wasn't worth the effort.

echc1 · Post by **echc1** » Sat 6th Sep 2008 04:41 am

that rig and 4 plants gives enough to keep me going at 4+ kingsize pure joints/day until next harvest and then some....and i don't roll skinny either.....it means i sleep and don't feel pain as much and i enjoy it lmao

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » Tue 9th Sep 2008 07:15 pm

YOU MAY AS WELL TRY AND GET A 250HPS LAMP,AND A SMALL OSICALATING FAN, AND A SMALL INTAKE FAN AND BUILD YOURSELF A SMALL CLOSET.
YOU WILL GET A BETTER YIELD OFF OF THIS.
THOSE HORTICULTURE LAMPS 125 AINT REALLY THAT GOOD,THEY OK FOR SMALL VEG BUT TO FLOWER YOUR PLANTS THIS WAY IS JUST NOT COST EFFECTIVE.

DO SOME RESEARCH ON LAMPS.

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Wed 10th Sep 2008 11:24 pm

STENMAN wrote:YOU MAY AS WELL TRY AND GET A 250HPS LAMP,AND A SMALL OSICALATING FAN, AND A SMALL INTAKE FAN AND BUILD YOURSELF A SMALL CLOSET.
YOU WILL GET A BETTER YIELD OFF OF THIS.
THOSE HORTICULTURE LAMPS 125 AINT REALLY THAT GOOD,THEY OK FOR SMALL VEG BUT TO FLOWER YOUR PLANTS THIS WAY IS JUST NOT COST EFFECTIVE.

DO SOME RESEARCH ON LAMPS.

The cupboard I was going to use isnt big enough for big plants only about 30inches high, i dont think it is tall enough for anything but the smallest lowryders, so i'm looking for a new spot. ideally low heat lights would be better for me, would a 200w cfl work better?

Kermit · Post by **Kermit** » Wed 10th Sep 2008 11:40 pm

Ash333 wrote:
STENMAN wrote:YOU MAY AS WELL TRY AND GET A 250HPS LAMP,AND A SMALL OSICALATING FAN, AND A SMALL INTAKE FAN AND BUILD YOURSELF A SMALL CLOSET.
YOU WILL GET A BETTER YIELD OFF OF THIS.
THOSE HORTICULTURE LAMPS 125 AINT REALLY THAT GOOD,THEY OK FOR SMALL VEG BUT TO FLOWER YOUR PLANTS THIS WAY IS JUST NOT COST EFFECTIVE.

DO SOME RESEARCH ON LAMPS.
The cupboard I was going to use isnt big enough for big plants only about 30inches high, i dont think it is tall enough for anything but the smallest lowryders, so i'm looking for a new spot. ideally low heat lights would be better for me, would a 200w cfl work better?

My friend uses 2 125w CFLs (RED) alongside his 600W Lumatek system. He grows in a 2mx2mx2m tent 12 plants at a time and he can yield between 25-30 oz. without the CFLs its around 20-25oz so he gains about 5oz for 250w in CFL. He uses the CFL instead of another Lumatek coz of there low heat. Using the red also prevents the plant gaining height and just helps towards gaining a denser bud structure.
Its worth doing some research on systems and lamps as the cost can spiral and you still have to pay to run them which is not cheap nowdays.
unless your an electrician

Hope this helps coz i am wasted at the mo and cant read what i am typing so i am just looking at the keyboard.

user54321 · Post by **user54321** » Thu 11th Sep 2008 12:45 am

Kermit wrote: unless your an electrician

Or you know a weed-friendly spark who will hook you upto the mains for a bottle of malt

If you're growing alot it's pretty much a requirement that you get your electricity hooked upto the mains, not your own meter. Power companies do pass info about power useage onto the authorities if it's deemed "suspicious"...

Boner · Post by **Boner** » Thu 11th Sep 2008 01:32 am

Neldo wrote:If you're growing alot it's pretty much a requirement that you get your electricity hooked upto the mains, not your own meter. Power companies do pass info about power useage onto the authorities if it's deemed "suspicious"...

I really hope you aren't suggesting people steal the leccy as thats the easiest way to get caught, an increase in electricity is easy as getting a tumble dryer, they eat the stuff as do electric heaters.

My grow recently cost about £5 a month on average, that was a 125 watt cfl, a 250 watt hps, 2 fans and an extraction/filter system.