When to turn on the 1000W MH?

[clp]

Hey everyone,
I have a pretty indepth grow journal (check my sig) with pics and descriptions of my entire setup.

Right now I have several "loops" and a couple shoots coming out of my root cubes. I have them under a really small CFL for germination inside my DR 150 tent. I am wondering when I should turn on the big 1000W MH. I don't want to kill these seedlings but I am planning on using the MH through Veg and Flowering. I am also running Auto sour 60's so I am wanting to have them under the light as long as possible.
Thanks!
ClP

 

[Barahng]

As long as you keep the light a foot or two above the seedlings you should be fine, the only issue is heat, after all.

 

[clp]

Okay thanks man, heard it could be bad for seedlings with that much light.
Doing some ventilation checks right now to make sure the heat temps are in check after the new A/C.

 

[PuReKnOwLeDgE]

I have started seedlings with only 1000 MH, it is fine just keep the bulb far away.

 

[Hank Hemp]

They'll do fine I go straight to the MH all the time.

 

[clp]

Okay thanks guys! I'll put them under tomorrow probably

 

[B. Friendly]

don't worry, if it's to hot under the 1000w just raise the light. no worries from day one.
my fav veg bulb http://www.eyehortilux.com/blue.html worth every penny, girls just love it.
cool mh/hps bulb ohh both in one 1000w http://www.eyehortilux.com/superblue.html
gooooooood luck

 

[clp]

I have the agrosun 1000W Gold bulb. It has a great red spectrum for flowering also and is about the same bang for the buck as the hortilux That was my second choice though.
You guys should check my thread and give me any tips on my setup
Should have some nice plants soon!

 

[johndenver]

Hey everyone,
I have a pretty indepth grow journal (check my sig) with pics and descriptions of my entire setup.

Right now I have several "loops" and a couple shoots coming out of my root cubes. I have them under a really small CFL for germination inside my DR 150 tent. I am wondering when I should turn on the big 1000W MH. I don't want to kill these seedlings but I am planning on using the MH through Veg and Flowering. I am also running Auto sour 60's so I am wanting to have them under the light as long as possible.
Thanks!
ClP

try to keep using the cfl's until they veg about a 3-7 days, then place the 1000w MH far away from your ready-to-veg plants. as they grow taller (they will stretch, then start bringing the lighting closer (but look at the respective distances for each ballast wattage).

 

[clp]

Why would you recomend I keep using the CFL? Its a single small bulb (not t-5's or anything with some actual lumens).
Im probably going to put them under the MH today or tomorrow.
Already have almost 70% successful germ rate
Hopefully today it gets even closer to 100%!

 

[johndenver]

Why would you recomend I keep using the CFL? Its a single small bulb (not t-5's or anything with some actual lumens).
Im probably going to put them under the MH today or tomorrow.
Already have almost 70% successful germ rate
Hopefully today it gets even closer to 100%!

just be careful not to burn them and maintain a safe distance. I always tend to play it safe and surefire. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[clp]

Yea - I have alot of space to move the light though so I'll just keep it a couple feet away. We measured it out to be around 19 inches for when its too hot but for the seedlings we'll stick with 3.5-4 feet

 

[mcattak]

As long as you keep the light a foot or two above the seedlings you should be fine, the only issue is heat, after all.

Bad info...New seedlings 1000watts of light 3-4ft or more to begin with...

And be patient...

mc

 

[johndenver]

Bad info...New seedlings 1000watts of light 3-4ft or more to begin with...

And be patient...

mc

I agree. Move the light as far as possible, and then when the vegetative growth starts happening, then start lowering the HPS/MH with yo-yo's or whatever you got. Remember, you want short distances between nodes so you get dense flowers (or not with sativas). So once they are about 3-4 nodes bring the lights down so they grow compactly and bushy.

 

[clp]

Thanks guys!
Had some really bad heat/venting issues last night.. Not sure whats going on here.
I have some theoretically awesome venting with a window A/C pumping cold air right into the intake and we still got temps of 92 yesterday.. This did some damage to the plants..
Not sure how this happenned though and am still trying to figure it out. Any suggestions?
Check my grow thread for some more details

 

[johndenver]

Is your sucker/vortex/can fan sucking air from the ballast? Something's gotta be sucking hot air out of that bulb my friend.

 

[clp]

My setup is like this.
A/C Air from inside the tent goes through the Can filter because the Can Fan is pulling air through the filter. From the can fan it goes through ducting into the sealed Sun System 2 reflector. The aircooled reflecter is then attached to the exhaust ducting which goes above the tent and out into the attic/roof. Everything is sealed very well.. The ballast is also outside the tent and isnt even running that hot.

 

[johndenver]

It's a closed system. It cools the bulb but none of the outside A/C air gets into the space, you get me?

 

[clp]

The outside air from the A/c is blowing straight into the tent. That cool air then gets sucked up by the C.F. inside the tent and sent past the bulb through the hood to supposedly cool everything.
Shouldn't this work? Im not sure I understand you.