Grow
SUPERSIZE IT
Wed, Oct 16, 2002 12:00 am
Kyle Kushman
Photo by Andre Grossman
Sometimes it can be a challenge finding great new grow products. Especially since placing myself on temporary retirement from field duty. Readers and friends are a big help with research and ideas, and of course product manufacturers are always ready to chew my ear off for an hour, telling me exactly how and why their new product is revolutionary. Once in a while, though, I'm surprised when someone takes a different approach.
The Growzilla Reflector and lights were sent to my office anonymously. The enclosed letter basically gave the requisite sales pitch, but the writer closed by saying this, "OK, dude, have a lighting system, see what you think, and leave me and my store out of it. This is one for the people." We need more citizens like this, whose only motivation is to make things better for anyone desiring it.
The first thing I noticed was that the Growzilla is made by Hydrofarm, a top-notch company with a good reputation for quality high-intensity discharge lighting. Their newest ballasts are super-quiet, and sport all the newest features, including on/off switch, detachable cordsets and optional multiple voltage settings and on-demand conversion between high-pressure sodium and metal halide. While attaching the lamp sockets, I noticed that their placement within the hood was exceptionally well designed. Unlike previous attempts at dual light hoods, they have centered the lamps within the reflector. This means you'll get intense, even distribution of all available light.
Equipping the Growzilla with two 600-watt bulbs will give you around 30% more light than any single 1,000-watt HID, while only consuming 20% more power. It's not really about saving money, it is about getting the light to the plant. Putting the power to the pavement, as they say in car racing. No single light can give you the same intensity as the Growzilla.
Growzilla's measurements are 21" x 21" x 9 3/8," and retail prices range from $159-$189. You get the hood with airtight glass covering and hanging hardware only. Lamps must be purchased separately, and they don't have to be from Hydrofarm. If you already own lights, don't worry, Growzilla will accommodate any 400, 600 or 1,000-watt fixtures with little or no modification. There is no reason you can't use two lights of different wattages, but you will throw an uneven light pattern. For any setup other than dual 400s (in a cool environment) you must make use of the glass and preinstalled 4" flanges for air-cooling. You will need flexible ducting and at least a 465-CFM fan. The Growzilla is equipped with both top and side intake/exhaust flanges, making single or in-line (multiple light) setups a snap.
I would advise against overzealous first-time growers loading up Growzilla with 2000 watts just because you can. Only experience could prepare you for the ultra-rapid growth rates that would produce and the elevated requirements of food, water and air circulation associated with them. I suggest that beginners would be better off gaining some experience first. Learn to fully utilize the power of 1,200 watts from a single source before moving up to the monster of HIDs.
Growzilla is a professional horticultural tool, no jerry-rigging or skimping on installation. Pay attention to the accumulative load of the 2 HIDs you've chosen to use, plus the necessary fan to keep it cool. In most cases you will need two separate circuits to split the load. Try using Growzilla without proper ventilation, and there's a good chance you'll cook your plants.
For the nearest Growzilla retailer go to Hydrofarm.com
Sometimes it can be a challenge finding great new grow products. Especially since placing myself on temporary retirement from field duty. Readers and friends are a big help with research and ideas, and of course product manufacturers are always ready to chew my ear off for an hour, telling me exactly how and why their new product is revolutionary. Once in a while, though, I'm surprised when someone takes a different approach.
The Growzilla Reflector and lights were sent to my office anonymously. The enclosed letter basically gave the requisite sales pitch, but the writer closed by saying this, "OK, dude, have a lighting system, see what you think, and leave me and my store out of it. This is one for the people." We need more citizens like this, whose only motivation is to make things better for anyone desiring it. The first thing I noticed was that the Growzilla is made by Hydrofarm, a top-notch company with a good reputation for quality high-intensity discharge lighting. Their newest ballasts are super-quiet, and sport all the newest features, including on/off switch, detachable cordsets and optional multiple voltage settings and on-demand conversion between high-pressure sodium and metal halide. While attaching the lamp sockets, I noticed that their placement within the hood was exceptionally well designed. Unlike previous attempts at dual light hoods, they have centered the lamps within the reflector. This means you'll get intense, even distribution of all available light.
Equipping the Growzilla with two 600-watt bulbs will give you around 30% more light than any single 1,000-watt HID, while only consuming 20% more power. It's not really about saving money, it is about getting the light to the plant. Putting the power to the pavement, as they say in car racing. No single light can give you the same intensity as the Growzilla.
Growzilla's measurements are 21" x 21" x 9 3/8," and retail prices range from $159-$189. You get the hood with airtight glass covering and hanging hardware only. Lamps must be purchased separately, and they don't have to be from Hydrofarm. If you already own lights, don't worry, Growzilla will accommodate any 400, 600 or 1,000-watt fixtures with little or no modification. There is no reason you can't use two lights of different wattages, but you will throw an uneven light pattern. For any setup other than dual 400s (in a cool environment) you must make use of the glass and preinstalled 4" flanges for air-cooling. You will need flexible ducting and at least a 465-CFM fan. The Growzilla is equipped with both top and side intake/exhaust flanges, making single or in-line (multiple light) setups a snap.
I would advise against overzealous first-time growers loading up Growzilla with 2000 watts just because you can. Only experience could prepare you for the ultra-rapid growth rates that would produce and the elevated requirements of food, water and air circulation associated with them. I suggest that beginners would be better off gaining some experience first. Learn to fully utilize the power of 1,200 watts from a single source before moving up to the monster of HIDs.
Growzilla is a professional horticultural tool, no jerry-rigging or skimping on installation. Pay attention to the accumulative load of the 2 HIDs you've chosen to use, plus the necessary fan to keep it cool. In most cases you will need two separate circuits to split the load. Try using Growzilla without proper ventilation, and there's a good chance you'll cook your plants.
For the nearest Growzilla retailer go to Hydrofarm.com
