:yeahthat:
What you are looking is lumens. 5000 lumens per sq foot to be exact. 3000 is the least and 7000 would be bump. You need to decide where you are going to grow, measure the dimensions of your grow area. If you have a light that puts out 30000 lumens, that is 5000 lumens for 6 sq feet. Rule of thumb is 1 plant per sq foot. The bigger lights are going to give you a bigger light coverage area and more lumens.
Generally, 600 watts are the best bet for an actual room, 1000 watts are boss, but 600 are more efficent.
And how close you get them depends on how hot the light gets, is there a gass shield, is it vented, do you have a fan blowing over the tops of your plants. There are all factors that can contribute to that question. The rule of thumb for that is, how far away is your hand from the light where it can sit comfortably without burning.
Good luck and good smoke
p.s. Though maxing credit cards is a bad idea either way you look at it (I'm betting you're a bit on the young side, been there), maxing a card at a hydroponics store or online on grow lights, well, there is such a thing as a paper trail. I don't know about you, but considering the amount of time and money it cost you were you to get caught and the time and money the government and law enforcment put into catching and busting people, maxing out a credit card in my or a family members name with a bill to my address on stuff used to grow an illegal substance...
I re-emphasize good luck my friend
Just a thought, save yourself some possible heartache and debt, work and save up your money, go get a prepaid Visa with no name or billing address, or use cash and a hydro store and keep your **** on the downlow, and not on someone else's dime until you pay it back.