To CFL or not to CFL

[ianTE]

Okay fed up cant being able to grow so I am going to do a small grow with only one main purchase LIGHTING.

I may get some solutions but this going to be cheap! (i will manure it myself needbe

 

So a cheap 400w is HPS kit $150

 

Heres my question the compact floros used in like mother cuboards etc, I take it they arent the $3.99 (7w-28w type) ones from Kmart.

I dont understand the floros that well,the light doesnt penitrate as well as HPS MH so you need more say eight so if they arent

the $3.99 ones then the other ones at the hydro shops around $80 125w (2700k - 200w 500k)

 

If you had 4x125w + 4x200w = 1300w. 8x $80 = $640 around 50cent a watt

" " " 4x400w HPS = 1600w. 4x$150 = $600 Less per watt plus light penitrates better

 

So what floros do you use

[Tony2224]

for vegetative you can get a cfl that has a light spectrum of 6400k which is very similar to that of a mh light, you can also get cfls that ahve the right spectrum for flowering, its all about availability tho . unless you dont mind purchasing online then the world is yours my friend

[Innocent criminal]

Depends on the size of your grow, and what sort of growth rate you want to see, as a rule you get growth with 5w per square foot, but will do heaps better with 10.

For veg go the 6400k globes, or if desperate for extra watts a 4200k in the mix wont hurt, 2700k is flowering range, wouldnt advise trying to veg under that.

I have a box that is close to 10 square feet, I am running an 18w reptistar 6500k fluro with 2x 23w 4200k cfl's for extra wattage =64w=6.4w/square ft, have 22 clones and 8 seedlings in there under an 18hr cycle showing good(but slow) growth.

my main room is about 32 square ft and I am running a single 600w Metal halide = 18.75w/square ft, growth rates are fantastic.

I only use the box for pre veg, growing out seeds and keeping spare clones ticking over, but I think a few more watts would see good growth rates in there too as there is very little stretch (in the clones, seedlings are a different story).

 

Anyways, it just depends on how far you want to go, cfl's are great for small, compact grows where cost/stealth are paramount as you dont have to worry about high temps/ light burn, but if you are working with a bigger space and can get some decent ventilation a HPS or MH will give better results every time.

 

but dont listen to me, I know fuck all

 

THC

[MicroMan]

you can get some 200W CFLS off ebay

very nice

[ianTE]

Yes my grow is going to be small, my interest was in watts used.

 

I take it the CFLs that are used for growing are not the cheap house type from Kmart.

If I was to buy a 2 cfls at 200w (total 400w/around $150) the only bonus going this way is heat (leaf burn etc)

 

Looks like a cheap 400w HPS is still the best option. Dont know why I thought that the cfls were the household type, 20 of those cfls would be a little less tan 600w sounded good.

 

Going to try the new shop advertised here not just cause its on OSA but it (the building) used to be a computer shop that sold the old Commodore Amiga) and the bus stop in the Ad picture was where I used to catch the 720 bus (useless info)

 

Cheers

[Innocent criminal]

cheapies work fine mate, just hard to find them in the right spectrum for veg, flower ones (2700k) are easy to get, shop around and you should find 21 or 23w globes in the 6400k range for a good price, just replace em every 6mnths or so as they loose there intensity I believe. Edited July 20, 2008 by TheHeadCing

[ianTE]

Okay so the only difference I take it between the say a 23w CFL and a 200w CFL is the wattage

 

So I found this and its cheap http://www.neco.com.au/product.asp?pID=617&cID=46

 

Think I might try six of these.

 

Big cheers TheHeadCing

[MongyMan]

Anyways, it just depends on how far you want to go, cfl's are great for small, compact grows where cost/stealth are paramount as you dont have to worry about high temps/ light burn, but if you are working with a bigger space and can get some decent ventilation a HPS or MH will give better results every time.

THC

 

What THC says is spot on ian. If you can go with HID lights there is a big difference in growth and yield compared to CFL's. Have a look at this CFL grow by TD

https://cannabis.community.forums.ozstoners...showtopic=19411 for the compact space he was working with CFL's were perfect.

 

Peace MongyMan

[ianTE]

Thanks MongyMan will go and try that ANZ visa gift type card on wednesday and order 6 of them.

Will get 4x 6400k and 2x4100k, really wanted the HPS but ventelation would be a concern, I think three computer fans should vent the box I will build.

[MicroMan]

what size have you got to grow in , have you checked out the hydro tents on ebay?