CFL question

NeedMoreHerb

NeedMoreHerb

Active Member
SO I am building a stealth box.

It is going to be 4 feet high, 4 feet long, and 32 inches wide.

Originally I was going to use fluorescent tubes but since that would produce low yields I want to use better lighting.

I am wondering, if I decide to grow 12 plants in this box, all from sprout going on constant 12/12 doing the dutch method, how many CFL's at which wattage would I need to have good growth and yield. Also, will I need to be able to move them higher and lower to get closer to plants?

One last question I have is, should I just get metal halide instead because the cost would be roughly similar? I am just worried about the metal halide heating the plants up too much, but I will have ventilation.

What do you guys think?
 
lmn8r

lmn8r

Well-Known Member
Since your going strait into flowering, I would recommend getting a high pressure sodium grow light. A metal halide grow light provides the spectrum necessary for the vegetative stage, you'll want a HPS for flowering stage. Probably a 400 watt would work for that size box.

You could fit 400 watts worth of CFLs in that box, but if you can afford it, getting a HPS would double your light output while generating the same amount of heat. A grow light can only generate as much heat as the wattage it draws.
 
stumps

stumps

Well-Known Member
get 3-80 or 100w cfls amarican lights I think. or 1 400w mh and 1 400w hps. I'm sure other could tell you beter. I use 400w in a 4x4 and it's not enough IMO.
 
Hemp4Victory

Hemp4Victory

Well-Known Member
I would also agree that a 400W HPS would be best in that space. However, if you feel you would like to use CFLs I would personally use either 42W bulbs or 65W bulbs. Fit as many as you can into the space and make sure you have a good mix of 2700K(flower) and 6500K(veg) bulbs. I think that 8-10 bulbs of either size should be sufficient. The 42W bulbs are typically easier to come across. Make note of how many total watts you would be using though. A 400W HPS will give you many more lumens than 400W worth of CFLs will typically provide. The nice part of the CFLs though is the low heat and the ability to adjust the height of separate bulbs to meet the plant heights.
 
stumps

stumps

Well-Known Member
I thought watt for watt the heat ended up being about the same?? In his space I would want a cool tube.
 
NeedMoreHerb

NeedMoreHerb

Active Member
lmn8r said:
Since your going strait into flowering, I would recommend getting a high pressure sodium grow light. A metal halide grow light provides the spectrum necessary for the vegetative stage, you'll want a HPS for flowering stage. Probably a 400 watt would work for that size box.

You could fit 400 watts worth of CFLs in that box, but if you can afford it, getting a HPS would double your light output while generating the same amount of heat. A grow light can only generate as much heat as the wattage it draws.
Click to expand...
Are you sure an HPS would be safe in a small box like this? I was sure that they generate high amounts of heat for the light the put out and surely they would make my plants grow right up to 4 feet high and be almost touching the bulb. But I will definitely check out their prices and heat output before I make anything final.
 
stumps

stumps

Well-Known Member
the bulbs arn't bad it's the ballist that will kill you a cool tube, ballist and light will run bout 250.00
 
NeedMoreHerb

NeedMoreHerb

Active Member
NeedMoreHerb

NeedMoreHerb

Active Member
Okay so here's what I got:

HPS Lighting System-
http://www.lightbulbsrus.com/user/productdetail.php?pid=569
+ http://www.lightbulbsrus.com/user/productdetail.php?pid=233
= ~78$ After shipping and tax

CFL Lighting System-
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100660381&N=10000003+90401+501576
+ Sockets and Cables ~ 40$
= ~ 85$ After shipping and tax

Overall I would get less lighting for more. I think I am going to go with HPS now :D
 
dimebagdan

dimebagdan

Well-Known Member
NeedMoreHerb said:
Okay so here's what I got:

HPS Lighting System-
http://www.lightbulbsrus.com/user/productdetail.php?pid=569
+ http://www.lightbulbsrus.com/user/productdetail.php?pid=233
= ~78$ After shipping and tax

CFL Lighting System-
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100660381&N=10000003+90401+501576
+ Sockets and Cables ~ 40$
= ~ 85$ After shipping and tax

Overall I would get less lighting for more. I think I am going to go with HPS now :D
Click to expand...
150$ delivered. 55,000 lumens how many crappy cfls does it take to produce 55,000 lumens? answer= a shit load

get the 400 watt hps
 
NeedMoreHerb

NeedMoreHerb

Active Member
frmrboi said:
nope you still need the mogul (bulb socket) and a reflector/cooltube piping and a ventilation fan for it. Don't forget freight in your budget, ballasts are heavy.
http://htgsupply.com/products.asp?categoryID=5
Click to expand...
dimebagdan said:
150$ delivered. 55,000 lumens how many crappy cfls does it take to produce 55,000 lumens? answer= a shit load

get the 400 watt hps
Click to expand...
Okay so I need bulb, ballast, reflector, and cool tube thingy? I already will have a ventalation system, and fan blowing inside. This will run me around 150$? is the HTG site good for everything I need?
 
dimebagdan

dimebagdan

Well-Known Member
i got the upgraded bulb so i payed 155.78 shipped to my door thats the cheap reflector, 400 watt bulb, ballast and socket. good to go straight out the box
 
NeedMoreHerb

NeedMoreHerb

Active Member
dimebagdan said:
i got the upgraded bulb so i payed 155.78 shipped to my door thats the cheap reflector, 400 watt bulb, ballast and socket. good to go straight out the box
Click to expand...
I was looking on there and I am having trouble finding the 400w ballast to go with the bulb. DO you think you could do me a huge favor and send me the links to the items you purchased? I couldn't find it for that cheap >< Pwetty pweeeeeeeeese! kiss-ass
 
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