2 x 105W Cfl for flowering or 150W HPS ?

[Udi]

Hi,
Building a big speaker box, will 2 x 105W Cfls will be as good as 150W HPS? (for flowering)
Would I be able to cool down the HPS with 120mm fans? (one direct on the bulb and one for exhust)
Any reply would be helpful

 

[slob]

2 105 cfl lights will give you about 12,000 lumens, a 150w hps is about 16,000 lumen. The exact lumens output varies slightly depending on the light. So technically the hps is going to be better. However hps lights are very hot and quite expensive. Cfl lights are smaller, cheaper and cooler to operate. I changed from a hps light to cfls and although the plants are getting a bit less optimal light they are doing very well under cfl lighting. Another thing i noticed is that cfl lights are natural to the unsuspecting eye - in other words if you have a street light (hps) in your house people may start talking. I use cfls and can leave the grow room door open and no one is wiser, they are not as obvious as a HPS.
if you go with cfl the best for veg growth is 5500K and up and for flowering 3000K and lower is best.
I use 2 85w 5500K bulbs for vegetative growth and 4 40w 2700K bulbs for flowering and i am very happy with them
good luck

 

[bill johnson]

2 105 cfl lights will give you about 12,000 lumens, a 150w hps is about 16,000 lumen. The exact lumens output varies slightly depending on the light. So technically the hps is going to be better. However hps lights are very hot and quite expensive. Cfl lights are smaller, cheaper and cooler to operate. I changed from a hps light to cfls and although the plants are getting a bit less optimal light they are doing very well under cfl lighting. Another thing i noticed is that cfl lights are natural to the unsuspecting eye - in other words if you have a street light (hps) in your house people may start talking. I use cfls and can leave the grow room door open and no one is wiser, they are not as obvious as a HPS. good luck

I agree, they may not push out the dankest buds, (they are still good if you get the lights in the right place) they are much cooler (the cfl's). If your just tryin to grow your own smoke I would recommmend them. they do the job and are much cheaper. Im sure there will be like 10 people saying "hey bro, fuck the cfl's, you should just get a 600 watt hps"....but not everyone has the space and or the lack of nervousness about getting caught. I mean everyone uses cfls....but how many people do you know with hps or metal halide lights just laying around thier house? if you are trying to do it as a bussiness use hps, otherwise cfl is just fine. I use 6500 k for veg, two t5's that I found at ikea, and then I flower under 8 42 watt 2700k cfls. The heat is managable, but you must make sure to keep an eye on them.
if you go with cfl the best for veg growth is 5500K and up and for flowering 3000K and lower is best.

 

[lince]

2 x 105W Cfls will not be as good as one 150W HPS because of lumens but also light penetration and other things.

2x105W clf = 15.000 lumens (7.500 lumens per bulb if you buy grow bulbs which is obviously recommended)

About the heat I don't know because I haven't use hps but you'll probably not be able to cool it down with one 120mm fan.

Think also about the cost to maintain those clfs, it will be 210W instead of 150W so your electric bill will be higher.

Good luck with your grow.

 

[Udi]

Many thanks!