40watt floresent vs 20 watt compact flo

which would be better - i am using 2 t12 40 watt florescents in a relatively small space, would a few 20 watt compact florecents be better or should i stay with what i have - i want to grow faster.. note - the plants will be moved to mh and hps later, thanks.

how big are the tubes?, the thing is, the tube produces light over an area, and the light does not penetrate through the first layer of foilage. a CFL produces the same if not more light in a smaller area, and are able to penetrate and get light to your plant easier.

russ0r said:

how big are the tubes?, the thing is, the tube produces light over an area, and the light does not penetrate through the first layer of foilage. a CFL produces the same if not more light in a smaller area, and are able to penetrate and get light to your plant easier.

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what about a 54w-T5 4' tube, can it penetrate the foliage?

Def. not talking about the T5 tubes, i don't know much about them

i have 2 4ft t12 utility lights... but i also found some 20watt and a 27 watt cfls that i can use...basically the florecents sit on them 1in away fromt the plants in 5 gallon bags...so side by side by side in a box, like this....

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my awesome computer graphics skills at work!

use all the lights. put the cfl's above and the tubes on the sides, as close as possible to your plants without burning, tubes can usually touch, cfl's usually can be keptwithin an inch.

can i move the plants under the mh now! they are about 12 days old and the second set of leaves are forming...is this a good idea or is it too early.

its still to earley, you want to give your seedlings time to take good root without being pressured to start vegging.. i'd say wait another week then re-nagotiate.