CFL lighting question

I had read on here that you would want approx 5k lumens per square foot of area in a growbox. I have a 4 x2.5 foot growbox built and am wondering if this is accurate.....that would mean I would need 31.25 cfl 500k bulbs and the same for 2700k bulbs.......really that much?

a pack of 3 is 9 bucks, that means about $100 for a box thats only 10 cubic feet.....if that is accurate is there a way to combat that maybe by dropping the ceiling while they are small and raising it as they grow?

I mean I'm technically only trying to give light to the plants not the box

Lower your lights or raise your plants........wal-mart has the best price on cfl bulbs(4 pack for $8.88 )...31 or 25 bulbs is overkill

You don't need that many bulbs, just ones with a higher wattage. They'll produce more lumens. Also like previously stated, keep those cfl's close

Mwahhaha I run 24 23 watt bulbs and 3 random 42s where they fit In a 35 gallon tub Home depot or lowes can't remember has a brand called contractor,all in Spanish.15 bucks 12 23watt bulbs...overkill possibly but I like it

I like it cause I can touch the bulbs and don't need much venting over higher watts

I still got you beat Qwizo......lol....between two fixtures I have 30-23w and 2-42w cfl with 4-T5s and 1-26w 10.0 uvb bulbs.I've posted pics of them on a couple different threads.I have gone through a little trial and error to cut back on cfls, what i'm saying is if your using 30 cfl's for one light fixture,that's cfl overkill,you might as well get an hid setup....an aircooled 400w hps would be just as efficient then you can supplement that with cfls.The OP,Tomarky's question was vague at best.GL.peace

higher watt does not produce more lumens/watt tho so if your looking for efficiency 23w is usually best.
sure larger is easier but only gets one big bulb close to a few leaves where multiple ones gets more lights closer to every leaf.
lowes has 4 23w 5000k and 6 23w 2700k for $10-$12.
i use just cfl will have roughly 20 23w when flowering.
wish i went the 250w hps/mh roughly same money, power, heat.
you get 20 2700k bulbs running you will make plenty of heat.
by the time you buy all fixtures and wire needed will be much easier to just go another route.
but it can be done and good luck.

this is a pic of my light setup in a 2x2 room.
will be adding more where needed tho this was my setup starting flowering of last plant.(sadly ended up being male 1 month veg)
View attachment 2588853

My tent is about the same size and I run 14 23w bulbs. It is enough except for in flower it doesn't get deep enough when plants get tall. I am adding some side lighting (LED) for that.