Cfl question

S

strangejuggalo

Member
So with summer among us and my last grow of the season with the 1000 watt hps I was thinking about filling my grow gap with a cfl grow. Cfl's are a lot easier on heat control right? Also what bulbs would you recommend drop,links is possible. A bunch of the little bulbs you get in a pack at say walmart? Or the big 1,2,300 watt bulbs I see on e-bay. If you grow with cfl's and were stocking up right now, what would you buy. Thanks for the help.

even if you want to suggest something different from cfl's I'm open to hear about everything.
 
Slipon

Slipon

Well-Known Member
both will do, biggest problem with CFLs and other fluorescent light is strength or penetration of the light, according to my light meter my T5HO tubes that is on 49W and 4650Lumens each is only really strong at 0-4 inch`s at 4-10 they still provide ok light but after 12" my light meter cant even get a reading, so keep em close, rethink your growth method, biggest different from the 1000W beside heat will be that you wont grow any big compact Buds from the CFL after 6" distance from the bulb`s so IMO a scrog or similar is requiter to reach a acceptable end result, keep the bulbs 2ft away and let the plants grow up like with a 1000W and you will mostly yield flimsy Buds

make sure to mix em a bit, 6500K is the most effective watt for watt and provide a lot of blue light, but not much red/fare red, 2700K is best for that but lack in blue, if it was me, I would start em out with one 23W 6500K bulb each and probably end Veg a few weeks later (need to keep em small with fluorescent) with one of each bulbs over each plant, and once in flowering, maybe 3-4x2700K and the one 6500K per plant, spread out in a scrog with in 2-4" over the plant`s/final Bud site`s
 
nameno

nameno

Well-Known Member
Man,it gets so hot here I thought about the same thing,but my grow should finish in june sometime,so I figured by the time I get my room back in order,good & clean then when I started a seed I could use my 32 watt from agrosun that I use to start 'em.By the time I need my hid it would be cooling down some. I haven't been using that 32watt long,I did notice it was pulling the plant in the direction of it while my 600hid was running but I guess that's because it's closer.I'm going to replace my hid bulb though just in case.Peace
 
Kdog988

Kdog988

Active Member
I have a 2ft x 3ft x 1.5ft box set up with 2 plants and i run a total of 7 cfls. I put 4 100wt equivalent on the top and use one on 3 sides of the box that are height adjustable. If you keep thelight close to the plants and use LST then you will have good results. I know i do. Good luck bongsmile
 
Sand4x105

Sand4x105

Well-Known Member
Yes, CFL's will have Less Heat off them... However, if you think that any grow larger than 4 x 4' without adequate air cooling you will be disappointed…my room gets hot, without fresh cool air in and out of room…less heat with CFL's, no heat... NOT!
I have used this ….HD/Lowes have bathroom 3 light ‘bar’ fixtures for $9.99.… I add a light splitter to each socket [$3.25 each], then I add 6 - 6500K 23 watt lamps to each socket [$9.50 per two]
So, for $69-70 I have a nice little mountable 138 watt ‘fixture’… I like results, and yes the lights are mounted very close to my plants…
Good Luck …
 
whocares100

whocares100

Active Member
I use cfl's yes the 23 watt 100 watt equivalent, daylight bulbs 6500 and soft white 2700 more 6500 during veg more 2700 during flower, I have a dining room chandalier, and it has 5 sockets, used some splitters and made is 10 bulbs, 230 watts, good for my 3x3x5 space using a bathroom fan and good intake it's about 70 when the lights are on., I have a seperate box for just starting out and vegging using t5 lights...
 
qwizoking

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
hey bro i run 24 23 watt bulbs with a few 42s down low for branches, about 18x20inches and i do 6 plants. i veg and flower with the flowering bulbs. they provide about 2-3ft of good light then its way airy. but yea they work good, i also have a 600 hps cool tube. this is a lot less heat
 
2

215roller

Well-Known Member
I use t5s for my entire grow. I used two 2700k bulbs and two 6500k. In your case, 2700k for flower and 6500k for veg
 
SweetestCheeba

SweetestCheeba

Well-Known Member
Wats up stranger, imo I think it would b best to stock up on some of the 23 or 26w cfls. Like whocares I have 17x26w cfls. Having more helps with even light distribution
 
whocares100

whocares100

Active Member
In the area I described I also have a flourescent and I use all spectrums, during grow and bloom, The flourescent is a regular t-12 but works for my needs, More light is better, In my other rooms I have about 14 lights in each 3x4 space works well for me and as for heat, fans control most of it...

I made a grow box from a cardboard box and it works well with the t5- and a fan.
 
GreenFringers

GreenFringers

Member
i'v been using the giant 9u cfl 300watt actual i think they are great i don't notice the electric at all,due to being on a key meter i can check they is hardly any change at all maybe a threw pence but that's nothing. the only one thing that i can say is the light dos not get right to the bottom ov the plant so bottom side lighting would help View attachment 2642900View attachment 2642901the one on the left is a leaf from the bud site and the another is the bud....peace out hope is helps...
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
Slipon said:
both will do, biggest problem with CFLs and other fluorescent light is strength or penetration of the light, according to my light meter my T5HO tubes that is on 49W and 4650Lumens each is only really strong at 0-4 inch`s at 4-10 they still provide ok light but after 12" my light meter cant even get a reading, so keep em close, rethink your growth method, biggest different from the 1000W beside heat will be that you wont grow any big compact Buds from the CFL after 6" distance from the bulb`s so IMO a scrog or similar is requiter to reach a acceptable end result, keep the bulbs 2ft away and let the plants grow up like with a 1000W and you will mostly yield flimsy Buds

make sure to mix em a bit, 6500K is the most effective watt for watt and provide a lot of blue light, but not much red/fare red, 2700K is best for that but lack in blue, if it was me, I would start em out with one 23W 6500K bulb each and probably end Veg a few weeks later (need to keep em small with fluorescent) with one of each bulbs over each plant, and once in flowering, maybe 3-4x2700K and the one 6500K per plant, spread out in a scrog with in 2-4" over the plant`s/final Bud site`s
Click to expand...
Yes, this is the entire issue with CFL regardless of how many bulbs and watts, they do not penetrate. By the time the light gets to your buds, it is already vanished. That is why they suck and always will. I know some people hate to hear that and get all upset about it but truth is truth. CFL is only going to take you so far.
 
SweetestCheeba

SweetestCheeba

Well-Known Member
Man nobody asked for why they shouldnt use them. this dude is looking for positive critisism. Jus give him a boost and some info and let them learn on their own what work for them
 
Z

zacwayne

New Member
I us 3 40 watt tubes two soft white and one is kinda a bulesish color and have o 24w 120v 60hz blub i put up yesterday the babies seem to like it they pary all day
 
sadface

sadface

Active Member
I was looking for best lumens per watt bulbs in both the 6500k and 2700k color spectrums the ones I ended up getting I pasted below.

23 watt bulbs seemed to be sweet spot for most lumens per watt, and if the Energy miser 6.5ks are in stock its cheaper than the 105 wat bulbs so saves money as well! From the extensive research I did 23w bulbs seem best bang for buck by far.

https://1000bulbs.com/product/1583/FC23-23W27K4PK.html - 2700k, you cant beat $1.50 per bulb at 74 lumens per watt
https://1000bulbs.com/product/36858/FC23-S65.html - 6500k, I had to get these because the below bulbs were out of stock, but 72 lumens per watt was is nice yet these were expensive
https://1000bulbs.com/product/53632/FC23-FEIIS23W64.html - 6500k; 70 lumnens per watt at $3.50 a bulb
 
A

antdog420ftp

Active Member
You can get those huge 300 watt CFLs with mixed spectrum.. I use 12 100wattcfl actual wattage is around 300 it works great for me u just need to keep them close like 1-3 inches away for them to work good
 
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