Rictor94
Active Member
Do you think this is enough lights??6x100w5x60w
I have 4 more 100w on the way and going to put lamp on corner once seedlings are big enough to come out I'm leaving last few in to get bigger.
First time grow (putting CFLs to the test)
- Thread starter TomAce
- Start date
I have 4 more 100w on the way and going to put lamp on corner once seedlings are big enough to come out I'm leaving last few in to get bigger.
TomAce
Active Member
Nice setup, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems you're counting the wattage equivalent as opposed to the true watts. Example, a 23watt CFL that equals 100watts is counted as 23 watts. That being said, more the lights the better, as they grow keep adding. For the vegetative state keep mostly 6500K spectrums going and adjust the ratio to the 3500K-2700K spectrum as you get into flowering, if you end up with 5 or so mature plants, I'd be certain to try and have at least 400-500 true watts in there
Rictor94
Active Member
Ty this is my first full attempt.
Yes I'm counting the equivalent. When you say adjust the spectrum do you mean add more day light bulbs I dont quite understand.
I'd like to move them into a tent for flower and maybe get a led for the tent and flower plants. Did you use all regular cfl or any sunblaster big grow bulbs?
Also did you have to move lights around the sides a shit ton during flowering or like you suggested just add more bulbs? Really good job btw plant looked gorgeous super trimmed and focused.
Have you started next grow did you like cfl for veg?
Yes I'm counting the equivalent. When you say adjust the spectrum do you mean add more day light bulbs I dont quite understand.
I'd like to move them into a tent for flower and maybe get a led for the tent and flower plants. Did you use all regular cfl or any sunblaster big grow bulbs?
Also did you have to move lights around the sides a shit ton during flowering or like you suggested just add more bulbs? Really good job btw plant looked gorgeous super trimmed and focused.
Have you started next grow did you like cfl for veg?
TomAce
Active Member
Thanks I had ups and downs, but definitely pleased in the end. When I mention spectrums I am referring to the bulb color..for instance a 6500Kelvin is the daylight (blue) color which is ideal for veg and the soft whites are the yellow 2700Kelvins which are the ideal color(spectrum) for flowering. Hope that helps..more blues in veg, more yellow in flower. I have all regular CFLs, no sunblaster. My 6500K bulbs are 45 watts each and most of my 2700s are 23 watts from home depot. I didn't move my lights around the sides, majority of all my bulbs were directly overhead and I scrogged it to keep the tops mostly even, it gets tough with different sized plants. I liked CFLs for my entire grow, went well and heat was never a problem..I haven't started next grow yet, have the girls drying in the grow room now.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Rictor94
Active Member
Ok I had heard the opposite for cfl lights and got soft white but when I added the 100w daylight the plants loved it and reached towards it even with the 60w almost touching the plant. Would you add more cfl under the scrog next time? How far did you put your lights away I have mine like super close some days they love it others the leaves taco a bit. How big were they when you did sex check my 2 biggest are bag seeds so I'd like to check before to long. I really like your light bar you made hanging lights works for number I have rn but fan blows them around to much and have to keep and eye out. I am also taking your idea of using a double socket splitter I thought it may be too dangerous but I see it's been done before just wont put too much power through it. From 2 to 4 sounds good to me gunna do that on the ends and have a 7way in middle.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Any particular reason you need to use CFL? You need SOOOOO FUCKING MANY OF THEM.
Rictor94
Active Member
Was cheaper entry option they last like 8 years and was almost impossible to burn plants with them. Oh and they are energy efficient so I think cost would be less but I'm not sure with how many lights you gotta use. They are also available to buy at any hardware store and I feel even with my janky setup still safer then having high heat light in my closet. When I get tent i want led but i prob always use cfl for some light really like them but haven't tried others yet. Really want secret jardin 160l by next grow flower area, veg area, and seedling but still need filter and flower tent to finish out this grow. Just worried I'm gonna kill em with my love.
TomAce
Active Member
Too much hassle to add lights under scrog IMO..I trimmed most of the lower plant matter before flowering anyway. I have a temperature gun which allows me to take the temp at each top, without letting them get above 83° the lights were best about 2 to 3 inches away the whole grow. As far as sexing, I just take lower stalks off each plant, place them immediately in water and then put them on a 12/12, they'll tell you what you have way before your vegging plants will.
TomAce
Active Member
For me, there were several reasons..I grow in a bedroom closet, my only airflow in and out is the fans in the doorway, and the bedroom ac vent is about 5 feet from the closet entry on the ceiling..CFLs, allowed me to keep a cool temp throughout the entire grow. Im an HVAC dude, so I built my own light fixture with shit lying around my garage. .half the lights I already had and 12 45watt 6500K bulbs for 40 bucks was too good of a deal to pass up..they last forever, safer to leave running on timer when out of town for a couple days and they allow me to play mother nature with different color spectrums which is cool to me. I was skeptical at first, but when I took my first bonghit of the frosty ass shit I grew and instantly was baked way more than any dispensary weed I've smoked in months I feel CFLs serve their purpose well when used correctly.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
CFL's put off heat to man. Unless you are using the top top of the line LED, cfls put off about the same heat as HPS watt for watt.
TomAce
Active Member
I don't care to discuss pros and cons of lighting types, this dude's growing with CFLs and I offered advice cause I grow with CFLs, of course we've all heard the arguments for anything against CFLs..it's posted everywhere, don't think we need to add to that here.
JoeBlow5823
Well-Known Member
Your right, shit just makes my brain hurt. I started out with a 1000 HPS and never looked back.