fluoro lights, is one foot above my plants too far away?

I

itsoveryo

Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #1

Ok so I'm planning to move my 5 plants outside in about a week, they will be 2 weeks old then. I bought two four-foot fluoro lights from walmart, 3150 lumens each. I have them about one foot above my sproutlings, is that too far away? Will they stretch too far?

 

axelbubba

Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #2

id go closer to 6 inches

 

rucca

Active Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #3

Its best to get those flourescent tubes as close as possible

 

F

fred flintstoned

Well-Known Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #4

2inches would be better

 

KlosetKing

Well-Known Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #5

depends on heat really. if you can get your heat under control, yes 2 inches is ideal. if you cant, aim for within 6, but heat damage is bad, and you gotta do what you gotta do. make sure it aint too hot, and get it as close as you can while maintaining that.

 

I

itsoveryo

Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #6

i put it 2-3 inches away from them, will the burn? I don't have any fans on them

 

F

fred flintstoned

Well-Known Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #7

The lights you're using are most likely t12s. They don't generate much heat. I use t5s for clones at about 2in at 2 weeks old. t5s cast more heat than t12. Never had any probs, although I have a fan on them. Surely you have a fan somewhere that you can use, just to be safe

 

KlosetKing

Well-Known Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #8

put a thermometer in there. for now, place your hand about halfway between the bulb and the plant. if it feels even slightly uncomfortable, its too hot (imo).

 

KlosetKing

Well-Known Member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #9

fred flintstoned said:

The lights you're using are most likely t12s. They don't generate much heat. I use t5s for clones at about 2in at 2 weeks old. t5s cast more heat than t12. Never had any probs, although I have a fan on them. Surely you have a fan somewhere that you can use, just to be safe

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i use t5's as well, but they are 4ft and 6 bulbs in the ballast. i can get within a few inches if i make sure my fan is on and the house is at a good temp. but iam finding that now that summer is here, if the bedroom gets above 75, its guarenteed that they will be too hot within 3 inches. i had to move them to around 6 to compensate (our house doesnt have ac). i also cant afford or handle the heat of an HPS so iam using these through flower as well.