Lighting choices please help... :)

Hello everyone,
First off I would like to say hello..I have been reading posts for awhile now, and I find that everyone on here seems to be very nice and very helpful. So i decided to write a post and see if anyone might be able to help me out... I am a medical MMJ patient and decided to start my own grow...I am using a grow box that I made..the size is as follows 36.25-in H x 27-in W x 15-in D... I already lined it with reflective material and I will be posting pictures for everyone to see...I have done this before but used one of those PC cases..and frankly it was not the idea size for growing....I am fine with my happy frog soil and perlite and nutes...that's the soil I will be using for my grow..I know some people have there own ideas when it comes to soils..but that's what im happy with. Plus i'm not trying to grow 30 plants... Im prob looking at 2 or 3 plants for this box... they are all auto strains some lowryders some medium plants..all fem seeds. So my question is about Lighting...I bought a t5 2ft 2bulb light and it is a perfect fit for this box...HPS or anything hot is NOT a option for me...and I don't want 20 million cfl lights in my box...the more room the better....What I am looking for is any input as to what and how much more light I should use from start to finish..I know the 2 t5s might be enough for vegging if not i'm gonna add 2 more t5s one on each side of the box...would this be enough lighting for 2 plants from start to finish? I also know i gotta switch out the bulbs to 2700k for flowering... what do you think my yield would be with these lights? im not looking for 4ozs off two plants although it would be nice ...id be happy with a oz a plant.. anyways any help would be welcome...i'm attaching a stock photo of the grow cab..and i will be posting more once the box is complete..as of right now it looks really good...I would love to get LED lights but man they cost a pretty penny...

thank you so much for letting me ramble on

Welcome to RIU.org
Your onestopshop for all matters cannabis, take a look around but I should advise you that the fabulous "Like" button, is broken, instead buried below is the equivalent, reputation button that works almost the same., so if you see or read something you like, well! you can't 'like' until it's fixed, but you can click the Rep button to show your appreciation.


https://www.rollitup.org/support/789405-like-button-temp-disabled.html

ps great cab, but you will soon find it too small ..lol

Thank you for the info .... I have been on a few thread sites but this one by far is the best i have seen..plus everyone seems to be very helpful and nice at the same time.. and I will deff do that once its fixed...

And i hear ya when it comes to the size lol..that's all i could go with right now, do to the size restrictions for my apartment size..plus Im gonna keep it in the closest so family and friends don't have prying eyes... as this is only for personal medical use.

It seems like nobody uses the fluorescent bulbs for flowering, so there is no way to guess the yield.
You can try the fluorescents but line it with tinfoil too for more light, make sure they have a fan for fresh air, they aren't a can of soup.

don't use tin foil, you'll create hotspots etc. thats a joke from trailerpark boys. get some flat white paint, mylar, panda film etc. if you want reflective material. Also, your t5s will produce heat that needs to be managed. It won't be like an HPS/MH but it will definitely cause problems. with a 36" height limitation you're going to want to look into scrog or other canopy management tactics. Not an auto grower myself so can't help with any genetic recs. hope i've helped some! welcome to riu
be easy,

Thanks for the info..I already have the box set up with my reflective material and I deff dont use tin foil and Im in the middle of placing my Intake and out take fans in the correct spots..my biggest concern are the lights..everything else is set and not to worried with spot burns on the plants as I am using the correct reflective material...I just find it really hard figuring out the lighting...like I said using the HPS bulbs are not a option, due to the heat factor and the electric billing cost..other wise I would pop one of those babys in there... I will deff be posting pictures once i get my fans in place...

I didn't relize how much fun this was gonna be I'm deff enjoying the work that goes into growing my own Medical Cannabis..

hydrosoil78 said:

It seems like nobody uses the fluorescent bulbs for flowering, so there is no way to guess the yield.
You can try the fluorescents but line it with tinfoil too for more light, make sure they have a fan for fresh air, they aren't a can of soup.

Click to expand...

Don't use tinfoil.... If you want to cheap out either use white paint or emergency blankets to line the cab. emergency blankets are just thin mil mylar.

That area is pretty small. If you wanted to go flouro I'd see is a 2' 4bulb t5 would fit up top then 2 of the 2bulb fixtures on side walls for side lighting.

Or.... If you can spend the coin you should look at a HANS bonsai hero LED 80W unit.
http://www.bonsaihero.com/ledgrow-led-panel-80-watt.html
That's about the smallest one I know of that's supposed to be quality other than the CLW solarflare.

what do you think about this light? for the space i'm using

The BloomBoss Spot uses only 12 Watts of power and provides coverage for up to 4 square feet of growing area. This compact bulb fits into any standard Edison (E27) light socket making it extremely versatile and a breeze to setup.

The BloomBoss Spot uses the latest in LED technology to provide your plants with the optimal blend of light for both growth and flowering. It features a custom mix of red and blue high output 1 watt led chips on a single array for the perfectly blended spectrum.

The BloomBoss Spot works great for many applications including, individual plants that need more light, propagation of seedlings and clones and supplemental plant lighting used in conjunction with your current lights to enhance the spectrum and increase the overall yield.

BloomBoss Spot Features:
* Uses only 12 watts - Very low power consumption
* Emits the exact spectrum required for photosynthesis
* Runs cool with no thermal footprint
* Fits in any standard light socket
* Promotes fast & vigorous growth and blooming
* Environmentally friendly - Contains no mercury
* No expensive bulbs to replace
* Lifespan over 50,000 hours
* Full Coverage 1 year Manufacturer's Warranty

BloomBoss Spot Directions:
* Distance from plants: 6 to 18 inches
* Total Coverage Area: 4 square feet

BloomBoss Spot Specifications
* Power Consumption: 12w
* Output - Blue 430nm~470nm & Red 620nm~670nm
* Voltage: 85 - 260v
* Operating Temperature: -4F~122F
* Weight: .5 lbs
* Dimensions: 2 inches x 4 inches

Vitamin MMJ said:

what do you think about this light? for the space i'm using

The BloomBoss Spot uses only 12 Watts of power and provides coverage for up to 4 square feet of growing area. This compact bulb fits into any standard Edison (E27) light socket making it extremely versatile and a breeze to setup.

The BloomBoss Spot uses the latest in LED technology to provide your plants with the optimal blend of light for both growth and flowering. It features a custom mix of red and blue high output 1 watt led chips on a single array for the perfectly blended spectrum.

The BloomBoss Spot works great for many applications including, individual plants that need more light, propagation of seedlings and clones and supplemental plant lighting used in conjunction with your current lights to enhance the spectrum and increase the overall yield.

BloomBoss Spot Features:
* Uses only 12 watts - Very low power consumption
* Emits the exact spectrum required for photosynthesis
* Runs cool with no thermal footprint
* Fits in any standard light socket
* Promotes fast & vigorous growth and blooming
* Environmentally friendly - Contains no mercury
* No expensive bulbs to replace
* Lifespan over 50,000 hours
* Full Coverage 1 year Manufacturer's Warranty

BloomBoss Spot Directions:
* Distance from plants: 6 to 18 inches
* Total Coverage Area: 4 square feet

BloomBoss Spot Specifications
* Power Consumption: 12w
* Output - Blue 430nm~470nm & Red 620nm~670nm
* Voltage: 85 - 260v
* Operating Temperature: -4F~122F
* Weight: .5 lbs
* Dimensions: 2 inches x 4 inches

Click to expand...

Waste of time and money^^^..........If you can't afford the 80w Hans panel, go with Home depot Cree "warm white" led bulbs.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W-Equivalent-Soft-White-2700K-A19-Dimmable-LED-Light-Bulb-6-Pack-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-2U100/204084366?N=5yc1vZbol not bad $$ for a six pack. I wouldn't go over 100w(10 cree bulbs) in that cab with small pc fans/exhaust.

good luck and if you hate the cree bulbs, can just use them in your house

PSUAGRO. said:

Waste of time and money^^^..........If you can't afford the 80w Hans panel, go with Home depot Cree "warm white" led bulbs.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W-Equivalent-Soft-White-2700K-A19-Dimmable-LED-Light-Bulb-6-Pack-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-2U100/204084366?N=5yc1vZbol not bad $$ for a six pack. I wouldn't go over 100w(10 cree bulbs) in that cab with small pc fans/exhaust.

good luck and if you hate the cree bulbs, can just use them in your house

Click to expand...

While I can't say for sure if that light is a waste of time and money, though I would think just one would definitely be. Though I agree 100% with what he said that if you can't afford the HANs unit then the 6 pack of 2700K CREE lights would be better than the bloom boss and an extra $20 well spent. While I don't know what model CREE LEDs are used in those lights I can tell you this much I have some philips LEDs that are 12W and don't produce that many lumens with 30% more energy consumption. Not that lumens are a key thing to focus on here though most people get fixated on them, it does just go to show those cree bulbs should be decent. Or at least I would think compared to CFL or t5s. Definitely wouldn't expect them to do any worse.

PSUAGRO. said:

Waste of time and money^^^..........If you can't afford the 80w Hans panel, go with Home depot Cree "warm white" led bulbs.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cree-60W-Equivalent-Soft-White-2700K-A19-Dimmable-LED-Light-Bulb-6-Pack-BA19-08027OMF-12DE26-2U100/204084366?N=5yc1vZbol not bad $$ for a six pack. I wouldn't go over 100w(10 cree bulbs) in that cab with small pc fans/exhaust.

good luck and if you hate the cree bulbs, can just use them in your house

Click to expand...

Thank you for that info about the crees..I was just going over captainmorgans grow as he used the crees..and I'm loving the outcome of these lights... Now I gotta figure out how many I should use..Im also gonna keep my 2 T5s running for the 6500k..

Vitamin MMJ said:

Thank you for that info about the crees..I was just going over captainmorgans grow as he used the crees..and I'm loving the outcome of these lights... Now I gotta figure out how many I should use..Im also gonna keep my 2 T5s running for the 6500k..

Click to expand...

If you are going to to keep the t5 I would think 6-10 of those would be efficient. For just a small thing and with your goals in mind I'd probably try 8 with the t5 in the middle and 4 of those along each side of the T5s with them slightly angled in towards the center so you aren't just blasting the walls. And when I say slightly I really many just a couple of degrees. Just so that way you don't possible have more PAR around the perimeter than the center.

Just a thought.

Just another FYI, they sell those bulbs for $13 each too. So could either buy a 6 pack and 2 more or get them all individual, comes out to about the same price.

gk skunky said:

If you are going to to keep the t5 I would think 6-10 of those would be efficient. For just a small thing and with your goals in mind I'd probably try 8 with the t5 in the middle and 4 of those along each side of the T5s with them slightly angled in towards the center so you aren't just blasting the walls. And when I say slightly I really many just a couple of degrees. Just so that way you don't possible have more PAR around the perimeter than the center.

Just a thought.

Just another FYI, they sell those bulbs for $13 each too. So could either buy a 6 pack and 2 more or get them all individual, comes out to about the same price.

Click to expand...

GK I was thinking of the same idea when it comes to the crees being attached to the T5s with the angle as you said...from what I have been reading, It seems as though if you angle the crees you will get a better penetration when it comes to the lummens...and the plus side when it comes to the crees they are smaller than the CLFS

Yea in my mind I just think it spreads the light better since then you get direct light more than reflected light. Though too much angle in and it definitely would be no benefit as opposed to straight vertical. Play with it a little, watch the walls as you angle and watch the light spread. I'd even do them individually first to make it easiest in seeing the light spread angle.

Cree bulb proof with repeatability

Round 1
https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/656542-flowering-cree-bulbs-8.html
Round 2
https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/656542-flowering-cree-bulbs-35.html




Still leaves me speechless every time

Greengenes707 said:

Cree bulb proof

Round 1
https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/656542-flowering-cree-bulbs-8.html
Round 2
https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/656542-flowering-cree-bulbs-35.html


Still leaves me speechless every time

Click to expand...

I hear that..... these lights are deff worth the investment esp for a small grow.. its worth a try compared to what I have right now..

heres my grow box....its almost complete...I have to add the intake fan...the out take fan is there you just cant see it in the pic

Vitamin MMJ said:

heres my grow box....its almost complete...I have to add the intake fan...the out take fan is there you just cant see it in the pic
View attachment 2999094

Click to expand...

Well done sir! where are your crees going to be mounted?

Vitamin MMJ said:

heres my grow box....its almost complete...I have to add the intake fan...the out take fan is there you just cant see it in the pic
View attachment 2999094

Click to expand...

smaller than I thought, you already have 50w of T5(HO??)^^^ so a 10w cree WW bulb in each corner should be plenty until you figure out the heat output(100watts) in that cab.

Can also switch out one of the 2ft t5 with a zoomed florasun once in flower for better production.

Dr.J20 said:

Well done sir! where are your crees going to be mounted?

Click to expand...

I was thinking about attaching them to the sides of the T5 lamp and useing the 2700k bulbs..due to the fact im gonna be planting the auto lowryders ak47s to start off with..