Questions about a grow design

To start off i am new to the forum and have been looking into growing on and off for a long time, I have been doing a bit of research and i want to attempt to grow a seed strain that is auto flowering and 60 day, I only want some for personal use and i am not to interested in massive yields 30g+ would be ideal 1 or 2 plants, I am just over the hole it leaves in my pocket >_>.

I own a 4ft T5 8x54w light unit is this substantial for use as a light because i am led to believe the seeds will flower in any light cycle?
Also they dont specify how tall they grow so i have no idea on what to put then in like a grow cabinet, i have a 3ft fish tank i could use if i could keep it under 3ft but i dont think it would be wide enough. Your thoughts?

No, that lgiht will not be enough to yield an ounce. I'm not a fluoro grower, so I don't know what would be sufficient for your needs with that type of lighting, but somethign like this, once you know what your doing, would easily yield your 30 grams from 2 or 3 plants

http://www.amazon.com/Sun-System-Watt-Reflector-Ballast/dp/B00269RWQI

My quantum meter arrived two days ago and I am stoked.

The budroom has 400 watt CMH's, 24" under gives me a 700-800 reading.
The veg table has 4 sets of 4 bulb T5's, 5" under gives me a 350-400 reading.

A quantum meter gives the number of photons striking an area per second, a direct measurement of PAR light units in umole per square mm per millisecond.
How much light on the plant? hold the sensor inbetween the leaf fronds and know exactly how much hitting that leaf. A running tally everywhere it goes.

Research papers give 1200-1500 as the max a leaf can use, every other factor being perfect.
My budroom was set up trial and error and current readings show 700-800, this fits right in with the researched number.

The T5 bulbs are a surprise, I expected the numbers to be even for the same wattages.
1/2" from a T5 bulb reads 600.
1/2" from a T8 is under 250.
15" from the T5's (lower branches) the number drops to 62. Ouch.
40" from the CMH's reads 395.

I'm still in shock over this.

The quantum meter is one of the better items I have paid $300 dollars for. My veg room already has the blue aquarium bulbs swapped out, only 129 at 1/2". That is 1/4 as much as a quantum 6400K.

A lot of posting for a simple question, but these are the numbers that back up all those naysayers that say T5's are not strong enough for good hard buds.

Thankyou Smokinrav i had a look at some other lights aswell, and Phaeton thats was a decent read very good info right there might have to look into a quantum meter, So i could use my T5 unit if i keep it atleast 5" or closer to my plants when there in veg? And would that be sufficent enough to veg 1 or 2 plants if i was to buy a 250w MH for flowering if i didnt choose an auto flowering because i am starting to think a normal feminized would be better?

Or chuck like 3-4 CFL in with it?

This is just too cool. I'm sitting here with a tape measure and the meter.

2700K 55 watt CFL in a 9-1/2" clamp on reflector:
Dead center:
3" is 500.
5" is 250.

Off center by 4":
3" is 300.
5" is 170.

A 42 watt 6500K:
3" is 1000.
5" is 750.

Off centers:
3" is 250.
5" is 200.

A lot of this is due to the physical size difference of the CFL's in the reflector.

But I couldn't help but notice the 42 watt 6500K puts out the same useable PAR light as the 55 watt 2700K. Hmmm

I run a u-scrog, was thinking about picking one of those up to get the optimal lighting/screen angle and distance all around. I just don't have the cash.

why is it every time someone asks about thier fllouro light someone points them to a HPS system.

yes your light will be fine. it is not "the best" but it will work. grab a couple daylight bulbs and a couple soft white bulbs, toss em in and go with it, you will get some yeild. might not be as much as you could possibly get with other lighting systems but it will work. make sure you keep the light as close to the plants as possible without burning them. and i doubt a 60 day auto will outgrow a 3ft fishtank. 10" pots will be fine for a 60 day auto and if you want you can go pick up a couple 26W CFL bulbs and add them to the setup, hey the more the better right?

you want 6500k for vegg and 2700k for flower. with an auto you dont have to change the light cycle for them to flower, i am not a pro on autos but i believe an 18/6 light schedule will be fine throughout the grow (may want to look that up for yourself tho) personally instead of buying 2 sets of bulbs 1 for vegg and 1 set for flower just do 1/2 6500k (daylight) bulbs and 1/2 2700k (soft white) bulbs this will give you the proper spectrum throughout your entire grow.

as far as a room goes use your fishtank and just line it with blank priner paper (so you dont have to paint it or anything), alternativly you can use foil or mylar for reflection. i only say white paper because its generally an item people have on hand. if you do use paper be sure to use a few pieces together so the light dosent penetrate it (just keep adding a piece to the stack and putting it over the light while its on untill you cannot see any light coming through the paper)

you dont want to trim or LST or top or FIM a auto just let it grow and keep them lights as close as possible. growing with flouro's are definatly possible and i dont understand why everyone has to direct people to a HPS system when they state they have a light already that WILL WORK!!!!!!! like i said its not the best but its not the worst.

check out the CFL sub forum for ideas man and happy growing.
i also have a small grow op going right now feel free to drop by and check it out the link is in my sig. im using flouros and a SCROG method, should yeild more than a Oz off 1 plant.

i know you said you arent looking for a high yeild but auto's really limit you to what you can do opposed to regular seeds you can train and top and you always have the option of flipping them to flower whenever you want. if you get Auto's you are pretty much at the will of the plants cycle and if it wants to flower before you feel it has gotten big enough it will do so.

Thanks for the replys guys,
This will be my first grow so i would like to try an auto and then move on to bigger and better things, atm i am not concerned about yeild but i am a generous smoker if i wanted to support this i would need to be able to produce more at harvest, I probably will use the fish tank then i can mount two extra CFL in it aswell and the light isnt really an issue id probably line it with a reflective thin metal and seal with and intake fan and an exhaust fan maybe chuck a carbon filter in if i can find one if not ill probably make my own, if i go ahead which the odds are about 70% happening now, probably post a couple build pics for some advice. Atm my goal is to produce anything.

im sure there are planty of DIY carbon filters. check youtube great resource

i dont know how well a charcoal filter will work but im sure its the same general idea. 20 Oz bottle of soda, some plain kingsford charcoal bricks smashed up good, layer that shit with some screen to keep air moving through.....lemme look it up lol now im curious

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/7074-easy-build-diy-carbon-filter.html

heres a good example of a DIY, he said 30 bucks not too bad

Thanks for the link Matt, Ive made my fair share of carbon filters for aquariums, over here in aus i can get carbon media for like $15 a decent tub enough to make atleast two filters out of 600ml bottles + i have alot of tubing/piping cylinders laying around i could use, i will definatley incorporate a carbon filter into my cabinet.