Ok I've been reading and searching lighting for a 1-3 plant grow box. Between cfls and led, I prefer the led. The base of the set up is a 10 gallon fish tank, will have foam with holes for net pots and a fish tank bubbler with air stone. To me that seemed to be the simplest setup. After reading a thread on a forum about using led christmas lights for the lighting, I figure why not. The only problem is, they are not very powerful. With the size of my box only being 15" wide x 25" long and 30" tall I'm going to need more power. So my question is, could I run a couple cfls, and use the leds on the sides. Blue for veg, then red for flowing and it actually have an effect? Or could running strait cfls be better. The room will be lined with foil or foil tape. Another thing is I recently tore down a fish tank, and have the filter for it still, I thought about running that filter on there for some water circulation and maybe more oxygen if needed. also have the heater if I need to raise water temps. Its just stuff I have laying around, besides the lights. Have a good day!
the idea
- Thread starter verruckt
- Start date
Nusky
New Member
Fish tank is oldschool. People use rubbermaid totes now, just need a hotknife to cut holes into it. I don't like the idea of LEDs, I don't think they're good for anything in any amount. I'd stick to CFLs, but if you want to try LED go for it. Don't use foil, use panda film. Most hydro stores sell it by the foot, very cheaply.
Old school, maybe, but that's what I have and its just sitting there so why not use it. My only problem is the lighting, other than that I'm fairly confident in everything else. I've been looking at cfl's on lowes.com to see prices and what I should get but its still up in the air. Id like to have one bigger bulb up top and 4 to 6 smaller ones for the sides. If anyone has suggestions on which ones to go buy let me know.
Nusky
New Member
looks like you've got a lot of room, I found this, I think it would fit
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JJL8SW/ref=asc_df_B003JJL8SW1745247?smid=A1OB5M0OAN6XEW&tag=nextagusmp0395569-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B003JJL8SW
Then you could use LEDs for side lights. I've seen comparisons of HPS and LED of the same equivalence, and the HPS more than doubled the yield. I have heard xmas lights working, but I've never seen a report my self of anyone using them. They do look pretty bright, make sure you're using the bare bulb though.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JJL8SW/ref=asc_df_B003JJL8SW1745247?smid=A1OB5M0OAN6XEW&tag=nextagusmp0395569-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B003JJL8SW
Then you could use LEDs for side lights. I've seen comparisons of HPS and LED of the same equivalence, and the HPS more than doubled the yield. I have heard xmas lights working, but I've never seen a report my self of anyone using them. They do look pretty bright, make sure you're using the bare bulb though.