Kamel's CFL Guide

[Adicts0Adict]

Originally Posted by KillaKush

I'm using almost 500 actual watts of CFL's on 2 plants (20 bulbs) and they are loving it. Remember that CFL's still give off heat so if your designing a grow box your gonna have to figure out how to get some air movement in the box like a intake/exhaust. Air movement is the key because I had them in a closet with no air flow and they grew really slow. Now they are in a room that's about 76 degrees with lots of air flow and they are loving it.

^How close are those bulbs to your girl here? I would love to see a pic of your lighting set-up. I bet you could take awayhalf of the lights that are further away and get the same result.

Originally Posted by KillaKush

You are better off buying a bulk pack of 2700k CFL's because you can get them for a dollar a piece. Also check out "y sockets", this allows you to turn one light socket into two (sold at hardware stores).

How many bulbs to you have to buy before they get down to $1 per bulb?

[KillaKush]

About 4 to 5 inches away. Check out my journal to see my lighting setup, the reason the plants are doing so well is because of the amount of wattage I'm using.

[scarecrow42]

im also doing a kush cfl grow,and its doing great for the space that i have to grow in.runnin 12 27 watt for veg,and 16 27 watt for flower.kamel your grow looks great by the way congrats.qustion for the kush guys out there how much strech can i expect during flowering with cfls? my cab is tight and im worried about over crowding.



edit:by kamel i meant killerkush sorry

[Omegis]

Thank you Kamel info is extremely useful and appreciated.

[budbuddy216]

There are now CFL at 2100 K.

125W and 200W with high power factor (rate of conversion between power consumed and lumen produced),
Those are Phytolite CFL. available only in Europe as far as I know.

Phytolite cfl search on google:
Google

[ansett]

Hello all,
I have some 40wt 20,000k Fluorescent Bulbs, Actinic 03 bulbs(7100k) and T-5 HO 54wt 12,000k actinic bulbs that I use for saltwater corals and freshwater plants. These bulbs emit the blue spectrum and are designed to pentrate deeper fish tanks. Would these work for veg? Can you have to many kelvins? I want to go with floros or cfls due to limted space and keep the electric bill down. Looking at dividing a 8x4x5 space for veg and flowing using scrog method. Still trying to determime what type of light to use for flowering, looking at cfls in the 2700k range.

Thanks!

[SmknVTEC]

Can you ever have too many Kelvins meaning what? I have seen people veg just fine with 10,000 k lights. Ideal is about 5500 k for veg but they will grow great with 6500k-10,000k. Then for flower, yes, 2700k or so.

[jonhohn]

I've been growing 3 plants under cfl for about two months now and was wondering if they are looking like the right size for a CFL grow. It's my first grow attempt ever. I've been keeping a grow journal as well just so i can keep good track of the grow. I have lst'd the plants to get maximum light to the bud sites. So what do you think kamel ? Any suggestions/tips you have would be great. thanks (i included a link to my grow here) http://forum.grasscity.com/general-i...l-indoors.html

[Petho1]

Really informative, thanks this really helps.

[timebomb311]

Good info here, just what i was looking for with regards to C F'n FL

[kavika68]

Originally Posted by jonhohn

I've been growing 3 plants under cfl for about two months now and was wondering if they are looking like the right size for a CFL grow. It's my first grow attempt ever. I've been keeping a grow journal as well just so i can keep good track of the grow. I have lst'd the plants to get maximum light to the bud sites. So what do you think kamel ? Any suggestions/tips you have would be great. thanks (i included a link to my grow here) http://forum.grasscity.com/general-i...l-indoors.html

Hey JohnJohn. I think overall you get an A for your first grow. But I would try to double your light output. I looked at your pics and it seems like you have five or six lights. It also seems like your lights and plants are all in a row. Is it possible to get more of a circular grouping? The reason I say this is the lights at the extreme ends contribute nothing to the plants at the opposite end. In a group you have a better shot at each bulb hitting each plant. Not sure if your space would allow it.

I read on here that you should have 100W (power used) per plant. I think after the first plant you can come down from 100W... but more light cannot hurt.

But seriously, your plants look REALLY good!

[chefkrh]

i found this on ebay(NEW 4 LAMP T-5 T5 FLUORESCENT GROW LIGHT lamps bulbs - eBay (item 120486579971 end time Nov-28-09 08:41:13 PST)).
i'm getting back into the hobby after about 15 years and want to know if this is worth it and how many plants can be realistically grown with it. i'm hoping 6 to 8. also, could i just pick up a cheap ballast/reflector setup at lowes and buy the tubes for it online or do i need special ballast? i want to go with tubes because i am building a frame setup in the garage and it will fit into my plans well. i was going to use my old saltwater aquarium lights but i was told in another thread that actinic cfl's would not do well as they produce light spectrums needed for corals at ocean depths.

[Petho1]

Just get u some cfl's from home depot. they work fine.

[chefkrh]

you mean the screw in kind? i am trying to avoid a bunch of plugs and wires.

[chefkrh]

ok...i've read a little more and re-thought my setup. i see your point. cost, ease of use, movement, etc..... the 48" tubes could be a hassle. it's been a while since i've done this so have a little mercy. thanks!