Yeah I had a couple in there that were 6500k, I am not sure if that is better then having all 2700k or not. I am sure if you searched on here you would find the answer.

Yes I went with a 400w hps. Basically I had like 30 bulbs at say an average of 25w (probably a little higher average) which was like 750w to get roughly the same output as a 400w hps. So over the long run the HPS is cheaper. Not to say that you couldn't do better with 20 bulbs placed right. I will say though I should have made it bigger, or grew three or less plants under the cfl fixture.

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My first grow, bag seeds and CFL
My DIY CFL fixture

How did you hook up your ballast, fixture, etc? I'm torn between having a bunch of CFLs or trying to figure out how to use an HPS set-up. Apparently you can't just plug them in! Do you have any pictures of your new kit?

You plug the ballast into the wall, and the light into the ballast. That sounds like just plugging it in to me.

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My first grow, bag seeds and CFL
My DIY CFL fixture

I just freebased some hashoil off a razor, oh and I like the "CFL cage" a fan in either side blowing a constant stream thru would kill 2 birds with one stone, your plants would get the movement needed and all that heat would be dissipated, i like it I might copy

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i've read that fluorescent lights produce more heat actually per watt.