quick question: i started growing without planning ahead. i'm using four 26w cfl's on 5 plants. i need to upgrade my lighting soon. i'm confined by space and money. what's a cheap small lighting set up i can incorporate?

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- durban poison x skunk #1 & california orange

a 150w hps

how much cash can you put together?

i'd say i can scrape together about $150, tops.

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- durban poison x skunk #1 & california orange

you can get some single tube T5's for about $35 each.

If you have $150, from what most people say on here, I would go with the 400 watt HPS setup ($119) from eBay or other places.

The HPS combined with the CFLs should be some good light.

Check out lights at High Tech Garden Supply
you can find a brand new 400 watt hps system for $119. Also, if you can't use an HID light you can get really cheap T5 fixture with T5 bulbs included. They are actually more efficient than cfls. I got a 2' 8 bulb T5 fixture with bulbs included for $185!

what kinda light, exactly, is a t5? is it a fluorescent? i'm guessing it is. and if so, isn't that insufficient light? this whole lighting thing is a mystery to me.

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- durban poison x skunk #1 & california orange

I agree with splifman. Go for the hps.
The T-5's will work too.
Peace

check your local hardware store,look for dual t8 fixtures,48"/36"/24",all vary in price starting about $20 each , then check your local lighting warehouse for 5000k-6500k for veg. lighting....found that home depot/lowes did not carry those t8 bulbs in this light spectrum...i have 3 fixtures,6 bulbs on 32 plants,2 week of veg,can not complain...all for under $75 DOLLARS.good luck,still HPS for flowering....have yet to see any better.

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