Tutorial to Growing with Cfl's

Excellent thread Doc !!! I have many, many questions on cfl's. I have a very small space (3' wide X 2' deep X 7' tall) and my issue is heat. Are there any benefits to using cfl's like these versus a flourescent tube set-up. I was looking at using a 2' 6 lamp on top and a 4' 4 lamp on EACH side of the above mentioned room.

Also, I don't want to highjack your cfl thread but where can I find info on the difference of a T5 and a T8 light ?? Which is better.

Excellent post again. +++reps given.

THe biggest advantage being you can put a CFL almost anywhere and with a fluorescent tube your more restricted.

Everyone assures ne I need a 150W HPS.

My buddy and I built a nice grow box that has inside dimensions of 3'1 high, 1'6 deep and 2'4 wide. It contains 1" reflective insulation and weather tight with a door a fan that brings in fresh air and an exhaust that takes air out into a HVAC duct with fabric softner to help dull the smell. I will be using the Aerogarden Deluxe.

So to go along with the 3 Aerolights, if I wre not to go with HPS how many CFL's would I need on each side. I think I might plan to mix 2-1 on Veg and flowering keeping the higher ratio to what it needs (2700-6500)

Or should I do 2 each side with the HPS overhead(there so big and hot compared to CFL's)

PS Im only growing 3 in the Aero

Is it better to have a group 3-4 each side of low wattage CFL's(20-30W) or 1/2 high ones(100-200W) each side

What about those 24" Sunblaster T5's, how good are those guys and do those need to be 1" away from the plant as well. or set back to 4-6"

What information has been given on this thread. I need to start a thread stating the obvious to get rep points.

Drevil, to answer your question its better to go with multiple lesser watt bulbs than 1 big high watt bulb. The light is better spread out. Go over to icmag.com and check out drgreenbudgenes micro cab grow. He uses multiple 42ers through the cab. Best micro sog to date.

ghostsamurai25 said:

What information has been given on this thread. I need to start a thread stating the obvious to get rep points.

Drevil, to answer your question its better to go with multiple lesser watt bulbs than 1 big high watt bulb. The light is better spread out. Go over to icmag.com and check out drgreenbudgenes micro cab grow. He uses multiple 42ers through the cab. Best micro sog to date.

Click to expand...

So let's see that thread, wiseguy.

Great job on the tutorial Doc rep+.

Nice tutorial Doc. Tried to rep you for it, but I must have given you a rep recently 'cause it won't let me. I'll make a point to come back tomorrow and try again.

I've noticed a pattern in store with the soft white CFL bulbs being in the green package, like the one you have pictured. The daylight bulbs are in blue packaging. They seem to all be using this ID method regardless of brand.

misshestermoffitt said:

Nice tutorial Doc. Tried to rep you for it, but I must have given you a rep recently 'cause it won't let me. I'll make a point to come back tomorrow and try again.

I've noticed a pattern in store with the soft white CFL bulbs being in the green package, like the one you have pictured. The daylight bulbs are in blue packaging. They seem to all be using this ID method regardless of brand.

Click to expand...

Definately. and Warm White 2700K bulbs usually come in red. You won't find many full spectrum bulb's so don't expect to see much of any pattern there. Thanks for the rep.

nice tutorial but u forgot to mention that the 23w=100w actually means that the 23 puts out the same light intensity as a 100w but not the same lumen output.

u should ask to see peoples cfl setups,to compare and see there innovations. sry for jackin but just tryin to help out,ive been usin cfls for a few years now with no probs.

heres my set up...1 125w 6500k,4 42 3500k,total of 22,800 lumens at 293w,i had to take down the batwing reflector to help ventilate the heat out,since it has a fan site on top.



id like to join the cfl crew,cus if u know how to use cfls u can pull great yeilds,it takes skill and innovation to use cfls,hids are hot as hell and you need to keep them 2-4ft away from the plants,this can cause strechage to the maxxx

Nice setup my friend. Ill Go ahead and invite you to the group. Welcome and make sure you copy the tag into your signature.

wackymack, where did you get the center light that has the reflector ??? I haven't been able to find any cfl light kits that would come complete with the hood and/or multiple lights in them.

wackymack said:

nice tutorial but u forgot to mention that the 23w=100w actually means that the 23 puts out the same light intensity as a 100w but not the same lumen output.

u should ask to see peoples cfl setups,to compare and see there innovations. sry for jackin but just tryin to help out,ive been usin cfls for a few years now with no probs.

heres my set up...1 125w 6500k,4 42 3500k,total of 22,800 lumens at 293w,i had to take down the batwing reflector to help ventilate the heat out,since it has a fan site on top.

id like to join the cfl crew,cus if u know how to use cfls u can pull great yeilds,it takes skill and innovation to use cfls,hids are hot as hell and you need to keep them 2-4ft away from the plants,this can cause strechage to the maxxx

Click to expand...

Also, what is everyone opinion on that cfl light kit that is sold by Stealth Hydro ??? They have one with 3 bulbs and one with 5 bulbs. Any opinions on that particular set-up of cfl's ???????

Dirtbmw20 said:

Also, what is everyone opinion on that cfl light kit that is sold by Stealth Hydro ??? They have one with 3 bulbs and one with 5 bulbs. Any opinions on that particular set-up of cfl's ???????

Click to expand...

theyre a waste of money not worth it

i got the hood online,the 4 42s i added on and i took down the batwing reflector inside to vent the heat out thru the top,and the batwing was made of aluminum,wich is a bad reflection source anyway since it causes heat burn

wackymack said:

theyre a waste of money not worth it

Click to expand...

Thank you, they sure as hell are exspensive too. Do you mind telling where online you got a cfl light with a hood ?? SH is the only place I have found that has any with a hood, I HAVE found some on ebay that are like enclosed flood lights. I would like to find a source that has them with more than one bulb in them. Any suggestions ??

I buy clip on shop lights at walmart, (around $6.00) but I don't put the reflective hood on mine since I use the splitter for 2 bulbs.

If you get too many lights going some times those hoods really get in the way.

Yeah those clamp on light's are the way to go. I can fit two of my 42 Watt bulbs in a y splitter in one. It only work's with the right bulb's because i tried my 23 Watt bulb's and it wouldn't fit. You can find all kinds of different thing's to use as light fixture's, just look around the electrical of walmart, lowes, or home-depot. They all have good stuff.

Another great thread chron!! I tried to hit the scales for ya but it told me to spread some love cuz I already gave you some recently. Way to go LtGen!! I like it

Boneman said:

Another great thread chron!! I tried to hit the scales for ya but it told me to spread some love cuz I already gave you some recently. Way to go LtGen!! I like it

Click to expand...

Thanks, hope i helped ya.

Dr., I am still trying to study up on all these overwhelming choices of cfl bulbs. I have found some screw in type bulbs that I like and I would like an opinion on them if you would please. I see that most everyone is using the 42W 2700K bulb for flowering by using multiple bulbs. I have found some 100W 2700K bulbs and some 135W 3000K bulbs and although they are larger in diameter than the 42W bulbs I see everyone using, wouldn't it be better to go with a higher wattage bulb in the same color spectrum ??? I guess my basic question is this....

Would I be better using the 100W and/or the 135W bulbs for flowering instead of the 42W bulbs since they are all 2700-3000K spectrum ??

They are from a seller off ebay, I can post a link to them so you could actually see them but not sure if the forum allows that. Thank you for any help.

EDIT*** That is the actual wattage of the cfl bulb I am speaking of, not the incandescent equivilant (SUPPOSEBLY....I have sent a question to clarify but not got an answer back as of yet)