ok so for my first grow thinking the rubbermaid idea cause noisy land lord etc and i dont have the $400+ to spend on the right equipment to get a nice 600w hid dimming system. So my questions are as follows:

1. What is the biggest sized bulb you can go that wont just burn your plants and can work with 2 125cfm fans with 2 5in intakes? (going the DIY setup with sockets for 6 bulbs so figure on that.)

2. If you can get the total lumens for that small of a space say up to 10k/sqft hould that net me better results than it at 5k/sqft?

3. would bottom lighting be a good idea for that setup (like 1 or 2 extra bulbs) and would it make end results noticably different?

thats all i have for now but just wanting all the dam info i can get before i go spend the money on clones just to have them crap out on me. my end game plan is to get 3 or 4 of these going with one containing a mother.


Thanks

Zeek

well i am going to keep an eye on this one i have been wanting to add some cfl's to my grow and it seems not much info out there to see how it would work so i pretty much watching a lot

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1. What is the biggest sized bulb you can go that wont just burn your plants and can work with 2 125cfm fans with 2 5in intakes? (going the DIY setup with sockets for 6 bulbs so figure on that.)

I just use the 23 watt CFL's. Their heat is minimal and easy to manage, they're inexpensive and they're plenty effective. I think they're best for a small space. You can use a desk lamp with 3 y connectors, giving you a total of 4 bulbs per desk lamp, which is only 92 watts and takes up a very small amount of space per bulb. It'll be fine as long as your lamp is compatible with at least a 100 watt bulb.

2. If you can get the total lumens for that small of a space say up to 10k/sqft hould that net me better results than it at 5k/sqft?

Even 5k/sqft would be plenty and 10k may be a little more than necessary. The 23 watt CFL's I get have a 1600 lumen output each, giving you a potential of 6400 lumens per desk lamp. The increased power draw is barely noticeable and can easily be balanced out by routine power-saving measures.

3. would bottom lighting be a good idea for that setup (like 1 or 2 extra bulbs) and would it make end results noticably different?

Yes, bottom lighting is very useful with CFL's, because flourescent light does not penetrate as deeply as light from HID's. Canopy only lighting will cause the leaves at the bottom of the plant to die progressively upward as the plant gets taller. The plants will require more square footage each because growth will be concentrated in a thin but wide canopy layer at the top of the plant. Bushier plants are better, and lighting to depth below the canopy will definitely increase your yield.

I'd suggest supplemental lighting from the side of the plants rather than the bottom, since the plants have a preference as to which side of the leaf they like to catch the light with and will try to turn their leaves to more effectively catch the light on the top surface of the leaf. One or two extra bulbs on the sides is better than none at all and if you place them well in a small grow you might get really good results. Remember with CFL's more light comes out of the side of the bulb than the top, so position it accordingly. If you can, try to "surround" your plants with the bulbs, however many you end up getting. Keep them as close as you can without burning the leaves.

Make sure your CFL's are not in the middle of the color spectrum. Go for either 2700k or closer to 6-7000k. Supposedly 2700k is better for flowering while the higher end of the spectrum is better for vegging.

In any case, good luck.

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Nothing that I say is true. When I use the word "I" I am referring to a fictional entity.

Current Grow:
http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/cfl-closet-grow-14588/

Good advice^^^

He guys,

Something I've been thinking about. The CFLs emit their light not fron the tips of the bulbs but from the sides mainly so wouldn't it be more advantageous to set them up slightly lower and to the sides instead of directly over the plant tops?

What is the penetration spread for a CFL anyway, something like six to eight inches?

Depending on your space I'd go with two four banger bathroom fixtures instead of the six banger. I originally bought the six banger and then switched due to less flexibility. The four bangers can be maneuvered more strategically compared to the six banger bathroom fixtures.

I'd also think about building your own fixture since it's so easy to do (for side lighting) and you can do it for under ten bucks!

-the Corsican.

Hello,

I personally will tell you that 2 FCL 125w lights are low ...
I worked before (2 years with 2 lamps 170w Maxgrow) the result is not bad ... I'll put 1 picture ! But 2 x FCL 125w: it is small !
The Bud will be small! Not thick! Not dense! take a 250w HPS is a good option ... ( look at my photos ! I'm still working since more than 15 years with the 250w !)! + You can get a 250w HPS that 2 x 125w ...
In addition we must keep the plants very close FCL ! The lower plant is never beautiful ... Sativa and truths are difficult + I personally do not take 2 FCL 125w lamps for a good result !
Obviously this is a personal opinion ...
for a good final = you should keep your plants smaller ? If you let them grow up too high = down of plants is not suffisemant light !
I will change not a 250w HPS lamps cons 2 FCL 170w! no problem!

Respect,
Daz.

Attached Images

Final=2=FCL.jpg (125.0 KB, 18 views)

I pretty much agree with everything you said. The CFL's I'm using are for veg. I'm going to buy two 250w HPS (because of the odd shape of my flowering area) in order to get a decent yield. I'll use CFLs for flowering if I'm forced to (no money to buy them in time) but will do all I can to get the HPS lights for flowering. Some people rage over CFLs but I think that's because they are limited for specific reasons.

Anyone out there looking for optimum results knows that HIDs are the best option for bigger yields. It all comes down to environment and how much money you have to spend. Some people can't afford the HIDs or their grow space works better with CFLs.

Either way a good grower can produce excellent results with either lighting. In the end you can have the best equipment money can buy and not be able to grow a blade of grass!

By the way, were the buds in that picture grown with a 250 HPS or CFLs?

Thanks,

-the Corsican.

In my understanding the CFL's are not as efficient as the HID's, but they give you better control over energy consumption and heat in the grow-room. They're much better for spaces with sub-par ventilation, or for small growing spaces where one doesn't have room to have an 18 inch distance between their lights and the tops of their plants.

Under ideal circumstances, using HID's with good ventilation in an unrestrictive grow space would give you a much better yeild than using CFL's only under any conditions, but CFL's are a really good option for cases where you have a limited amount of space or air movement/heat buildup within your space. They're also great for beginners because they're just plain easier and less expensive. You won't make a several hundred dollar mistake with CFL's by letting moisture from your fingers or a mister get on the bulb and burn it out. But even for advanced growers I think there are situations in which CFL's are more ideal. As long as cannabis cultivation is a somewhat private affair I think CFL's will be one of the best lighting choices for gardens under 8'X8'.

__________________

Nothing that I say is true. When I use the word "I" I am referring to a fictional entity.

Current Grow:
http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/cfl-closet-grow-14588/

so cfl's are safer then...that answers a couple of questions for me as well. thanks for the post!

__________________

Yeah, I'd say CFL's are safer in general than HID's. They're stealtheir and less of a fire hazard. I say stealthier because your grow can be more compact with CFL's than it can with HID's, not because they put out less light. A light leak is a light leak, there's nothing stealthy about that whether it's CFL's or HID's.

__________________

Nothing that I say is true. When I use the word "I" I am referring to a fictional entity.

Current Grow:
http://www.greenpassion.org/f24/cfl-closet-grow-14588/

The buds are the picture with 2 lamps FCL ... 2 Maxgrow of 170W !
But the plants are small ! 85cm tall ! And it was 340W FCL ! ! !

With one Maxgrow 170W buds are identical but you can not + Placer only 2 or 3 plants ... Have fun crop for 1 = We had 2 lamps 170W FCL.
FCL 125w IS 1 gadget ... not practical to have 1 good harvest !
If you place only 1 FCL flowering chosen a = 200W or even a 250W FCL! ! !
I work at all with the FCL in bloom a long time ... FCL is super good for grow = No problem !
The light spectrum of FCL growth is very good, but not blooming ...
You never will get the same performance as with 1 single 250w HPS! ! !
With only one 250w HPS you can have nice things ... great plants !
Big buds !
For the price I bought it in = hand ...
Ballast and lamps in hand ... I own 2 lamps 250w HPS in 2 different box !
1 of my running lamps for 4 YEARS ! The ballast is a bit of noise that is equal to me, LOL ! When it breaks, longer works = I change ...
this is EVERYTHING !
With 35€ I had 1 + 1 lamp ballast 250w HPS in hand ... No mandatory buy 1 and 1 Digital ballast lamps $150 to grow...

I'll post 2 or 3 photos with one 250w HPS only....
NO TRICK, NO LIE !!!!!!! this comes from a single 250w HPS !!!!!!!!!!!!
Just "Rhizotonic" for the baby + in Grow & Terra-Florés (of CANNA) in Bloom, NOTHING MORE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOD DAY HAS ALL ! ! !
Respect,
daz.

Attached Images

	150w37.jpg (61.0 KB, 12 views)
	1j.jpg (70.8 KB, 9 views)
	nl_and_250w.jpg (115.3 KB, 10 views)

on the first 2 photos, there were only 2 plants under a 250w HPS and that there + 250Gr ! ! ! ;))
if your growing space is small (like me) you put only 2 or 3 plants ! This is no problem 1 = with 2 spaces = culture you can have 1 good harvest ! It is not possible with lamps FCL ... To grow I own only 1 FCL 125w lamp and it works very well! The plants are only 15 days to Grow, not mandatory to have a large space to Grow, not mandatory to have 600w HID to Grow ! ! ! Fortunately !!!!!!!!!!!!!
+ The important thing is the BLOOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you have 1 good hygiométrie: moisture / air, 1 good ventilation, that meets you well during your Ec = BLOOM you not need 30 different fertilizer ... No need to 3000W HPS in Bloom for 400 ? 450gr or MORE ? at each harvest ...
NOT spend too much for Cultuver Dollars !
Investing $ 2,000 in his area of culture is not synonymous of efficiency ...
With $ 150 you can have 2 spaces for culture and to complete a lot of fun collecting ...

Good Chance for the Choice ! ! !

HAS SOON..

Nice plants!

What strain are they?

-the Corsican.

the plants in the bathtub are Sour Diesel / Bubblegum and the small 1 NL9 of Sagarmatha...

I tell you this just so you're not disappointed ... LOL


working with HPS in Bloom is always productive than + with FCL !
Many farmers have tried the lamps FCL and returned to HPS ....

Has Soon !

The third plant, furthest to the right looks the sweetest! Great job brother!