Lightsssss

jade wolford

jade wolford

Member
I just need to confirm that the lights I'm using are ok or if I need more.
I have a little 24 24 48 tent. I only want to grow maybe 2 plants if I have the room.
 

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jade wolford said:
Thank you so much!:) i was stressing myself out about it. I'm reading just so many options I should use and second guessing myself lol.
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I know exactly the feeling.

2'x2' isn't much space, depending on how you're planning on training your plants and their genetics. Also CFL is the *most* inefficient light source available (excluding incandescent). A good way to judge your light setup's capability is through actual wattage draw from the wall.

Your "60 watt" CFLs are actually "60 watt equivalents" and probably draw 13-14w from the wall. To put it in perspective, I've got 4x13w CFLs and a 9.5w LED, and it's not enough for one plant to thrive. Not to say that I *couldn't* grow the plant under these lights.

I'm switching to: 300w(130w) Viparspectra https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B4GQ6MO

Your more efficient options may be limited due to your tent's height but check out LED lights for power efficiency, and HPS/MH for best yield/watt. Have fun!
 
If you're growing with CFL's I highly recommend you look into a SCROG setup do one plant in a nice big pot and veg her out. Once you have 5 leaves high top her and implement a scrog screen a couple inches above...as she grow through it tuck her leaves under to keep to plant short and bushy this will give you an even canopy for your CFL's because they have very crappy penetration but they can produce some nice ass buds if you get direct light on them :) good luck!
 
Welcome and hellllloo! Lol i don't grow in a tent so my advice is suspect at best . So I like t5s , cfls , mh ,hps ,and led household bulbs depending on when and where I'm using them.

T5s with my humidity dome for clones and seeds , also for early veg, and early up potting

Cfls and 19w LEDs with diffuser removed for seedlings and early veg

Mh for veg

Hps for flower

If I were using a t5 for all I would use the 6500k for veg 3500k for flower , if I had the resources to buy extra bulbs I would get some 5000k . In this case I would run 3 of the 6500k one 5000k till flip then change to 3 3500k with one 5000k till two to go pull out one 3500k and add back one 6500k till finish . As each stage of development needs a little something different .

Hope this helps .
 
I have to disagree with a couple of earlier posters - CFL isn't necessarily the least efficient light for growing (incandescent excluded). CFL's put out 50-70 lumens per watt, the vipar spectra linked above gives you around 33 lumens per watt (about 5% efficient) or 4589 total lumens and 50% of those lumens are in the BLue (veg) spectrum. There is however something to be said about the unidirectional and spectrum-specific attributes of these LED's.

My suggestion is to start from the beginning - how much would you like to yield in this space? While I've never grown in a space this small, I see 4 oz as doable per harvest with the right strain, grow style and lighting setup (and of course some practice). Good luck on your journey.

Criminal
 
I'm not 100% on this but I think part of the reason a lot of people agree LED/HPS/MH have higher yield/watt efficiency than CFL is due to photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) values. As I understand it, PAR is more useful for budding.

CFL do have great lumen/watt efficiency.
 
Feracon said:
I'm not 100% on this but I think part of the reason a lot of people agree LED/HPS/MH have higher yield/watt efficiency than CFL is due to photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) values. As I understand it, PAR is more useful for budding.

CFL do have great lumen/watt efficiency.
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actually some growers on youtube have gotten higher yield (GPW) with CFLs. it is strain dependent but spectral balance is important with more blue for vegging and more red for flowering.T5s are more effiecient than CFLs with outputs between 83 and 100 lumens per watt.the OPs lights will work fine in that space for learning how to grow.and learning advance training techniques.for a space that small options are limited and cheap LEDs are not the best choice. DIY is beyond many peoples abilities.
 
Feracon said:
I'm not 100% on this but I think part of the reason a lot of people agree LED/HPS/MH have higher yield/watt efficiency than CFL is due to photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) values. As I understand it, PAR is more useful for budding.

CFL do have great lumen/watt efficiency.
Click to expand...

PAR is just a measurement of radiation that the plant can use. Lumens are for humans, PAR is for plants. CFL and T5 fluorescents will grow weed, no doubt about it. Use enough of them and you can grow a lot of weed. Initial cost is relatively low and they allow you to get a feel for what the process is like. They are lower wattage , and while not terribly efficient when compared to COB LEDs (into the 60th percentile) and even HID (in the 30s) the lower wattage and subsequent lower temperatures coupled with ability to be placed close to your plants make them a great beginner's option. This is even more true in a height limited scenario.

So, go for it!
Criminal
 
Feracon said:
I know exactly the feeling.

2'x2' isn't much space, depending on how you're planning on training your plants and their genetics. Also CFL is the *most* inefficient light source available (excluding incandescent). A good way to judge your light setup's capability is through actual wattage draw from the wall.

Your "60 watt" CFLs are actually "60 watt equivalents" and probably draw 13-14w from the wall. To put it in perspective, I've got 4x13w CFLs and a 9.5w LED, and it's not enough for one plant to thrive. Not to say that I *couldn't* grow the plant under these lights.

I'm switching to: 300w(130w) Viparspectra https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B4GQ6MO

Your more efficient options may be limited due to your tent's height but check out LED lights for power efficiency, and HPS/MH for best yield/watt. Have fun!
Click to expand...
I have 3x3 and closet and I'm running a 1000watt king LED with 9 plants
 
Welcome!

CFLs are a bear to work with. It' a pain to rig them and it can get costly to build a nice rig. That said, I still use them :)

I just setup a 2x2 for fun.. As suggested I'm running a 150w HPS and four 26watt CFL's for sidelighting. It's a fair amount of light for that space. It will grow weed just fine although on the low side of recommended lumens per sqft . That's 24,400 lumens over 4 sqft or 6000 lumens per foot. Not bad not great. 8000 would be better.

Another option would be a 8 bulb 2ft t5. This would kick ass in that space with 4bloom bulbs and 4 veg bulbs you could veg and flower with same light.. Just have to make sure the fixture will fit in tent.

Another option (and I'm sure I'm about to get kicked in the nuts) is a Mars 300 LED. They're around 70 bucks right now. I'm tempted to get one, but do your research on that one. Mixed reviews.

The 150w HPS plus CFL would seem like the best option, all things considered. I've grown great plants under a 150.

Current 2x2 setup minus the 150 that I haven't hung yet. (If you want instructions to build the cfl light and reflector just let me know.)

Dec 1.jpg

I grew this under a 150w hps. Not too shabby.
2014-10-18 23.08.53.jpg
 
sunny747 said:
Welcome!

CFLs are a bear to work with. It' a pain to rig them and it can get costly to build a nice rig. That said, I still use them :)

I just setup a 2x2 for fun.. As suggested I'm running a 150w HPS and four 26watt CFL's for sidelighting. It's a fair amount of light for that space. It will grow weed just fine although on the low side of recommended lumens per sqft . That's 24,400 lumens over 4 sqft or 6000 lumens per foot. Not bad not great. 8000 would be better.

Another option would be a 8 bulb 2ft t5. This would kick ass in that space with 4bloom bulbs and 4 veg bulbs you could veg and flower with same light.. Just have to make sure the fixture will fit in tent.

Another option (and I'm sure I'm about to get kicked in the nuts) is a Mars 300 LED. They're around 70 bucks right now. I'm tempted to get one, but do your research on that one. Mixed reviews.

The 150w HPS plus CFL would seem like the best option, all things considered. I've grown great plants under a 150.

Current 2x2 setup minus the 150 that I haven't hung yet. (If you want instructions to build the cfl light and reflector just let me know.)

View attachment 3843114

I grew this under a 150w hps. Not too shabby.
View attachment 3843115
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don't waste your money on a mars hydro. mine lost 3 diodes in the first month.if you want a cheap LED to play with their are better units available.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J17UGU...UTF8&colid=AW7UKM9ED6GM&coliid=I3MXXVWRLB343O would be a much better choice.I have tried LEDS and COBs but I keep coming back to my T5s.with the strains I grow they give me better yield and quality.for a 2ft by 2 ft closet grow an inexpensive HPS may be an option as well https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KMW7RY...olid=AW7UKM9ED6GM&coliid=I16MXY1M60S5MV&psc=1. you do not need to spend a lot of money to grow high quality weed.as a MMJ patient I prefer high CBD strains so YMMV. good luck and have fun. this is a very enjoyable and rewarding hobby
 
Criminal_Med_Grower said:
I have to disagree with a couple of earlier posters - CFL isn't necessarily the least efficient light for growing (incandescent excluded). CFL's put out 50-70 lumens per watt, the vipar spectra linked above gives you around 33 lumens per watt (about 5% efficient) or 4589 total lumens and 50% of those lumens are in the BLue (veg) spectrum. There is however something to be said about the unidirectional and spectrum-specific attributes of these LED's.

My suggestion is to start from the beginning - how much would you like to yield in this space? While I've never grown in a space this small, I see 4 oz as doable per harvest with the right strain, grow style and lighting setup (and of course some practice). Good luck on your journey.

Criminal
Click to expand...
targeted spectrum is a myth. plants use the whole spectrum.been growing with T5s for a few years in a 2ft by 4ft closet grow using a mix of 6500k and roseate bulbs http://www.ebay.com/itm/54W-54-Watt...Lamps-Bloom-Veg-/261229975287?var=&hash=item0 and am very happy with the results. I replace my bulbs every 2 years and my light meter show a 5% lumen depreciation at that point.cannabis absortion spectrum.png
 
McCree Curve.

I think you misunderstood. I didn't say targeted spectrum was the best way to grow. I am saying that using specific LEDs in a DIY array can more accurately reproduce this. Blurple LEDs are not the answer.

And you get better results from T5 vs COB? Really?

And by the way, rather than have this conversation for ourselves, why don't we see if the OP comes back and has any other questions or is even still interested in this topic.

Just a thought,
Criminal
 
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Criminal_Med_Grower said:
McCree Curve.

I think you misunderstood. I didn't say targeted spectrum was the best way to grow. I am saying that using specific LEDs in a DIY array can more accurately reproduce this. Blurple LEDs are not the answer.

And you get better results from T5 vs COB? Really?

And by the way, rather than have this conversation for ourselves, why don't we see if the OP comes back and has any other questions or is even still interested in this topic.

Just a thought,
Criminal
Click to expand...

I already miss the op too. Lol
 
cfls power decrease dramatality after a foot or less of leaf penetration.

They're only good in big wattage and a lot of them all around the plant ..... stretchy stems and airy buds is all you'll get.


You need to lst the fxxx out of them so the light gets as much leaf as possible.


Below is the best example i could find on how to get the best out of 1 cfl ... i would leave a little more leaf on tho myself.



YLnaWUO.jpg


ok serious talk hurts my brain .. back to talk 'n' toke :)


Kasi :peace:
 
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