Critique my unusual cfl setup

mjr99

Well-Known Member



Ill be growing diesel ryders which from what i hear only reach 20-25 inches tall and have very few branches. I bought these work lights for practically nothing but im a bit worried that without reflectors im wasting alot of light. They're on chains and i have 12 hooks about 3 inches apart on the shelf above them. The lights can also be rotated 180 degrees. Im using fems and ill have to flower all five in that small space. I have 3 on the shelf above under clip reflectors.

Comments? tia.
 

00smokey

Active Member
Those lights should be mounted sideways to start with and reflectors would be better.
I'm using sideways mounted cfl's without reflectors and my plant is going great.
You want to get the lights down to 2inches above the plant too,


You will also need more lights as she grows too
Happy growing!!!
 

KaleoXxX

Well-Known Member
ya i was gonna ask, how high from the plants are the lights? or did you move em up for the picture? you should have them (ideally between) 1-3 in from the top of your tallest plant. what wat cfls are you using? can i get a pic w/ a dif angle?
 

mjr99

Well-Known Member
ya i was gonna ask, how high from the plants are the lights? or did you move em up for the picture? you should have them (ideally between) 1-3 in from the top of your tallest plant. what wat cfls are you using? can i get a pic w/ a dif angle?

the plants are only a week old so im keeping the 42w lights about 4 or so inches away. Ideally, i thought i would have one bulb on each side of every plant as they grow. Im going to have to be constantly adjusting the lights but i think it could work. I thought about turning the cfls sideways but i couldnt come up with a practical reflector design in my head. And theres no way i would do it without a reflector and waste half the light. Once the plants start growing the bulbs will be down in between the plants.
 

grow space

Well-Known Member
nice man-but i would but those lights much close, like an inch away.u know the penetration level of cfl-s are really low.
 

mjr99

Well-Known Member
Nice set up, where did you get those light mounts?

ebay. theyre the stanley work lights. the ones that come with the cage protector on top. i just took those off and bought the "y" attachments. I think i payed $28 for six of them shipped.
 

KaleoXxX

Well-Known Member
plain white paint is dec at reflection, but next time you have some loot for an upgrade get some mylar (if you cant find/afford a sheet of it, emergency blankets and shiny wraping paper are atleast coated in mylar) but its no rush. you have your lights close but i would put them closer, 1-3 in. maybe get a bigger rotating fan once the plants are big enough to notice the wind, because it will simulate wind and give you a stronger stem
 

joeiv916

Active Member
ebay. theyre the stanley work lights. the ones that come with the cage protector on top. i just took those off and bought the "y" attachments. I think i payed $28 for six of them shipped.
Ahh ok, thanks! Happy growing
 
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