Recommend 2ft CFL from Home Depot or Lowes

[ReelFiles]

I did read the stickies, so I basically know what to look for. I am going to use these for my veg box (2'x2'x3'). I guess daylight would be good, or a mix. I am not sure how many Watts I would need. I need 4 24" lights, or 2 double fixtures. Are they all pretty much the same or is there a special brand I should be looking for? Should I even be looking for tubes or is there something more efficient?

 

[nightshd]

CFLs are Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs, i think youre describing normal fluoro tubes. If you go with CFLS just get 4x42 watt 6500k bulbs, that should do it for a 2ft veg box

 

[ReelFiles]

Oh, I thought CFL was the acronym for fluorescent tubes, which type of lights are you talking about?

I think you mean these, but that's way out of my price range, I'd rather get tubes.

 

[tom__420]

Home depot has a 20 dollar t-5 light (non high output)
Dual bulb but it comes with soft white bulbs
I am using three of those fixtures in my veg cab, 6 bulbs total and it is working great

 

[ReelFiles]

Thanks. You mean these? That's like an under counter light I think, I am browsing their site now looking for 24" commercial lights, I guess. Was hoping to find a dual bulb setup, so I only have to wire up 2 ballasts.

 

[tom__420]

Nope that is not the ones, they aren't listed on the site
Go to the back where the lighting is and you should find them
http://www.lightingdirect.com/light-concepts-c-2-32re-fluorescent-4-foot-strip-light/p397867?source=shz_397867
It is the same light as that link, just cheaper at home depot

 

[ReelFiles]

Cool, but that's a 4' light. I just found

these at Lowes, what's the difference between T5 and T8?

 

[tom__420]

t-8s are not as good as t-5 lights, not even close
The light that I linked is the exact same light just 4 foot instead of 2 foot
I have been to three different home depots and they all had them
If you are going with the tubes anything but t-5s will be a waste for vegging
You would be better off with regular CFL's

 

[ReelFiles]

Good to know, I assume they have a lower wattage? So I am looking for 24" Daylight T5's then, right?

 

[tom__420]

You are going to have to order those, they don't sell the daylight ones at HD
I am using the soft white ones they came with, no other bulbs
My veg box is better than ever even with the soft whites
Here is a link to the bulbs you can get in 6500°K
http://www.1000bulbs.com/F14T5-6500K/

 

[ReelFiles]

Are the GE ones any good? What about specialty bulbs like this? Maybe I am just overthinking this too much and I should just grab a couple of 2ft shop lights from Depot, not like I got a lot of money anyways. Thanks for your quick responses, it's really appreciated.

 

[skervy]

thats 4sqft your gonna wanna use about 300-400 watts depending how much of the space will have a canopy. if you want cheap go with cfl not tubes your gonna get alot more light for alot less money with cfl

 

[ReelFiles]

WOW 3-400 I am only planning on using that much for my flowering area which is just a tad bit bigger. So I would need like 10 double 2ft tubes if each set uses roughly 28W, for a total of 280W.. that sounds like a lot for vegging. I also have a spare 150W HPS, but I read that they weren't that good for veging and cause stretching. Plus I am worried about all that heat in my veg box.

 

[tom__420]

WOW 3-400 I am only planning on using that much for my flowering area which is just a tad bit bigger. So I would need like 10 double 2ft tubes if each set uses roughly 28W, for a total of 280W.. that sounds like a lot for vegging. I also have a spare 150W HPS, but I read that they weren't that good for flowering and cause stretching. Plus I am worried about all that heat in my veg box.

yeah 300-400 watts for vegging is ridiculous that is just untrue
Just go with the two foot dual bulb t-5's from HD. Just use the bulbs they come with until you can get the better ones. This would give you the best lighting for your money

 

[ReelFiles]

OK I thought that sounded whacked. Anyways, so do you think 4 tubes would be enough? I do plan on keeping the babies as close as possible to the bulbs, probably ca 2-3" if it's cool enough.

 

[tom__420]

I have had my leaves touching the bulbs, Keep them within an inch of the bulbs
Start with two fixtures, 4 bulbs, and work your way up as they get bigger. That is what I did

 

[skervy]

ok i didnt notice the vegging part but still 100w worth of tubes aint gonna last long for 4sqft of space unless your not vegging them very long or maybe just a couple small plants. my space is just around 2.5 sqft of canopy and ive been running 312w (12x 26w bulbs) since they were 2 weeks old their doin great. 150 hps is great for flowering you didnt read right because thats what people use in flowering hps bulbs

quick edit i read through my journal to find it and theyve been under 312w since 6 days after sprouting not 2 weeks

 

[ReelFiles]

Yeah that sounds like a plan. Right now I just have 30 Sour Diesel clones, that haven't rooted yet. I just kinda have them sitting off to the side, letting them catch a little light from the HPS, since the mommies are still in veg. They should be rooted by the end of next week, so I wanna get this ready for them, thanks again for all your help.

 

[ReelFiles]

...150 hps is great for flowering you didnt read right because thats what people use in flowering hps bulbs...

My bad, I meant vegging, I fixed the original post. I am actually planning on using 2x 150W HPS for flowering.

 

[tom__420]

Here is my great white shark under the t-5s I am talking about
she is 2 weeks 6 days old when these pics were taken

That is using only 84 watts of regular t-5, three two bulb fixtures from home depot