Advantage V. disadvantage CFL's
- Thread starter lastfrontier
- Start date
Dont Fear The Reefer
New Member
appears so... Sorry I missed your thread when asking about cfl's yesterday... I have started with 2 t8 4' strips and plan to add 150 watt cfl bulbs after plants started good
yesum
Well-Known Member
Cfl gives better spectrum than hps and also gives uv which hps lacks. It is easier to cool cfl if using just a few, the heat is spread slower with cfl, although in time it is the same as hid.
Around 2-300 watts you will want to go with hid or LED, cause it would be such a hassle to keep a bunch of cfl's moved around. The grams per watt is usually on the side of hid, but I have seen cfl grows that get near a gram a watt, if not a gram. These are optimized grows from people that have been growing pot for years under cfl. Most people using cfl are fairly new to growing and that is why the low yields, not the lights.
If you want to grow a plant more than 1 foot tall the cfl kinda goes to hell. The penetration of hid in the higher wattage is really good. A good reflector is needed for a cfl to use it's light efficiently, but a fan is advised to cool the plants right under the reflector. 1 or 2 inches max for distance of cfl light to plant to get anything.
Around 2-300 watts you will want to go with hid or LED, cause it would be such a hassle to keep a bunch of cfl's moved around. The grams per watt is usually on the side of hid, but I have seen cfl grows that get near a gram a watt, if not a gram. These are optimized grows from people that have been growing pot for years under cfl. Most people using cfl are fairly new to growing and that is why the low yields, not the lights.
If you want to grow a plant more than 1 foot tall the cfl kinda goes to hell. The penetration of hid in the higher wattage is really good. A good reflector is needed for a cfl to use it's light efficiently, but a fan is advised to cool the plants right under the reflector. 1 or 2 inches max for distance of cfl light to plant to get anything.
Stankx
Well-Known Member
For those who dont think CFL's work. They do. I've been using CFL's with success for almost three years and I grow 3 to 5ft tall plants. I bought them from this guy http://cfl-growlight.com/ before he had a web site. I wont say they are better than HiD or HPS but when used properly, they are as good. One thing I have not heard talked about on this thread is the USABLE lumen out put of CFL's VS HPS. It seems that thats what the old time HPS growers kinda hang their hat on..."A 1000w HPS has over 150k of lumen" While a 1000w equivalent CFL setup only has 16 -18.5k in lumen. Its seems clear whats better ...right? Until you look a little closer. The CFL has lower lumen but you plants can use 100% of it because its in the correct spectrum's while the HPS bulbs having all that almost useless lumen because most of it (87%!) is in spectrums completely unusable to plant life at all. Yes, thats right! A whopping 13% of the light emitted from HPS bulbs is usable to plants! The rest of it...you feel it in excess heat or wasted heat and energy. Anytime you plug something in and it produces heat when thats not your goal...its wasted energy, and in this case lumen.
Stankx
Well-Known Member
Check these out. http://cfl-growlight.com/store/1400-watt-vegitation-spectrum-cfl-grow-unit-p-16.html ... I use these lights but I have the 1000w and 1200w versions before this dude had a website.CFL Grow
Veg Setup:
6x T5HO 24W 6500K 1900lumen each
3x 18W CFL 6500K 1150lumen each
1x 32W CFL 5000K 2060lumen
1x 85W CFL 4200K 4500lumen
Total: 21410lumen
Bloom Setup:
6x T5HO 24W 2700K 1700lumen each
2x 32W CFL 2700K 1700lumen each
1x 18W CFL 6500K 1150lumen
1x 32W CFL 5000K 2060lumen
1x 125W CFL 2700K 9000lumen
Total: 25810lumen
Cabinet Size:
Width: 50cm
Depth: 60cm
Height: 90cm
15ltr Pot
1 Bubblelicious clone
Now at 5 days 12/12,
yield? yet to be determined?!?!
Here's the flower setup: http://cfl-growlight.com/store/1400-watt-flowering-spectrum-cfl-grow-unit-p-17.html
Stankx
Well-Known Member
Spoken like someone who doesn't really know... sounds like you heard it through the grape vine or something.
I've done both and CFL's can do the job, in fact for quality you cant beat cfl's if you know what your doing, but you've got to use enough light. Most CFL growers don't use enough light to compete with HPS, and thats why CFL's have a bad rap. Try blending your spectrum's with HPS, or mounting your HPS lights for side and undergrowth...not happening. Ever wonder why they dont use HPS and MH lights for tanning booths? They use fluorescent light BECAUSE IT CAN MIMIC THE SUN. Don't you think your plants would like more than one spectrum of light..eh? Like the sun? I'm not going to totally shit on HPS units though. I'm getting about 10% - 15% less yield BUT, I more than make that up in the increased quality and smaller power bill....MUCH SMALLER!
yesum
Well-Known Member
Looked at those lights and they use a y splitter and reflector. That is how I do it. I measured with lux meter and it doubled the reading with reflector. The y splitter aims the sides of the cfl into one stream of light, doubling the lumens and penetration.
I use 55 watt pl-l flouros mostly now. They are more efficient than the coil bulbs.
I use 55 watt pl-l flouros mostly now. They are more efficient than the coil bulbs.
Arabian Buddah
Member
Hi friend ,,,I am growing two plants (northern lights & blue cheesed) indoor
Am using cfl lights with 2700k 105 wat, was thinking of using MD or HPS, however I was worried about the heat which will be caused by these lights
Anyway my Q is, what is the best number of cfl's bulbs required (watts,quantity..etc)?
My aim is to reach the same yield or more like we do with
HD & HPS lights, but using cfl's
Am using cfl lights with 2700k 105 wat, was thinking of using MD or HPS, however I was worried about the heat which will be caused by these lights
Anyway my Q is, what is the best number of cfl's bulbs required (watts,quantity..etc)?
My aim is to reach the same yield or more like we do with
HD & HPS lights, but using cfl's
pkyabigtime
Well-Known Member
completely cfl, almost done 5 plants
ML75
Active Member
and I love you
justin184
Member
been serving me well so far.
Sk33tINnOObs
Active Member
LOL... I think you doing alright bro nice set up.... Stay high my friends
SativaSlut
Member
Hi, and welcome to a newcomer. My first thread. Didin't grow anything, YET : )
- ( EDIT . : . It's a reply\post, not a thread. My bad : )
Idgit says w007 ?
If his current stash is making him BOTH retarded AND negative : )
Make me lol why dont'chya... : Þ~~
Be Well John Spartan . o /
- ( EDIT . : . It's a reply\post, not a thread. My bad : )
Idgit says w007 ?
Just wanted to tell lastfrontier he should start growing some new strains...
If his current stash is making him BOTH retarded AND negative : )
Make me lol why dont'chya... : Þ~~
Be Well John Spartan . o /
pacificarage
Well-Known Member
This is what I'm using. 55 watts, 5000K. Works great for veg.
surfhead
Well-Known Member
i have 2 tents same size . one has CFLs the other has a 250 watt HPS . My question is why plants in hps tent yellow much more rapidly than those in the CFL tent. i have started 2 plants same strain ,same time ,same nutes . those in the cfl tent are much greener and healthier looking .
rockinriggin
Member
I like your cfl setup, but am not sure about your yields.....I would really like to see a better picture of your light box. And pix of your plants...
mushthamagic
Member
CFL plants normally produce less than 2 os?? I have a plant surrounded by almost 400 watts fluoro lighting of daylight cool white and soft white spectrums, guess that means I should still get the hps man. I really didnt wanna deal wit that shit but guess I have 2