Thanks for the info. Im on a space constraint. I just need a couple small lights for say 3 small bonzai plants like no taller than 10 inches. Im heavily considering a PC grow box. What kimd of lights do I need for that?
Its about light quality and cfls are crappy versions of flourescents basically and inefective designs, ive messed about with all cheap lights except leds (forget them rubbish!) and i have been really dissapointed with cfls but two foot flourescents really gave me somthing to work with.
Alas some people like to go really small and use them tiny cfls, at this point i have to say another hobby might be more fulfilling!lol! Read the grow threads with small cfls and flouros plus size considerations and the fact that enclose any light no matter what in a pc box and it gona get hot.
I question the need for small growers to grow in a box, your obviously not trying to hide the lights that would normally be found in a fish tank or houshold light and 12'' canabis plants are really easilly hidden from veiw behind say a table and chairs or screen and doing it that way means little heat build up and a small desk fan is all the cooling you'll need.
At this stage read the grow threads for cfls and flourescents and see which ones
A) Best suit your space and heat requirements and
B) Which will give you the yeild you want for youe money.
Personally please never believe that an 18watt cfl has an equivelent wattage rating of like 75watts or 100watts as it is still only an 18watt light source for plants, these are manufacturers bending of the truths, place a 100watt incandescent normal bulb next to a qoowatt equivelent cfl and youll see that they are merely a puny 18watts really.
Do the reading and let us know which your going for, quite often a walk round the shops to see whats available to you as well will help. Also read up on light spectrum, tempreture and Kelvin so you know what colour bulbs and light yiu want for veg and flower. Peace