IndicaFriendica
Member
Be careful how you read the packaging on CFL lights. You are probably only pushing 184 watts instead of the 800 you are thinking. If you look HERE you will notice that it says this bulb is 100 watts but really it only uses 23 watts. They say 100 watts because its lumens (visible light output) are equal to a 100 watt incandescent bulb which it would usually replace in a home. Look closely at your bulb and it probably says 23 watts around the base. Now there are real 100 watt CFLs but they are really big and usually only found at specialty stores or on the internet.
CFLs are a type of fluorescent light and T5s (long tubes in a fixture) are another type. They both work well when kept very close to the plants. You are right to be using 6500k for veg this is the right color for vegetative growth. I use a little over 400 watts of T5 for veg since it is a little more efficient than CFL and spreads the light out more to cover the canopy. I like how my plants get extremely bushy. Metal Halide is great for veg as well and has its advantages such as better penetration which gets more light to lower parts of the plant however heat can become a problem if you don't have sufficient ventilation.
Once you switch to flowering you will need to switch from 6500k light to around the 2700k range to help produce more flowering. You could continue to use fluorescent but I switch to 600watt hps at this time. I get anywhere from a 1/2 to a whole one using this method. Heres a page with some good grow lights http://www.htgsupply.com/growlightsubcategories.asp?categoryID=1
I agree with growhigh a 400hps could give you 200gram give or take and its not that expensive. Theres also some cheap t5s on there I would go for 400 + watts though and realize they will produce SOME heat although much less. Either way I would also look into a carbon filter w/ inline fan to take care of heat and smell. Then figure out which flowering nutes you will use and your set. All this should run you around $300-$350 so your paying $1-2 per gram when its all said and done. Good luck and don't take shortcuts in this trade you get what you put in.
IF
CFLs are a type of fluorescent light and T5s (long tubes in a fixture) are another type. They both work well when kept very close to the plants. You are right to be using 6500k for veg this is the right color for vegetative growth. I use a little over 400 watts of T5 for veg since it is a little more efficient than CFL and spreads the light out more to cover the canopy. I like how my plants get extremely bushy. Metal Halide is great for veg as well and has its advantages such as better penetration which gets more light to lower parts of the plant however heat can become a problem if you don't have sufficient ventilation.
Once you switch to flowering you will need to switch from 6500k light to around the 2700k range to help produce more flowering. You could continue to use fluorescent but I switch to 600watt hps at this time. I get anywhere from a 1/2 to a whole one using this method. Heres a page with some good grow lights http://www.htgsupply.com/growlightsubcategories.asp?categoryID=1
I agree with growhigh a 400hps could give you 200gram give or take and its not that expensive. Theres also some cheap t5s on there I would go for 400 + watts though and realize they will produce SOME heat although much less. Either way I would also look into a carbon filter w/ inline fan to take care of heat and smell. Then figure out which flowering nutes you will use and your set. All this should run you around $300-$350 so your paying $1-2 per gram when its all said and done. Good luck and don't take shortcuts in this trade you get what you put in.
IF
