CFL first-timer

acesap

New Member
So this is my first time and I feel as if I may have fucked up.
I've got 4 23W 3500K bulbs and 2 19W 5000K bulbs.
I have 3 plants on a hydroponic system with an airpump and all that jazz..
My question here is are they adequate for 3 plants, and how would I place them ._. ?
 

z666ne

Member
Try this out : http://cannaversity.com/calculators/lighting.php

Measure the space of whatever you're using and convert it into the right units, select 120v.

You have 130 watts of light. Divide that by the square footage of the space, and you're left with the watts per square foot.

My grow cabinet has 204w of CFL light, its 4.5 sq ft. that = 45.3 watts per sq ft. Optimal for my space is 40w/sq ft , maximum is 60.

Hope this helped, on my first grow as well. 1 week in.


Also, if your water/nutes/airflow/temp/humidity etc are all good, you probably just need a couple more 23w CFLs.
 

acesap

New Member
I changed my lid to one plant since its my first grow. I don't wanna ruin something so soon lol.
but now I have one plant with 4 23W 3500K bulbs and 2 19W 5000K bulbs.. It's in a closet about 3' wide, 4 1/2' tall, and 2' front to back.
Would hanging the four lights around the one plant, and dangling the other two somewhere and just swapping their spots in between the 4 lights weekly work well enough ?


I'm also open to any suggestions on some fairly priced hydro-organic nutrients as well.
 

acesap

New Member
calculator said 6.0 squarefeet
"
Lighting
The optimum reccomended lighting for your area is 240 watts
Ventilation
For optimum ventilation the flow rating of your fan should be around 22.0 Cubic Feet per Minute
Power Requirements
This setup will require 2.6 amps to be available at all times for safest operation*
"
 

themjkid22

Member
you havent fucked up yet your still doing ok i would def get some higher wattage bulbs and get them in the 2700k range you can get 105 watters at HD for like 10 bucks and they rock!!! if your in flower id say the sooner the better but they are a weed remember that and they honestly will grow from the light from the phone
 

acesap

New Member
Can I just use these CFL's all the way through or does that require some sort of auto flowering strain ._. ?
 

Cereal box

Active Member
Can I just use these CFL's all the way through or does that require some sort of auto flowering strain ._. ?
Absolutely, you can use CFLs the whole way through. I would recommend getting 1 or 2 40-50 watt 2700k CFLs, as they'll work better in getting dense buds than a 20w.
 

Cereal box

Active Member
I've seen those when browsing and I haven't figured out the socket thing either. I have a 125w that works great but it's has a mogul ballast that I just screw it on to my hood. I got my hood/reflector and veg/flower bulbs all for 80$ on amazon. Seemed like a good deal when one bulb costs 30$. My avatar pic is of a plant I grew with it.
 

z666ne

Member
I've seen those when browsing and I haven't figured out the socket thing either. I have a 125w that works great but it's has a mogul ballast that I just screw it on to my hood. I got my hood/reflector and veg/flower bulbs all for 80$ on amazon. Seemed like a good deal when one bulb costs 30$. My avatar pic is of a plant I grew with it.
Yeah I was looking for higher wattage ones but the highest I could find was 42 with the 4 or 2 pin bulbs. I found fixtures for them for 3-5 bucks on amazon. I'd rather just get some t5s i dunno.
 

z666ne

Member
hey thats cool and pretty cheap. How do you cool/vent it?

Do you use that + other single cfl bulbs? that sounds like it'd be ideal
 

Cereal box

Active Member
I just have one fan pointed at the hood and a fan blowing on the plant. It usually doesn't get above 80f in there.

yeah, I use that an two other bulbs. Both are 56w spirals CFLs. All in all I have a little over 200w running.
 

eLinc420

Member
About the CFLs in many cases it was found that during vegetative growth to use 6500 kelvin ( cool blue ) and flowering use 2700 kelvin ( warmer color). Duri g partner grows we used primarily 6500k bulbs mixed with 3000, 5000k, and 2700k bulbs for flowering we switched to primarily 2700k and a few 6500k, did great. Ill be starti g a journal soon finishing up my box now.
 

z666ne

Member
About the CFLs in many cases it was found that during vegetative growth to use 6500 kelvin ( cool blue ) and flowering use 2700 kelvin ( warmer color). Duri g partner grows we used primarily 6500k bulbs mixed with 3000, 5000k, and 2700k bulbs for flowering we switched to primarily 2700k and a few 6500k, did great. Ill be starti g a journal soon finishing up my box now.
Interested in seeing what you set up. It's good to have a full spectrum of light like that. What kinda box were you workin with?

Atlanta I see, me too.
 
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