cfl upgrade advise needed

currently have 3x 24w cfls in each box after a few terrible terrible auto grows im now going for a 1-2 regular plant scrog and i know the cfls wont cut it (and probably why the autos didnt go well) so im looking at squeezing a y splitter (or 2 if fits) in each cab to have 4 or hopefully 5 cfls in each extension then 2 cfl hangers each side of flower box with y splitters adding 4 bulbs.

i have tried looking at a 150w cfl but cant see it fitting well and the sets with reflector are all just slightly to big to fit.

the cfl hangers i see all say 150w 200w and up so dont know if ok to use sizes under that? any advise welcome want to ensure the plants get what they need to not dissapoint me again!

cab sizes = 24"tall 16wide 9.5depth and larger is 36" tall

You want at least 100w per plant in veg and 2-3 times that in flower.

If your looking to go cfls then get a bunch of 23w 5000k, that is the best Kelvin in cfls. Also you start losing lumen output with the bigger bulbs, the 23w is just about as perfect as you can get.

And, it's better to have your lights close and adjust them up, instead of waiting for your plant to grow up to them.

Ok going for 100-120w veg and 200-220w flower waiting on a bunch of parts for sorting the lights out then can play around and see from there what needs doing.

The lights on adapter is movable has several attachments for varying height. Working out how will fix the scrog screen now also

IMO, more of the small (13w and 23w) bulbs are easier to position around and over the plant, especially in a confined space like that.
Here's mine.
305w in a 2x2 area.

yeah what bak said..gotta get them lights really close

Yeah im going for 20 and 23w cant see anything bigger fitting right ive got y splitters, flexible extenders and hangers on there way.

Anyone know a easy way to fit scrog screen? I want it attached or stabilised to the dwc tub so can move it between boxes going to order chicken wire 2inch not got the tools to be doing shit with wood and power drills.

I used CFL's for 9 months and let me tell you, positioning them is a pain in the ass. A T5 setup is SOOOOO much easier. Also i noticed CFLs get ridiculously hot. I actually let me seedlings grow into my T5's because they aren't even warm..

Doc greenthum said:

Yeah im going for 20 and 23w cant see anything bigger fitting right ive got y splitters, flexible extenders and hangers on there way.

Anyone know a easy way to fit scrog screen? I want it attached or stabilised to the dwc tub so can move it between boxes going to order chicken wire 2inch not got the tools to be doing shit with wood and power drills.

Click to expand...

A picture frame and a staple gun would work for you.

with all the money it sounds like your about to drop on bulbs and splitters, just get a 150w hps. Will be a little more, but will give you alotttt more bang for your buck. Would be perfect for 2 plants also.

the price that he is about to pay with the splitters and the lights are not going to be anywhere close to the price of that 150w hps. I use 14x 23w 5000k cfls and it is working out good for me. But like the other people said. " It is a pain in the ass to be moving bulbs around all the damn time.

And for the people that dont know the prices of splitters and other CFL growing equipments:
Y splitter- $2.57
4 pack of 23w 5000k cfl- $8.00
2 1/2 in duct reflector - $3.87
Light socket with cord -$5.00 each

Total with everything -Around $80.00 --- Much Less the HPS light.

First off, seems like a nice box youve built. But, are those light movable or were they always that far away from your plants? They are much too far away, thats probably why you didnt have optimal results.
You dont need 100w per plant and especially not 3x that for flowering... Sure more is better but I would say generally try to get at least 150w in there, more if possible. But 300w per plant x 6 plants... I wouldnt suggest cramming 1800w of cfls in there

My advice: Get a few more 23w CFLs, whatever you can fit in there and where the temps dont become a problem. M guess is you can get 6-7 of them in there. Im not a big fa of T5s, but they wouldnt fit in there anyways so no need to think about it too much.

IMO SCROG is always the best way to go so good on you for thinking about it. Its not so much about the height of your box, you dont need them to grow that tell before tying them down on a screen. I would lower those lights (will create empty space above but thatll just help with keeping temps down anyway) and then staple string or wires from wall to wall in order to make a screen. Be sure that you can either raise and lower the lights or the pots in the beginning to keep them close to the light.

Last tip, you dont need to actively blow air INTO the box. Have all fanse blowing air OUT and add a hole where air will be passively sucked in. If temps are good right now (or after adding all CFLs) then just leave it as it is