CfL vs Hps/mh

Im thinking I can cover more area using cfl's than using hps.What I mean is, say I couldnt go over 400 watts for lights So Instead of using a 400 watt hps that covers 3x3' i could use 13 30 watt cfl's which uses 390-400 watts, I would be able to cover. what does YOU think?

No Need for HPS....Have a look around and answer your own question lad

Check out Concord Dawns and xp0cs grows

You're looking at around 22,000 lumens with those cfls vs 50,000 lumens with a 400w hps. So, you would have less than half the light output with the same amount of power. Doesn't sound very good to me.

Sincerely420 said:

No Need for HPS....Have a look around and answer your own question lad

Check out Concord Dawns and xp0cs grows

Click to expand...

There's also no need to eat a lot of the different foods we eat. I could survive for years off Top Ramon and Parsley. Does that mean I would thrive to my maximum potential eating only that? Probably not.

The way you would have to position the CFL's to get good penetration in a 3x3, I don't think they will go as far as you are anticipating.
I have 15 CFL's in a 2x2 area and it's fine for one plant, but I am waiting for my next indoor and maybe experiment with an HPS for flower.
I think it'll be overkill, but I would like to see the difference in the buds.

if it's an option, go with the HPS. They are more efficient. I went CFL because I was able to scale up, as I had the money. At 800w of CFL/Florescent light, I'll estimate I'm only getting about 65% of the growth and flowering potential out of my plants.

My post-grow expansion will be replacing the CFL array with 2 400w HPS lights. I've already devised a 2 level hydro system, in the same space. That'll allow me to split the height in half and double my plant count. Currently, I have a 9' height limit but can only utilize the first 4' of it, capping me at 8 plants. With HPS I can double the plants by splitting the area in half, and going with a 2 level hydro setup.