fluoresent tubes vs. CFL's?

boarderofsnow

Well-Known Member
What is the difference between fluoresent tubes and CFL's? I know most people recommend and use CFL's but what is the difference?
 
Tubes work great over a long bed of clones. CFLs are intense spots of light. I think they also use less electricity.


CFLs are nice for being able to bring them right up to the plant and direct the light.

If you go tubes I suggest at least 4 40 watt bulbs if not 6.

Best of luck.
 

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Tubes work great over a long bed of clones. CFLs are intense spots of light. I think they also use less electricity.


CFLs are nice for being able to bring them right up to the plant and direct the light.

If you go tubes I suggest at least 4 40 watt bulbs if not 6.

Best of luck.
i'v heard good stories from both with the tubes you can buy grow bulbs
 
Your electricity costs are based on watts. So a 14w cfl uses same energy (costs the same) as a 14w tube. The key is, how many lumens are hitting the leaves of the plant. A 4' tube on a single plant when its small, is a waste, but not for 10 plants.

I'm not a fan of cfl's, except when plant is small, as the spiral shape seems inefficient. Half the light goes sideways or otherwise blocked by the spirals. You need a fixture with a good reflector for the cfl's if you use them. Otherwise, you are wasting $.
 
i have one of the four bulb two foot t5's... a fluro tube.. i loved it for veging my babies.. like someone else said, witha fluro tubes the light is emitted over a longer distance, and with cf's, you get basically one spot of light... with that you have more control of where the light goes... i love the t5's.. i even got some of the bloom bulbs for it and am using it along with an hps for flowering..
 
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