How many watts of cfl will I need

T

tikka

Well-Known Member
Hi there only did one plant before and used

2x 30w 3000k for flower
1x23w 2700k for flower
1x 26w 6500k for veg
1x43w 6500k for veg

was wondering if i wanted to do 3 plants how much more i would have to purchase? WIll be doing in soil with a grow space about 3 feet deep by 6 ft high and 7 ft wide approx
 
scroglodyte

scroglodyte

Well-Known Member
man.........i pour it on. 200W equivalent for each plant, and keep them close. 21 square feet of grow space? you could grow 20 plants if there using certain methods.
 
djlifeline

djlifeline

Well-Known Member
If was me for 1 Plant I would have 4x 30w 2700k for flower 2x 43w 6500k for veg. Times this by 3....

12x 30w 2700k
6x 43w for veg.

This is my opinion anyway. Could do less.. but you actually want half decent results im guessing.
Im a HPS user but started with CFL. I still use 1x 250w 6500k for veg clones and keeping my mother alive.
 
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
bigv1976

bigv1976

Well-Known Member
Rather than looking at it in terms of how many watts you need shoot for 3k-5k lumens per square foot. Add up total lumens and divide it by the square footage to find this out.
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
You're probably at the point where you should maybe consider getting a 150 or 250W HPS. I'm not anti-CFL, I started out with them too but at some point they just don't make any sense any more. You're there.
 
Illegal Smile

Illegal Smile

Well-Known Member
wbd said:
You're probably at the point where you should maybe consider getting a 150 or 250W HPS. I'm not anti-CFL, I started out with them too but at some point they just don't make any sense any more. You're there.
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+1 cfls are for putting your toe in the water. If you intend to jump in, don't waste any more time and go hps now.
 
rollinbud

rollinbud

Active Member
"+1 cfls are for putting your toe in the water. If you intend to jump in, don't waste any more time and go hps now. "

Pure Bullshit, too many people making successful grows with nothing but CFL's, you and others spend too much time starting into your HPS's apparently. I bet you never even tried a CFL grow.
 
W

wbd

Well-Known Member
rollinbud said:
"+1 cfls are for putting your toe in the water. If you intend to jump in, don't waste any more time and go hps now. "

Pure Bullshit, too many people making successful grows with nothing but CFL's, you and others spend too much time starting into your HPS's apparently. I bet you never even tried a CFL grow.
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Not pure bullshit, it's 100% true. I grew for years with CFL, sure I did OK but even switching to just a 250W HPS it makes all the difference in the world.

This guy is looking to expand to a 3-plant garden, adding all of the necessary CFL lighting + fixtures and we're just saying he might as well just get the HID and be done with it.

Now I'm stuck with a bunch of CFL shit I have no use for anymore.
 
T

tikka

Well-Known Member
Yah I understand what you all have to say and appreciate it, Im stuck on that fine line of going all cfls like i have been but cant seem to find anything higher then the 30w till I seen the sites u guys posted seen some 100w bulbs but they were 40-50 bucks each so I understand if i buy 3 of those I might as well just get a hps/mh combo
 
Sunbiz1

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-fluorescent-lighting/484653-220w-cfl-closet-grow-1-a-47.html#post6917392

This poster seems to be doing pretty well with what I consider supplemental lighting. In fact, I have the same amount I actually use to supplement my make-shift sun room during Winter months. I see some that use those really huge ones, while I prefer to use all 42/27W b/c it provides much better coverage. However, at some point you have to ask yourself what is most practical. For example, if start popping breakers(lol)with CFL's it's probably time to start looking at HPS or whatever you prefer.
 
Illegal Smile

Illegal Smile

Well-Known Member
rollinbud said:
"+1 cfls are for putting your toe in the water. If you intend to jump in, don't waste any more time and go hps now. "

Pure Bullshit, too many people making successful grows with nothing but CFL's, you and others spend too much time starting into your HPS's apparently. I bet you never even tried a CFL grow.
Click to expand...

I started with cfls, that's how I know what I'm talking about.
 
UKHG

UKHG

Well-Known Member
dont bother with the little bulbs buy the dual spectrum 250 watt cfls they come with the lead and everything little switch to change spectrum ther about 30 uk pounds and they even fit in you hps reflector if u have one(not the ballast obviously)
 
Sunbiz1

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
darkdestruction420

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
rollinbud said:
Heres a 300 watt equiv. The thing is a monster... Wont fit in a regular fixture but it does have same threads as regular.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I17HUC/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details 17.99


Id stick with the 150 watt equiv (32 watts) though.

Funny how there's so many people still using CFL's isn't it?
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just as funny as how theres so many people who have made the switch. We've all grown with cfls and their is nothing wrong with it. if you were to upgrade to hid you would understand where we are coming from. I've got over 900w of cfls and 1 400w hps beats the hell out of them though. Less cost to run, less cost overall(cfls are expensive when you buy a large amount like that. my cfls and all the accessories cost double the 400w hps) is easier to control heat, etc.
 
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