jimsremoval
Active Member
Here is my setup. please tell me what you guys think and if u have any suggestions because i feel like im failing miserably. thank you
My first real setup.
- Thread starter jimsremoval
- Start date
desertrat
Well-Known Member
no worries. for great general info check out the links in my signature below.
the only thing i can see from your pic is that your lights are too far away from the plants. first, you should make sure you're using compact fluorescent lights (CFL) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Compact-Fluorescent-Bulb.jpg and not incandescent lights. then keep the lights within a couple of inches of the plants.
the only thing i can see from your pic is that your lights are too far away from the plants. first, you should make sure you're using compact fluorescent lights (CFL) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Compact-Fluorescent-Bulb.jpg and not incandescent lights. then keep the lights within a couple of inches of the plants.
midnightoker
Well-Known Member
oh man...you're going to need a lot more light...
jimsremoval
Active Member
Those light are 4 75-watt CFLs that put out about 2200 lumens each. i also have a floodlight for the heat on my seedlings. but u guys think i should have them closer. how close should they bee from the tops of my plants. the plants are only seedlings to 6inches tall.
desertrat
Well-Known Member
just so we're speaking the same language - a cfl that puts out 2200 lumens is only a 30 actual watt bulb. the 75 watt label refers to the equivalent light of a 75 watt incandescent bulb. by the time your plants are more mature you will need a minimum of 100 actual watts per plant.
you can place a cfl within 2 inches of the plants. i would bag the floodlight unless the temps are below 70 f with the cfls on.
IAm5toned
Well-Known Member
ive gotten away with 86w actual watts per plant (actual watts is all i ever refer to.) using cfls with great success.
but then again i didnt have those useless reflectors either.
i had the correct mixture of k rating and the lamps placed properly (2) 43w lamps, one 4100k, one 3000k per plant ... 3-6 inches away from the plant @ a 45 degree angle to the floor... not hanging vert or horizontal with 60% of the light being lost in polished metal reflectors. any less wattage than that per plant is a waste of time and resources. too much wattage and you start wasting energy with cooling issues.
but then again i didnt have those useless reflectors either.
i had the correct mixture of k rating and the lamps placed properly (2) 43w lamps, one 4100k, one 3000k per plant ... 3-6 inches away from the plant @ a 45 degree angle to the floor... not hanging vert or horizontal with 60% of the light being lost in polished metal reflectors. any less wattage than that per plant is a waste of time and resources. too much wattage and you start wasting energy with cooling issues.
jimsremoval
Active Member
Actually i read the back of the box and it says 2200 lumens. one of em says 2700 lumens. so idk man. maybe u havent seen em or somethin.
jimsremoval
Active Member
So i should take those polished things off? you know i wish i had the loot to get a 400 hps or someshit. you know.
jimsremoval
Active Member
so mr. cool your setup is just using cfls huh. your having good success with it? all i can afford is cfls so that's what im using. And where did you get those outlet splitters? can u get those at like cvs and shit.? and would i be able to use that on an extension cord with a surge protector on a few lights without starting a fire?