What is the best and cheapest cfl for seedlings?

When I upgrade my 400w hps to a 1000w mh/hps, im gettin some kind of flourescent light or cfl, I have read thats whats recommended for seedling. Right now I have no choice but 2 use my hps on my week and a half old lowryders that im not growin. I kno im burning them, so for the next session, what flourescent light or cfl is going to be cheap and effective for growing about 30 seeds at a time maybe less, because i have a 2x4x5 grow space and only enough room for so many plants, especially bigger varieties. So what kind of lighting system should I be lookin at for my needs?

Cant remember how much, they last forever. Think a box of 6 plain cfl's 26w, 15$? Dont worry about color temps, I tried different ones and it made no difference. Warn ya tho, Ive had NO LUCK out of cfl's past about 4" or the third leafset. 100w of hps is somehow better than 125w of cfl?? Anyhow, cfl's are a must for backup cloning, short babies, and to stall some babies in veg if one must.

When I upgrade my 400w hps to a 100w mh/hps,

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I hope that was a typo and you meant a 1000W-MH/HPS and not 100W HPS/MH. If not I am not sure how it would be an upgrade to go from any 400W to any 100W.

I don't see why someone with either a 400W or a 1000W would want to play around with CFL's. The 400W HPS with a MH conversion bulb would be better than CFL's and the 1000W would be better than CFL's too.

If someone thinks they are too 'powerful' how do they think plants manage too grow outside with the full strength of the sun shining on them?

If temperatures are a concern the answer for it is not downgrading lighting. The answer is upgrading ventilation.

So shanus u think I need cfls only 4 very young babies? I hear u brick thats what I thought, but alot of people say you need some kind of flourescent for seedlings, to not stress them or something? So you think even a 1000 w wouldnt be too much for the seedlings, and if not, how far away should a 400 and 1000w be from seedlings?

bangthangonme said:

So shanus u think I need cfls only 4 very young babies? I hear u brick thats what I thought, but alot of people say you need some kind of flourescent for seedlings, to not stress them or something? So you think even a 1000 w wouldnt be too much for the seedlings, and if not, how far away should a 400 and 1000w be from seedlings?

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If you have enough distance between your light and seedlings and the temperature is not too high you will be better off than using CFL's.

One reply said; "Dont worry about color temps." Well, that is one bit of advice to ignore. Plants use a different spectrum of light at different stages of growth so if you want the best results give your plants the light they need the most when they need it the most.

my temps are way up until i get this inline fan, but with a cheap reflector and no cool tube, about how far would you recommend?

bangthangonme said:

my temps are way up until i get this inline fan, but with a cheap reflector and no cool tube, about how far would you recommend?

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If your temps are going to be too high, they will be too high no matter how high you raise your light, so in that case I would not use the 1000W. If your temperatures were ok with your 400W-HPS I would purchase a MH conversion bulb for it and use it before I would go with CFL's.

I was planning on gettin an mh conversion bulb, its just even when i have the grow tent wide open, next to an open window with cold air blowing in (chicago and winters around the corner) for hours, a deskfan blowing air around the tent, another 6inch deskfan blowing air in, the temps aare sometimes still at 90. I dont understand how, when i go over there its cold, but when I look at the thermometer (1 digital and 1 regular) its always very hot. Even with the 530 cfm inline im getin, will it be enough by itself without a cooltube or hood or anything, just for exhaust? I dont understand the temp thing tho really help me out am I supposed to be measuring in the shade, if so, its only a few degrees cooler. Im makein posts about this now.