tubes instead of compacts

[bmdiyh]

First of all I am new here - please forgive all my wrongs! I was thinking can I use fluorsescent tubes instead of CFLs. PLease tell me is it okay, and if not why. Thank you.

 

[growone]

tube setups can work good, i use cfls because i grow small - for micro grows, cfl's are tough to beat
but this grow that i stumbled across used t8 tubes mounted vertically, if ny goes medical and i could get legal, this is how i would grow

 

[d r0cK]

First of all I am new here - please forgive all my wrongs! I was thinking can I use fluorsescent tubes instead of CFLs. PLease tell me is it okay, and if not why. Thank you.

yes you can use tubes.... however i have found them to be less efficient as far as where you can place them. single socket cfl's can be put pretty much anywhere you need them where as tubes are limited by their length as to where you can put them. tubes might be a little more costly than cfl's. When i was pricing everything at Lowe's and Home Depot this is what I found:

2' T5 2 tube fixture x4 = $100
2' T5 40w bulbs x8 = $65
20 amp 9' ext. cord = $15
total = $180

CFL socket (x13) = $39
12 ga stranded wire (50') = $15
CFL Bulbs 23w (x14) = $30
20 amp 9' ext. cord = $15
Light switch and box = $2
Wire nuts = $5
total = $106

Tube Wattage = 320 watts fixed non movable lighting

CFL Wattage = 299 watts of fixed movable lighting

For the same price as using tubes, you could buy 2 more sockets and lightbulbs and have the same wattage as tubes and with the extra money spend it on fans and nutes. With a little extra work you can get more for your buck. if you go the cfl socket route let me know if you need help with wiring or anything else. i have a thread on here with lots of pics, look for it in the cfl grow forum. hope this was helpful.

 

[Illegal Smile]

t5s put out considerably more lumens per watt. I use t5s on top and some cfls on the sides.

 

[Pyro Peaches]

Glad I found this thread! Haven't grown yet, expecting to start my first grow in 6 or 7 months.. still in the research phase! =]

 

[laserbrn]

Glad I found this thread! Haven't grown yet, expecting to start my first grow in 6 or 7 months.. still in the research phase! =]

A CFL is just a twisted up tube. The entire inside of that bulb is wasted. I just don't like'em personally.

If I had to work with a very small space and try to keep it stealth I would use tubes. A small SCROG with tubes could be very successful. I think it's more efficient than vertically, but I've never tested it either way. I use HPS for flowering because I want to actually grow buds, not just leaves and plants.

 

[Pyro Peaches]

I've seen many successful grows done with CFL's alone. Cheap, and efficient if you place them right. Great for small grows from what I've read and seen firsthand.
I just figured combining the tubes with the compacts would be the best best for someone on a tight budget who can't mess with the wiring in their home! =]

A CFL is just a twisted up tube. The entire inside of that bulb is wasted. I just don't like'em personally.

If I had to work with a very small space and try to keep it stealth I would use tubes. A small SCROG with tubes could be very successful. I think it's more efficient than vertically, but I've never tested it either way. I use HPS for flowering because I want to actually grow buds, not just leaves and plants.

 

[laserbrn]

I've seen many successful grows done with CFL's alone. Cheap, and efficient if you place them right. Great for small grows from what I've read and seen firsthand.
I just figured combining the tubes with the compacts would be the best best for someone on a tight budget who can't mess with the wiring in their home! =]

Main thing to remember is that CFL's and most flouro's put off a good deal of heat so think about how you are going to ventilate. Don't let people tell you they don't generate much heat. They generate MORE than enough heat.

 

[d r0cK]

t5s put out considerably more lumens per watt. I use t5s on top and some cfls on the sides.

yes they do but for versatility and placement, cfl's are easier to place in key spots than a 2' tube... you can't bend a tube to conform closer to the plant... as for heat they do put off heat so make sure you have an intake low and an exhaust up high opposite side of your intake.

 

[laserbrn]

yes they do but for versatility and placement, cfl's are easier to place in key spots than a 2' tube... you can't bend a tube to conform closer to the plant... as for heat they do put off heat so make sure you have an intake low and an exhaust up high opposite side of your intake.

I will never for the life of me understand why CFL growers think that it's easier to rearrange a shit ton of tiny lamps than to put up a screen, use a flat light (which doesn't waste as much light) and make the plants conform. It's much easier, more efficient and yeilds bigger. But, then, I don't understand why people use floro's to flower in the first place.

 

[Pyro Peaches]

Yeah I know.. thanks for the advice though =]
don't think I'll have a whole lot to worry about though considering the climate where I live and the fact that my plants aren't going to be contained in some tiny little PC box or some shit. I'm gonna be growing them in a room or two that we will be using for other purposes so they'll get more than enough ventilation

Main thing to remember is that CFL's and most flouro's put off a good deal of heat so think about how you are going to ventilate. Don't let people tell you they don't generate much heat. They generate MORE than enough heat.

 

[Pyro Peaches]

usually because of cost

I will never for the life of me understand why CFL growers think that it's easier to rearrange a shit ton of tiny lamps than to put up a screen, use a flat light (which doesn't waste as much light) and make the plants conform. It's much easier, more efficient and yeilds bigger. But, then, I don't understand why people use floro's to flower in the first place.