300w cfl or 400w mh
- Thread starter akadog
- Start date
la9
Well-Known Member
Definitely stick with 400 MH.
I don't understand why everyone says 300 watt CFL or 400 watt CFL when they are really 85 watt and 105 watt bulbs.
I think that is why there is big confusion, people think they have a 400 watt CFL and it should be the same as a 400 watt MH or HPS when in reality they have an 105 watt bulb.
I'm not trying to attack you personally I just don't understand why everyone keeps thinking that way. Then you get people defending that the 400 watt CFL is cooler than 400 watt MH when they are really comparing 85 watts to 400 watts. It's just crazy.
If you want to get close to 400 MH then you'll need 5 of the 300(85) watt CFL bulbs.
I don't understand why everyone says 300 watt CFL or 400 watt CFL when they are really 85 watt and 105 watt bulbs.
I think that is why there is big confusion, people think they have a 400 watt CFL and it should be the same as a 400 watt MH or HPS when in reality they have an 105 watt bulb.
I'm not trying to attack you personally I just don't understand why everyone keeps thinking that way. Then you get people defending that the 400 watt CFL is cooler than 400 watt MH when they are really comparing 85 watts to 400 watts. It's just crazy.
If you want to get close to 400 MH then you'll need 5 of the 300(85) watt CFL bulbs.
boabbymac
Well-Known Member
la9 i think you are mistaken on this.i think he means the 300watt cfl grow lights like envirolites.which are actual wattage lights likem the 125w is actually 125w and so on.personally i think there great i use the 250watts.but akadog if you can keep the area well ventilated i would definetly go with the 400MH.jus my opinion
peace out
la9
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't be the first time I've been mistaken but like I said I wasn't using him as an example, just something that crossed my mind while reading it. Envirolites only come in 125 200 and 250 watt sizes.la9 i think you are mistaken on this.i think he means the 300watt cfl grow lights like envirolites.which are actual wattage lights likem the 125w is actually 125w and so on.personally i think there great i use the 250watts.but akadog if you can keep the area well ventilated i would definetly go with the 400MH.jus my opinion
peace out
I still see a lot of confusion the way I mentioned, some of it I believe is the way they started advertising the CFL's lately.
Example
http://www.1000bulbs.com/300-Watt-CFL-Equivalents/
those CFL bulbs are 300 watt equivalents. So if the are equivalent they must be the same as.......
ironheadxl
Well-Known Member
it depends on your circumstances too. I had limited money resources, live in a very conservative state with helicopters and wanted a low energy profile/ low heat profile and a low electric bill.
I ordered four foot cfls high out put (26000 lumens) that came with a set of four flowering spectrum bulbs as well. off of ebay. Spent 156 dollars vs the big money on the mh /hps set up. here is a shot at almost six week (two weeks ago)
There are great benefits to all methodologies I think. For my circumstances this works for me and the plants grow right up to the lights which saves me space and heat burn concerns. THe whole cfl wattage comparison is a non issue I think. The buds will be smaller and perhaps not as dense but I have seen some amazing cfl grows and the potency is certainly there especially if you have chosen great genetic stock. Also the wattage comparison is about the light out put being equal to an incandescent bulb of x value. even with MH/HPS I am skeptical about claims. Lastly for me I think that the overall cost of running the setup/carbon foot print consideration came to bear on growing the most cost effective program I could devise. I would so love an out door garden. As a life long gardener I just admire the plant as a plant- i find it very enjoyable and think its very beautiful and unique. Besides if it was out side then I would really consider it free herb.
I ordered four foot cfls high out put (26000 lumens) that came with a set of four flowering spectrum bulbs as well. off of ebay. Spent 156 dollars vs the big money on the mh /hps set up. here is a shot at almost six week (two weeks ago)
There are great benefits to all methodologies I think. For my circumstances this works for me and the plants grow right up to the lights which saves me space and heat burn concerns. THe whole cfl wattage comparison is a non issue I think. The buds will be smaller and perhaps not as dense but I have seen some amazing cfl grows and the potency is certainly there especially if you have chosen great genetic stock. Also the wattage comparison is about the light out put being equal to an incandescent bulb of x value. even with MH/HPS I am skeptical about claims. Lastly for me I think that the overall cost of running the setup/carbon foot print consideration came to bear on growing the most cost effective program I could devise. I would so love an out door garden. As a life long gardener I just admire the plant as a plant- i find it very enjoyable and think its very beautiful and unique. Besides if it was out side then I would really consider it free herb.
akadog
Active Member
la9
Well-Known Member
i should of stated this guys
I wish I wouldn't have thought out loud, now your thread is all screwed up and it's my fault......
la9
Well-Known Member
I think any flourescent works great to veg with, if that's what you already have then use it and you'll be fine. If you don't have one get some four footers, I think they work the best, you can get good results with CFL's, nothing wrong with flourescent to veg with. If you just want to grow a mother plant you really don't need that much light, but if you are adding clones I think a cfl might be too focused and you'd be better off with the standard 4 foot bulbs, that way the light is spread out and you'd have enough light for everything.
usualsuspect
Active Member
If you are poor just use the 400w MH for both veg and flower. You will still get good buds, more terpene production, possibly less yield than hps ....but probably still better than CFL lighting. If you are really cheap, build your own ballast set up w/ MH and get an Eye hortilux HPS conversion bulb which would allow you to run the red spectrum on a MH ballast for flower....or just get a MH ballast and full spectrum bulb to use for both. You could probably get the MH setup and bulb for under $150-$175
la9
Well-Known Member
I didn't say it would, he just asked my opinion and I know lots of people that get great results with flourescent so if that's what he wants to do he shouldn't be scared to.
