CFL's and Gulley System Question(s)

Just a couple of questions I cannot find the answers to....

I am not one to ask for or trouble anyone for help unless I absolutely need to, but I have searched the site for days now and have had no luck finding the answers to the following questions:

#1. I have not found much info here on a "Gully" (tube) system and I was wondering if any of you could share your experiences using such a system.. and.. (a real stupid question) would I have to just pump air into the reservoir OR in some other manner? The reason I ask is because I have seen other people talking about having multiple air pumps... but then again they might have been referring to a different system(I can't make sense of this)?

#1B. Would you suggest going with a tube system or just a regular DWC? Both me, my boyfriend and my mother are all in need, so we will be growing for 3 patients(in case that matters). And we have a HUGE area available to us, if need be. So what would be best/most efficient/best production??

#2. What about CFL's? Most of

Can I use CFL's to nearly the same effect as HID's? Dollar for dollar and watt for watt.

Would it be better to maybe use a couple of HID's and then supplement them with CFL's? Maybe 2x 600W HID and a few of these on the sides/edges?

I could purchase like the 4000 watt equivalent (assuming their claims at HTG are correct) for less than the price of 3 600Watt HID's(which is what I was originally thinking to go with). So that sounds, on the surface at least, like they are TWICE as good... well, half the cost at least...

I have read conflicting comments about the CFL's. Some people claim they yield only 1/3 as much (especially if used during flowering) than a HID, but others have claimed to do just as good with these (from beginning to end) as with the HID's.

If their claim is even remotely true (1 of these being as effective as a 400Watt HID) then I could use more of these than HID's and get more bang for my buck. right?

And on that note are the HTG brand of CFL's any good? Their claims and prices on them seem too good to be true (only $129 each).

Anyhow, sorry for asking so much with my very 1st post. I have been browsing for days trying to find my specific answers, but no real luck.

Thank you in advance
Ms. "C"

I am using tubes, bubbleponics, now and seriously considering going to straight dwc. I don't like a pump and clogges tubes in my res. I think cfls are the best dollar value and you can get just as much yield with them. I am going to all 42w cfls instead of the bigger ones.

Illegal Smile said:

I am using tubes, bubbleponics, now and seriously considering going to straight dwc. I don't like a pump and clogges tubes in my res. I think cfls are the best dollar value and you can get just as much yield with them. I am going to all 42w cfls instead of the bigger ones.

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Thanks for the reply.

I am going to have to look more into the how to's of a DWC system. Seems to be everyone's favorite. I hear it is simple too, but I guess that is relevant, since I don't know much about it yet.

Also, I was just reading that the 26W CFL's are actually the most efficient. Seems like it would make sense to go with the MOST efficient of all. I can't see a downside to doing so and I wonder why anyone would use anything less than the best, especially in this instance, since the bigger bulbs are not only less effecient, but also cost more..

quote from the post I am referring to:

For example...

the 200w from sunlighsheds is listed at 9250 lumens for a lumens/watt ratio of 9250/200=46.25

the 150w is listed at 7500 lumens for a l/w ratio of 7500/150=50

the 125w is listed at 6500 lumens for a l/w ratio of 6500/125=52

You say 42w are listed for 2700 lumens, l/w ratio of 2700/42=64.28

I have some 26w that give off 1700 lumens for a l/w ratio of 1700/26=65.38

GE lists some 13w that give off 825 lumens for a l/w ratio of 825/13=63.46

So, according to these numbers the most efficient bulbs for growing are the 26w that emit 1700 lumens. If you used 8 26w bulbs (208 watts total) you'd be getting 13,600 lumens...4,350 more lumens than a single 200 watt cfl.

Sunlightsheds does offer the cheapest large cfl's I've ever seen ($30 for 200w is a steal), but you can definitely find 8 bulbs for less than $30.

I suppose you need to purchase more sockets and cords and things to support 8 bulbs, but in the long run more lower watt cfl's seem like the way to go.

Click to expand...

And BTW I have seen some 26w that emit over 1800lumens.. which would drive that up even higher (to about 70)...

This definitely makes me wonder why anyone using CFL's would ever go with anything other than a 26w????

thanks again.

I think those numbers are suspect. All cfls produce 64 lumens per watt. The problem with anything smaller than 42s IMO is that you need so many and they are in the way. That is not critical though, go for the best watt per dollar deal, I get that with 42s.

are u sure about "All cfls produce 64 lumens per watt" iv heard differently more than once.