CFLs Vs Ebay LED's - Whats the best choice?

Hello guys,

I'm a newbie growing 2x Easy riders which germed a week back. I'm currently running 2x25 W 6500K CFL's over the plants, but I'm pretty much doubtful if these would hold good after a few weeks.

I'm Interested in upgrading my lighting. I have 3 choices :

1. Add 6 x 2700K 11W CFL's (already at my disposal)
2. Buy a decent CFL growlight on Ebay like this .
3. Buy 2 x Asian LED growlight like this .

I'm really inclined on the LED although they seem more like a ripoff. I know many have a bashful attitude towards LED growlights, but please drop the attitude before answering honestly if these would work. My second choice would be running a 125-250w CFL (I prefer dual spectrum, although the luminosity seems to be lower than a mono spectrum bulb.)

I would like to add the 6 CFL's along with this grow irrespective of the bulb i'd buy. While one half of me is convinced that it sounds like a overkill, the funny part of the brain says More light would never kill ...

I'm also a bit confused about running the mechanical timer I just bought of a electrical supply store as my room mate seems to have lost the insturctions on them. I've been running 24/0 to the plants for about 4 days now.

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted some feedback on this before i could go ahead anywhere.

Thanks!
SID

For the money you'd spend on LED lighting, you could buy a 600 or 1000 water HPS/MH and know what you're getting.

I would definitely shy away from LED's for now, as I feel like they need to be refined a bit more for use in a grow room (I know they work, and people have gotten great results).

Why not look at a smaller HPS light? If you are looking at LED I can assume that you are trying to keep energy costs and heat to a minimum so a 400w (while an excellent choice) might be out of the question.

Check out the 150w HPS from HTG, I believe it costs somewhere around $90 shipped and produces only slightly more heat than a box full of CFLs.

Using an HID will greatly improve your chances for success and having grown with CFLs before, I could never go back.

You are in UK, so do not know what you can get. but that LED is crap, and that cfl is not that great. HID 250 watt minimum, Blackstar or other decent LED, or add more 26 watt cfls. Those 11 watt deals have no penetration and will help little and take up space other decent cfl could use.

Cfl should be kept within 1 inch of plants and the plant has to be short or all the buds have to be just 8 inches or so from light. I would just get more 26 watt 2700k bulbs and get y splitters and fit bulbs in each splitter. Some reflection over the bulbs would help too, a lot of light gets lost without it. That 250 watt cfl would work pretty good if you hung it vertical in middle of plants. You would get around a foot of good flowering light coming out the sides of it. You could veg with it over the plants. I use 2700k cfl for veg and flower, less cost and great results.

Cfl produce more light from the sides than from the bottom. That is why you want the y splitter to get the lights somewhat sideways to plant.

Thanks guys.

@Chuckles : It's alright mate. I kind of know how it is

@ LEDhead, MMMpatient and yesum : Guys, I know that a whole HPS setup such as this , will cost me not much but I really cant use HID lighting for 2 reasons, the ventilation and running costs are just too much IMHO. I know that HID systems are much more valur for money, but living in a rented apartment with heavy stealth in mind, I really cant afford to let the electricity expenses run off hand. I cannot install any venting ducts to cool the lights. Infact, I'm planning to use a Ionizer to remove the smell ( fragnance for us tokers) when they hit flowering.

I would really like to try out a HID sometime, but the limitation of having to move after a year bugs me about buying them and transporting them halfway across the globe! I wouldnt really mind giving away the CFL lights after extracting some juice out of them, but not LED or HID systems.

You reckon if the HID system is running without any venting would do no harm?

Thanks again.

SID

P.S. Would running the 6 x 11W 2700K CFL's be just enough compared to the stuff i'm about to buy?

You say you can't afford the running costs of an HPS, but you linked to a 250 watt cfl. There will be no difference in the running costs between a 250 cfl and a 250 hps. A watt is a watt.

As for growing without venting, that is a very bad idea. Plants need airflow in order to grow well, and without extraction they will suffer. At the very least, your yield will be vastly reduced, but you also run the risk of budrot, mold and a host of other problems. And for odour control, an ionizer won't cut it, except for maybe a small micro grow. You say you have stealth in mind, but there's no bigger giveaway than the smell, so that should be your number one priority. A decent fan and carbon filter is pretty much a requirement, especialy in the UK, unless you fancy having your door taken off it's hinges at 5am,, or getting robbed by opportunistic chavs.

You need to work out your airflow if you want to grow successfully.

@Nocturn : Yes, about the 250w CFL's. Im not getting a 250w, i'm fixed on a 125W version. The link was just something to show you guys what I'm talking about. About the ventilation, the trouble is I cannot really drill so anything which has to do with venting is off the hook for now. Since i'm growing only 2 plants (personal use) at a time, dont you think 1 or maybe 2 room ionizers you'd find at aargos or boots do the job?

I've heard they are useful in removing not only the odour but also the fungi spores!

cheers
SID

I really don't think those ionisers will be up to te job, but you know your situation better than I do. If nobody comes into your house then they will probably help, but I seriously doubt they will get rid of all the smell that flowering plants kick out.

I would never advise anyone to grow without airflow, but it's your call. I will say that you should at least have a good amount of air movement, like an oscillating fan. How big is your grow space, and where is it? If it's in a built-in cupboard, they I see your point about drilling etc. If it's in a box/cabinet/wardrobe within a larger room, then you could always vent into the same room at a push, and leave a windw open slightly for fresh air. It's not ideal, but it works. I have a 250 wardrobe setup in my bedroom, and vent into the same room, and it works out okay.

@ nocturn : yes, The grow is in a cupboard which is about 3 ft wide,4 ft long and 4ft tall. I do have a small 10£ oscilalting fan to help with airflow and maintain some temprature. The ionizer i had previously worked wonders in my room. It used to keep the room smell neutral even after i'd finished smokin a bowl. But would it not yield any good for 2 medium sized plants with just about a ounce on them?