fluoresent tubes vs. CFL's?

What is the difference between fluoresent tubes and CFL's? I know most people recommend and use CFL's but what is the difference?

Tubes work great over a long bed of clones. CFLs are intense spots of light. I think they also use less electricity.


CFLs are nice for being able to bring them right up to the plant and direct the light.

If you go tubes I suggest at least 4 40 watt bulbs if not 6.

Best of luck.

StreetRider said:

Tubes work great over a long bed of clones. CFLs are intense spots of light. I think they also use less electricity.


CFLs are nice for being able to bring them right up to the plant and direct the light.

If you go tubes I suggest at least 4 40 watt bulbs if not 6.

Best of luck.

Click to expand...

i'v heard good stories from both with the tubes you can buy grow bulbs

Your electricity costs are based on watts. So a 14w cfl uses same energy (costs the same) as a 14w tube. The key is, how many lumens are hitting the leaves of the plant. A 4' tube on a single plant when its small, is a waste, but not for 10 plants.

I'm not a fan of cfl's, except when plant is small, as the spiral shape seems inefficient. Half the light goes sideways or otherwise blocked by the spirals. You need a fixture with a good reflector for the cfl's if you use them. Otherwise, you are wasting $.

Good to know.. thanks. once i get some money i'd like to get some of the grow light tubes for my fluorescents..

i have one of the four bulb two foot t5's... a fluro tube.. i loved it for veging my babies.. like someone else said, witha fluro tubes the light is emitted over a longer distance, and with cf's, you get basically one spot of light... with that you have more control of where the light goes... i love the t5's.. i even got some of the bloom bulbs for it and am using it along with an hps for flowering..

dam those lights look really efficient for fluorescents.. i definitely need to upgrade my bulbs..