is this over kill?

I've got 10 65w mostly 6500k with 2 2700k mixed in over my 9 plants. i'm new here but the lights say one 65w is equivalent to 325w. sooo does that mean these plants are getting approx. 3250watts? is this set up overkill? also it is better to mix 6500 and 2700 more 65 for veg and 27 for flower or all one for your plant's stage? if mixing is better what's the best ratio? thanksView attachment 2696486 I initially made the light to space 3 or 4 sockets evenly across. I had 3 but was suggested to add more light I could take the middle one out and just have 4 sockets across too. not sure what to do here....

Nope not overkill at all. Its is usually the other way around 325w equivalent to 65w of actually wattage use..
Yes the mix is good for veg and flower , the ratio is ur choice but I would do 3-1 thats just me..
Good Luck..

look fine, now a few more 2700K in between for flowering would be a good move IMO

you should put 6 other globe (if you can)for better result plant love light specially when they starting getting big
Nice set-up clean and nice!Keep it green!

I'm a noob I always hear the more the better

Yep do a 3-1 6500-3000k in flower. I would in fact add more lighting as they stretch and go into flower, mainly on the sides. IME you have the lights spread too far apart, you want them right over the plants.

Some of the info on this thread is misleading. 6500k's are for veg and 2700k's are for flower. That is what they are for. You should have mostly 2700k for flower although 6500k can be mixed in to bolster light levels. During flower your 2700k's should outnumber your 6500's 3 to 1 or more. During veg 6500k's should outnumber 2700k's by 2:1 or more. You can mess with these ratios if you like/need but there might be consequences.
There is a reason people who use CFL's mix their spectrum's differently during veg and flower. If it was all hunkydory to just use 6500k's all the way through veg and flower don't you think people would be doing it all over already? I've grown very successfully having only 2700k's on all the way from seed. (12/12 from seed grow). Buy some more 2700k's and add them to your set up when you change your light schedule to 12/12 would be my advice. For that many plants you are going to be needing more lights in any case.
You'll see why in due course I hope.

I use around 26bulbs...650-700 actual cfls watts mixed spec in a 3 by 3 space for one plant...two plants max...3foot bushes...yielding 3 to four ozs per plant now day w this set up....u can't "overkill w cfls"....too many is what u want....I get hid buds w cfls...there so dense u can bounce em off the table...ha....but u can only do this w a small grow and a small space...I doubt u could do 9 plants that way w cfls....

And I use a 50/50 mixed spec thru ALL STAGES....this is the best way...they love it....my fones been messin up n can't do pics at the moment but my profile pic is an example.

Sorry man I just actually looked at ur pics...I only read words before...yeah ur gonna need abt 50 more bulbs just like the ones u have to light up that space enuf to get good flowers....literally 50...I'm not joking...ull wanna cover the ceiling and sides w lights...complete coverage

YOU are using waaaaaaay too much juice. I'm surprised that you didn't burn them up. 6500k is too many k, I'd use less k and more pi for the veg phase then I'd increase my k until it's up to 15000k and I'd keep it there 'till harvest. It seems to be a good idea to use the 2700k for security purposes until you can work out the details of what's going on.

I'm experimenting with a high powered flashlight right now and I'll keep you'll posted on my progress.

View attachment 2697773View attachment 2697774shot of the cfl chronic....dank

CC Dobbs said:

YOU are using waaaaaaay too much juice. I'm surprised that you didn't burn them up. 6500k is too many k, I'd use less k and more pi for the veg phase then I'd increase my k until it's up to 15000k and I'd keep it there 'till harvest. It seems to be a good idea to use the 2700k for security purposes until you can work out the details of what's going on.

I'm experimenting with a high powered flashlight right now and I'll keep you'll posted on my progress.

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What?! 6500k CFL's are the best CFL's to use during the veg stage, 2700k are the best to use in flower.

And seriously guys, stop with the stupid, overkill statements. You're not going to need 50 more lights... .

We are talking light spectrum here not nutes, keep up. Dont forget to change the batteries in that flash light you are using lol.

You 6400-6500K in veg and 2700-3000K in flower and it is a good idea to have a 3-1 mix in flower.

Mr.Vega said:

Sorry man I just actually looked at ur pics...I only read words before...yeah ur gonna need abt 50 more bulbs just like the ones u have to light up that space enuf to get good flowers....literally 50...I'm not joking...ull wanna cover the ceiling and sides w lights...complete coverage

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That is why I think CFL's are the best for smaller grows. CFL's used properly in a properly confined space can produce quite a startling light footprint. In larger spaces their intensity seems to fade exponentially however.

Mister Black said:

That is why I think CFL's are the best for smaller grows. CFL's used properly in a properly confined space can produce quite a startling light footprint. In larger spaces their intensity seems to fade exponentially however.

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Exactly correct

yeah that many plants will need a lot of CFLs to the point where it would probably be fiscally better and temps may be relative to a HID. You may want to look into LED or if you don't need to worry about temps HID.

just to put it into perspective, you have 8 plants. I would want at least 4 42 watt bulbs on the each plant to get decent yield (more if you dont LST), so for veg you would want 3 6.5k per plant or 24 bulbs. CHEAP 6500k 42watt CFL bulbs are 10 dollars a pop so 240 dollars. 2700k bulbs are cheaper at around 3$ so $24 for veg period. Thats 224$ just in bulbs for veg, for flower you will need to buy more 2700k. So 16 more bulbs at 3$ a pop brings the totla for just bulbs to $272. That is if you dont break any, or any dont burn out prematurely.

Then think about the sockets and Y or T splitters you will need to buy, power cords, or anything else for DIY reflector. Lets say you are handy man and have lots of mats at home, another 50$ spend so now at 322$. Also in my opinion large CFL grows would need way more air circulation relative to a HID or LED grow since you have heat coming from multiple directions that you need to diffuse. where you can use cool tubes etc to cool HID, and most LED are cool to start. So also add on cost of extra fans etc too.

So all that being said, 4 bulbs per 8 plants equals 32 bulbs @ 42 watt each is 1344 actual watts of electricity used, this is now more expensive electricity wise then a 1000watt HID grow. This is not counting wattage from extra fans.

As people have already stated CFL grows can be done for large grows and people have been successful. BUT in my opinion it is fiscally irresponsibale and more of a pain then the other lights with daily adjustments to distance from plants.

600 watts of HID or 480/600w of LED (I would do 2x panels of half wattage) would do wonders. LED will cost more intially but have better eneregy cost and temps, while HID are pretty cheap and posted two budget systems with good reps.

http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GLK600CT24E-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B00521B894/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371208792&sr=8-1&keywords=600+watt+apollo - 600 watt budget HID
http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Dimmable-Hydroponic-Reflector-Pressure/dp/B004L36Z5Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371208832&sr=8-3&keywords=1000+watt+apollo - 1000 watt budget HID

Again not trying to push you away from CFL, shit im growing CFL. With you grow I think it is a mistake AND I wish I went LED first as I paid probably just as much as a budget LED panel for all my CFL shit at the end of day. Dont need to take our advice, ive seen people grow killer stuff with 80watt of CFL on a plant (which would still be 640watts total for you, making it not energy efficient).

CC Dobbs said:

YOU are using waaaaaaay too much juice. I'm surprised that you didn't burn them up. 6500k is too many k, I'd use less k and more pi for the veg phase then I'd increase my k until it's up to 15000k and I'd keep it there 'till harvest. It seems to be a good idea to use the 2700k for security purposes until you can work out the details of what's going on.

I'm experimenting with a high powered flashlight right now and I'll keep you'll posted on my progress.

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Dude man, gotta chill with that wake and bake buddy. You tripping he talking color spectrum!

Keep adding CFL's as "you can afford"....
You can never have too many CFL's....
if you can afford the electric bill....
CFL's will get your room warm, they are not heat free...
Good Luck man...

I have a smaller indoor ScroG with 6 girls in DWC with about 2x4 foot footprint with plenty of height. I use 18 42w CFLs in three "gangs" that can be independently raised or lowered and they're quite happy. That's 756w total. I probably COULD do better with HPS/MH, but I also would then have heat issues that I do not have to contend with when using CFLs. Sure they produce a little heat, but not so much that I need more venting just to handle the heat beyond my carbon filter and circulation fans. My temp usually sits about 79-81 pretty consistently.

I like the phylosophy of "add as you can" as stated by another poster. CFLs are a great way for us beginner growers to get into the hobby without plunking down all the extra cash required for more high-powered options. Remember, you can always upgrade later if you want.