Tube verses cfl lighting

hi everyone,

i am new to rollit up and am impressed by the wealth of information available. i did a search and could not answer this question so i will post it here.

my plan is to create a low tech and cost effective compact growing space using fluorescents. the space is a 3.25feet wide by 1.75feet deep by 1.75feet tall rubbermaid bin. i plan to spray paint the interior with flat white paint to reflect light and make the bin opaque. i am considering mounting two bathroom vanity fixtures that hold either 4 or 6 cfls each. the fixtures would be mounted on the sides of the bin at the top. i also have the option of installing 2foot tube fluorescent ballasts that either hole 2 or 1 bulb. i am also considering placing 2 or 4 tubes on the ceiling of the box and 2 single 2foot tubes on the long sides of the bin. my question is whether it would be more effective to use a number of 2 feet tube fluorescents or a number of clfs?

this is the bin: http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=1408474396672725&bmUID=1167252825988&PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524443253362&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

my inspiration is something like this:
http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=80747

also, there is a 5 inch fan already installed on on end of the bin and intake holes on the other to exchange the air. i am not overly concerned about heat issues with fluorescents.

i figure the best i can grow in this space is 4 plants maximum, the idea is to keep the plants smaller and lower and encourage more branching instead of tall plants. the bin can also be turned so that the space is 3.25feet tall by 1.75feet wide and 1.75 feet deep to grow the plants upwards.

by the way, my guess is tubes due to their surface area.

Most CFLs put out more lumens, and are easier to work with.

Really, I'm becoming a big fan of CFL's, as they put out more lumens/watt than their larger brethren, they're more compact, and (as far as I know) the CFL's upto 50 watts or so can be placed in a normal light socket. So, you could mount a standard light socket/fixture thing to a reflector, which I would recommend making yourself, as its not too hard, and its probably cheaper, and remember that you need about 50 watts per square foot of growing space.

cfls . im most sure of it

i see what ur saying...well if later u wanna turn the rubbermaid tubs the other direction then u should probably go with cfls just bcuz of the versatility...essentially you can have cfls any which-way you'd like vs tubes u can only put horizontal or vertical depending on the lighting and reflection ur going for..


Why Use CFL's?
Because. Not everyone has a big space to grow in. When space and heat are an issue, HID's become less practical as you are faced with either rigging a cooling system which could involve cutting holes in walls, ducting, and more power usage, and of course more $$$. Or what if you're just growing a couple plants at a time to keep your own stash full (like me), and don't want to go through the trouble of HID lights? CFL's are everywhere, in all shapes and sizes, and are CHEAP. Most need no special fixture, and can be placed much closer. They are a great way to start out growing, keep a small crop going, or use with HID lights. With practice, your CFL grows can rival your neighbor's HID grows.


Using CFL's:


One of the advantages of CFL's is that they screw into any normal light socket. Therefore, mounting options are endless. Take into account the size, shape, and heat given off by CFL's when deciding how to place them.

-Light comes from every square inch of the bulb, and to get the most out of them, try to have every inch facing as much plant matter as possible. More light comes off the side of the long 42w spirals than the front, for example. CFL's are not as intense as HID lights, so distance is critical. You don't want your lights more than 4 inches away from your plants. With LST, you can put your CFL's literally inside the plant, between branches so that all the light is being used. Try to light all sides, not just the tops.

-Reflecting light is important with CFL's to use every bit of light they give off. Use good reflectors, paint your walls flat bright white, or get mylar.

-However, if your CFL is too close it may burn the leaves, so trimming or a fan may be needed (recommended anyway for stronger stems). Bigger bulbs obviously are hotter than smaller bulbs. Fluorescent tubes can touch the plant without burning it, but an average CFL will roast anything it comes in contact with. Even 26w CFL's burn. You want to get close, but not too close. Try to stay about 1 inch away. Having a fan blow right through the plant over all the lights helps get them closer. And monitor your plants so they don't grow into the lights. If you're going away for a week, move the lights up in anticipation of your plants' vertical growth.

Very nice post, Spittn. I think you covered all fronts on that one, lol.

I find that some CFLs at the store do not show the Kelven on the box.. I just see soft white alot, what is soft white, I know that cool 6000+K is for veg and warm 2700K flowering but what is soft? Is that in the middle or what.. I would like to get a mix of warm and cool and use it for the entire process. I dont want to have to buy 2 sets of each light for each part of the process. But if I have to I will use cool white tubes for veg and warm CFL for flowering, the 12H on 12 off will make the plant bud even if you had just cool 6700Ks i have been told..

I bought the plant light tube from walmart and it just says on the box 1900 lumans 40Watt but not color temp of Kelvin rating. just says blues and reds.

i just got a 500watt cfl that has a blue spectrum in a small grow box and am loving it.
Not to much heat and is way bright.
2000+ lumens

500 watt cfl thats the first i heard of that and 2000 limens sound like a 30 or 40 watt. I returned the plant tube lights and bought CFLs.

Gamble said:

i just got a 500watt cfl that has a blue spectrum in a small grow box and am loving it.
Not to much heat and is way bright.
2000+ lumens

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I think you might've read something on your box wrong 500 watt Cfl would be HUGE.

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Charfizcool said:

I think you might've read something on your box wrong 500 watt Cfl would be HUGE.

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Thats absolutely hilarious

CLF bulbs are the energy saving blubs rights? the spiral ones?

i got a 100 and 120 watt cfl bulbs. one is blue and the other is daylight. they are in regular sockets plugged in. They are working fine for me.

120watt CFL? where's the energy saving in that? How many you using on one single plant joker?

i should have 2-3 plants. using those bulbs and one grow bulb that is not cfl and emmits heat. that's all i got at the moment, 3 bulbs.

100Watt not a mogel socket, where did you get it for a standard socket, I saw the 125 watts from hydrogrow for $60 but it was a mogel socket

N:Vision 120W cfl bulb. I think these are the biggest ones.

Joker52 said:

N:Vision 120W cfl bulb. I think these are the biggest ones.

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is it a mogel socket or standard socket.

standard socket