Help With the Lights

[TheDabbler]

I was planning on growing one plant in a 2x3x6 area in my closet. I have a 75w Gro-light tube my mom got at walmart to winter some of her exotic plants. I have a 48 watt terrarium tube i got but never used (The Lizard died :( ), and a couple of those CFLs that are low watt for lamps and such. Will that be enough light to get me through the veg stage at least.

[Weezard]

I was planning on growing one plant in a 2x3x6 area in my closet. I have a 75w Gro-light tube my mom got at walmart to winter some of her exotic plants. I have a 48 watt terrarium tube i got but never used (The Lizard died :( ), and a couple of those CFLs that are low watt for lamps and such. Will that be enough light to get me through the veg stage at least.

Probably, with some resevation, but then what?
Mo' betta to siddown and think it through.
Got enough room, privacy, patience?
Go for it. Keep us posted.

W

[cornish_dope]

I would only do it if your mum knows, I tried when i was younger living with my parents and noticing a glow from my cuboard nipped that one in the bud so to speak.
You could always try (if she doesn't know of course) explaining that you don't want to be exposed to dodgy dealers, it's cheaper etc.

[Roughrider]

I've never heard of a 75w tube...I think you've got a 75w equivalent tube, which means it's more like 17w. Same with 48w...the most powerful single fluro tube I've seen regularly is a 40w tube. And it's four feet long, which means that the light it generates is awfully spread out. And it's only around 2200-2400 lumens. I think what you may have is a 48 inch tube, not a 48 [i]watt[/b]

Best thing to do is to find out what width of tube you have. the skinnier the tube, the more efficient the light. t12 are industry standard tubes; they're cheap and not very efficient. T8s are skinnier and a little more efficient. But, to be honest, T8 and T12 tubes aren't much good for growing. If you have a six tube, four foot ballast for your T12 bulbs, you could probably get 13000-14000 lumens off off it. But the ballast would be about a foot and a half to two feet wide and more than four feet long. That's 6-8 square feet, and 14000 lumens is less than half of what you'd need for that.

4000 lumens per sq. ft. will get you by; 5000+ is better. Make sure you've got enough money and/or equipment to go through an entire grow before you start. If you try to cut corners, you'll end up with no plants and no money. Better to plan and do it right...trust me.

p.s. Sorry about your lizard.

[MeangreeN4220]

can u use them to start ur plants or just during flowering casue im not sure and need some help. i havent seen any sprouts and its been a week help me out:)