need some suggestions

[archy420]

well i set up a grow space in the attic and we are running
8 40 watt phillips plant and aquarium lights (4ft long).
light output--1600 lumen
color temp--2700k
we have 16 plants under them
4 under each light
(2 lights in a fixture)

they are currently gettin 17 hrs of light and 7 dark
will these light be good enough for the vegetative cycle?

and we were planning on buying 1 or 2 400 watt hps lights for the flower/budding cycles in another room
for 16 plants---good idea or what other lights would work?

any suggestion will be appreciated we are stumped on these lighting situations

if pics would help i can try n get some just tell me

[Opie Yutts]

Yes I have a suggestion. It's based on my experience and that of others. Those lights are crap. Sorry to be blunt, but it's true. I struggled with them for about a year, thinking that of course something labeled as a plant light must be the way to go. If I'm not mistaken those are considered to be more of a full spectrum light, wasting much of it on many undesirable wavelengths. Since they are what I started with, I thought growing with fluorescents was mostly a waste of time. Then I started researching, and found out what plants want, and it's not light from a plant and aquarium bulb. Now that I've seen what they can really do, I'm considering ditching my MH for veg and switching to all fluorescents.

If you really want something that's efficient and will work wonders on plant growth, get some T-5 four footers that are 5700K. And if you can find them, please let us know where, otherwise get the standard 6500K and be prepared to be amazed at the difference. Another (less expensive) option would be to keep your ballasts and get some T-12s of the proper color, and again notice the huge difference.


Spectrum schmectrum.

Plants will bloom the best under 2450K light whether its T-5 or not. They do the second best at blooming under 2750, T-5 or not. 90% of the cfl grows are done at 2700K exclusively, which usually produces fine results. That's not that far off from your 3000K bulbs, but turk is right that 3000 isn't ideal. It will however produce bud, you just need more lumens. So why don't you not buy 3000K lights, and get 2700K or better yet 2400 or 2500 (if they exist).

These 3 combinations will yield about the same assuming all else is equal:
- 6000 lumens of 3000K
- 4000 lumens of 2750K
- 2000 lumens of 2450K

2750K has a chlorophyll response roughly double that of 3000K, and 2450 has a chlorophyll response roughly double that of 2750K. I'm not pulling those numbers out of my ass. Check the charts. So to say it won't work is kinda silly in my book. Yes of course the correct spectrum of HPS, will do much better than an incorrect spectrum, or wavelength of fluorescent, which is what turk has going on.

http://boards.cannabis.com/indoor-lighting/149312-t5-lighting.html

Full spectrum lights are a waste of resources, unless perhaps they have a big spike in a desired wavelength.

[Opie Yutts]

The above quote is talking about budding. For vegging you want 5750K. An 85/15% mix is best for both flower and veg IMO.

[archy420]

ok thanks for the info
ill look into those lights

"Another (less expensive) option would be to keep your ballasts and get some T-12s of the proper color"
what would the proper color be?

and could i get a light that is good for veg/bud stages?

[blink_inc]

go with 600W you will want digital ballsts so that you can run both MH and HPS with the same ballast. Veg under one buld and flower under the other or run both at once with a seperate small room for mothers and clones under flouros.

You will wish for a 600 if you buy a 400...coming from experience.

And for gods sake (sarcastic) why does everyone want to change 18/6.....18/6 or 24/0 for veg and 12/12 for flower..

As for bulbs..I have great success with these:
Sunblaster T5 Fluorescents - Jons Plant Factory (http://www.jonsplantfactory.com/qs/product/63/4186/267106/0/0)

Do NOT cheap out on Lights, Soil, Ventilation and Odour control.

[Opie Yutts]

why does everyone want to change 18/6.....18/6 or 24/0 for veg and 12/12 for flower..



Because you want to get away with as much on time as possible without stressing the plant if you are going for yield. I've found that I can always flower what I've got with 13 hours of light instead of 12.

[Opie Yutts]

what would the proper color be?
5700 in veg
2500 in bud
Good luck finding those. It's best to not try and find something close, but to find something that's on the next best spike on the graph.


and could i get a light that is good for veg/bud stages?
Not really, but that would be called a full spectrum. It's much better to have 85% blue in veg and 85% red in bud, which means two different lights.

[archy420]

i went up to lowes today and saw a daylight 40 watts 6500k and 3050 lumens
is that the light im gunna want?

[blink_inc]

That's the one for flower.
2700K is for veg.

[McDanger]

Blink, are you sure, the chart shows just the opposite? (I don't mean to question you, you know far more than me.):jointsmile:

[Opie Yutts]

It's the opposite, blink. And 6500K is good if you can't find 5700 or 5800K, however that will produce about half the chlorophyll activity. Most all of the new T-5 veg fluorescents are 6500, and they do pretty well.

[blink_inc]

it's the opposite...I probably shouldn't have jumped in on it since I don't use them.

[archy420]

thanks alot for the help guys i understand the lightin a little bit better now.

1 more question
how big of an area should i have for 14 plants?
and how many lights should i have?

[Opie Yutts]

What was that formula again? I think it's 5000 lumens per plant. And the size of your grow area depends on your growing style. If I were to grow 14 plants in my normal style (of vegging for a month or 2), then I would want at least 6 feet by 6. If I were going to flower from seed or clone, then I would want about half that size.