Enough Light?

[jdakin95]

Ive got a 4x2x2 grow box and was planning on using 6 18w CFL's for vegging and flowering would this be enough i think they would produce around 3,000 -4,000 lumens alltogether, i was only planning on growing 3-5 plants

[stra8outtaWeed]

hey..check out Khyberkitsune's threads...he's got some LED lights that would do great for you....plants don't see lumens only the human eye...plants see red light and blue light and LED's hit the main lighting wavelengths to make photosynthesis....you will be happier and your plants will reward you in kind by giving them the proper lighting :thumbsup:

[demoreal]

you need more light.

[thorson]

Demoreal is right , about 2000 - 3000 lum per sq.f

[ForgetClassC]

Demoreal is right , about 2000 - 3000 lum per sq.f

That's pretty low. To grow the goods, try a min. of 5000 lumen/square foot.

-C

[pepurr]

Ok fokes, we got 5000 lumen over here. Do I hear 5500, 5500, 5500. Come on now fokes, give me 5500. Got 5500 over there. 6000....6000 who's going to go 6000...come on 6000. :stoned:

Just kidding :D

[khyberkitsune]

That's pretty low. To grow the goods, try a min. of 5000 lumen/square foot.

-C

Light and Plants (http://www.sunmastergrowlamps.com/SunmLightandPlants.html)

Thought I'd throw that out there.

[khyberkitsune]

Ive got a 4x2x2 grow box and was planning on using 6 18w CFL's for vegging and flowering would this be enough i think they would produce around 3,000 -4,000 lumens alltogether, i was only planning on growing 3-5 plants

Is the 4x2x2 4 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 2 feet tall, or is it 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 4 feet tall?

[demoreal]

I use a 400 watt hps above a 2x2 tray. you can check out my grow in my signature.

[khyberkitsune]

I use a 400 watt hps above a 2x2 tray. you can check out my grow in my signature.

Ahh, so the cabinet is four feet tall. Okay, in that space, I'd recommend five 50w if you're gonna be growing them tall, use one in the center initially to veg your plants for a couple of weeks, drop another two on for another week of veg, then add two more, leave the center panel in place, make sure the other four panels are over the tops of the plants and flower. Grow that out hardcore, raise the four outer panels more than you would the center panel, the center panel providing from mid-to-undercanopy light for that extra yield.

You would drop to 250w, I'd bet on getting very close, if not over, the same yield, and you most certainly would not need as much ventilation for cooling, a little pc fan in the top of the box and a slightly smaller hole near the bottom for cooler air intake and you're set to go.

On the other hand, you could drop two 120w units in there, They are typically like 8.5"x16" so two of those side by side would blow your cabinet up.

I'm gonna drop you a PM with more details in a bit. I gotta get to my drafting supplies and draw out some ideas and see which might work out best for you if you do go the LED route. So many LED configurations. T8 style LED tubes, panels, spotlights, so many styles. Let's see what my engineering skills can pop out for ya.

[khyberkitsune]

And I'm so high I said I'd PM demoreal while I meant to say I'd PM jdakin, and most of that post was for if jdakin's box was four feet tall. LOL!

Whoops!

[demoreal]

LED's are nice. You do not have to worry about cooling.

[khyberkitsune]

LED's are nice. You do not have to worry about cooling.

Yep, LEDs provide their own cooling - just keep your box ventilated and keep your house temps at 70-75.

50w in my PC case, the case doesn't get over 80. I haven't had room temps hit past 75, though, so that may change once the summer kicks in!

[khyberkitsune]

And I'm so high I said I'd PM demoreal while I meant to say I'd PM jdakin, and most of that post was for if jdakin's box was four feet tall. LOL!

Whoops!

And I'm so high I forgot this site doesn't have PM features.

Hit me up on skype, yahoo, or aim if you got it man - same name as I post here.