Light choice for Veg

[Nighttimex3]

So I found a set of two CFLs in a reflector. Will these work for vegetative growth?

CFL - Compact Fluorescent Grow Light 6500K - eBay (item 200471344611 end time May-18-10 04:43:44 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/CFL-Compact-Fluorescent-Grow-Light-6500K-/200471344611?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ead05f5e3)

[DOUGAL25]

So I found a set of two CFLs in a reflector. Will these work for vegetative growth?

These are the right spectrum of light for vegetative growth. However, only two 23-watt CFLs would probably be enough light for 1 plant to veg (possibly 2 real small ones).

Do not purchase this - it is a rip off! (35$ with shipping WTF!!?!?!). You can easily find the parts to make that lamp around town for a third of the price. Spending a third of the money will allow you to triple your equipment (in theory).

You are off in the right direction!
:stoned:

[Nighttimex3]

How about this?

70 watt 6400K GROW LIGHT CF CFL 150 250 400 600 HPS MH - eBay (item 390195519706 end time May-19-10 21:46:31 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/70-watt-6400K-GROW-LIGHT-CF-CFL-150-250-400-600-HPS-MH-/390195519706?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ad97720da)

Thats almost double the wattage, almost the same price.

[Nighttimex3]

Oh, I forgot to mention Im only growing 2 plants.

[smpaz420]

you can still buy that at home depot for less. thats just a worklight reflector a 59 cent y for the bulbs and the bulbs. you could get 2 of those for just a little more making the yourself. just go buy a couple bulb y's and put one over each plant. that wont cost you much and will do a descent job, your going to need alot more light to flower though.

[Goober328]

Dittos to what those other folks say. You could rig out the whole shebang at Walmart for about the same price and save the shipping rip off. Now they have been out of the Y splitters here of late. Might take a trip to Lowes or Home Depot to find that but they only cost a couple of bucks. Will work fine for vegging at the rate of at least one light per plant. Get the Daylight spectrum on the bulbs. Gives sort of a bluish tinge like MH.

Goober

[Nighttimex3]

Since I have a 400 watt HPS w/ ballast in the mail (this one specifically: 400 WATT HPS DIGITAL GROW LIGHT SYSTEM 400W SUN LAMP - eBay (item 270576653970 end time May-12-10 11:45:00 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/400-WATT-HPS-DIGITAL-GROW-LIGHT-SYSTEM-400W-SUN-LAMP-/270576653970?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3effa01692) ), would I be able to plug a 400 watt MH into it like this? MH400/T15/HOR/4K 400 watt Metal Halide E39 T15 Bulb - eBay (item 350333377721 end time May-25-10 10:42:48 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/MH400-T15-HOR-4K-400-watt-Metal-Halide-E39-T15-Bulb-/350333377721?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51917f1cb9)

They both use the same bulb cap type, E39.

Plus that would be cheaper and provide more lumens to the plants.

I just dont want to cause a fire.

[bigtopsfinn]

According to the link for the ballast it's possible to run the MH on it also. Double check that though.

[Nighttimex3]

Yeah, I emailed the seller too.

[cowdog]

@Nighttimex3
heres a c/p from another site about cfl's that mite help ya: You can grow an entire crop with CFLâ??s if you chose the right spectrum of bulbâ??s. For Vegetation you will want to use 6500K or 5000K, and when you flower you will want to switch to 2700K or 3000K

heres my lil litebar setup
1 bathroom litebar from home depot with 4 sockets
4 y sockets
8 23w cfl's @ 2700K
2 pieces of 1/2 inch conduit
total cost was $25

I mounted the litebar to a piece of wood a little longer than the bar. drilled a hole at each end then slid the litebar onto the 1/2 conduit at each end. so i can adjust the height. just something i thot up real quick one day. but looks great. my area is 30"x26" and i can add a second litebar.
That little aerogarden is what got the wifey and I started in this hobbie. With some bagseed. we are now shopping for an easy and quick indoor strain.

oh hi to everyone. my first post here:)

[Nighttimex3]

Cool, thanks!

What about the MH though? Won't plants grow better with MH?

[CovertCarpenter]

...and finish better with the HPS that you should be able to put on that ballast. You /are/ using an 18/6 lighting regimen, of course..(?)

I am assuming the ballast / kit you're getting is the same one as the ebay listing in your earlier post. It kinda looks like they're a generic knockoff of one of the other digital ballasts out there, but it should work fine.

I would use all the CFLs you have right now, and add the MH to the mix as soon as you can. You will probably have to do some ducting / airflow work to keep the heat down, but it's worth it. The CFLs will be dwarfed by the amount of light the MH or HPS produces, but they can also 'round out' the spectrum your plants are receiving, or help light darker spots at the edges of your garden, thereby resulting in happier plants.

Keep the packaging your big bulb(s) come in, and NEVER touch 'em with your bare hands--the oils from your skin will cause premature bulb failure as they bake into the glass. I put on brand new latex gloves, then use an absolutely clean and dry cotton cloth to touch the bulbs when I change 'em, so there is NO chance that anything other than bare, clean, dry (NON-SCRATCHING!) cotton can touch the bulb...

Once you're in flowering, you'll need a HPS bulb. I like the Sunmaster ones, but there are many good choices on the market. You'll also need sunglasses. Trust me on this ;)

[Nighttimex3]

Thanks! I have some prescription sunglasses so thatll work well. My seeds arent here yet, so I'm going to start as soon as they arrive.