Suitable lighting?

[mackemgrower]

Hi there, I know there's a fair few threads on lighting etc. But I'd just like to ask a quick question. Can anyone tell me if the GE t2 cfl bulbs are suitable for growing?

GE T2 Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb Spiral, 45260 (http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9776525&fh_view_size=10&fh_eds=%3F&fh_sort_order=1&fh_sort_by=prdISSort&fh_location=%2F%2Fcatalog01%2Fen_GB%2Fcategories%3 C%7B9372013%7D%2Fcategories%3C%7B9372029%7D%2Fcate gories%3C%7B9372111%7D%2FspecificationsProductType %3Denergy_saving_bulbs%2FfeaturesBrand%3DGE%2Fspec ificationsSpecificProductType%3Dspiral_bulbs&fh_refview=lister&isSearch=false)

This is my first post and I'm a noob so any help would be greatly appreciated, cheers.

[khyberkitsune]

It's just a typical fluorescent lamp. It will work but your results may not be optimal.

[mackemgrower]

Thanks for the fast reply there mate, could you recommend me decent, budget bulb for optimal growth? Preferably that I can buy at a shop in the north east of England.

[khyberkitsune]

That I'm not sure of, as I'm only familiar with southwest London, and even then I don't live in the UK. Sorry mate.

[bluntar]

Important things to know...How many plants do you want to have andhow big is the grow area. that light is toooo small..iv read around here that the 23 watt cfls are the most efficent but you need to have a ton of them. you could get fewer lights if you went with more wattage. the other thing is the temp range. the lights will say something like daylight or soft white...they all have a kelvin temprature which is important. the blue area is better for veg and red for flower. comon CFL's are 2700k and 5600k. i recomend reading all you can about this in other threads. there is alooot of info out there, i just wanted to get ya tha the basice so you know what to look for. hope this helps!! good luck!!



275210

[mackemgrower]

Okay, I got 4 bulbs. Each produce 1300 lumens each if I were to run all of those at once would that be equivalent to 4000 lumens? It's only a small cabinet grow if that makes any difference.

[bluntar]

I dont think lumens add up like that, would be nice. Only way to know (that i know of) is a light meeter. Can you give us all the information that you can on the lights. I dont know much but i would be more then willing to help and there are a ton of awsome people around here that DO know a lot so hang in there, for now id recomend posting as much information that you could.

[mackemgrower]

Lights -

90w equivelent bulbs
1230 Lumens
2700k = Warm White
Mercury content 2.5mg
>10,000 on/off cycles
<60 sec to 60% of the full light output
B22/BC
230-240V ~ 50Hz

Grow Area -

Small Cabinet, inside is completely white.

Any more info needed?

[bluntar]

they will work nit not near ideal. thats enough for one plant to grow slow through veg. However you want more of the blue part of that chart i posted up there, then the red for flowering. mixed is not bad but you want more of the blue till flowertime then switch to mostly red. I am useing 6 5600k and 2 2700k at the moment but will be adding atleast 6 more soon. other than that the basic 23ish watt screw in clf is what it is. You willl have to get the lights about 3 or 4 inches away from the plant and keep a thin canopy.