MH vs. CFL for veg stage

[Sentinel]

what is preferrable... 1 250 watt MH or 6 40W CFL's for 2 plants going through veg stage?

[smokeallday]

im not sure, but for the first 2 or 3 weeks, use your cfls, and then when you have at least 3 set of true leaves, throw in the MH, and u can still put your cfl's to light every angle of the plant. just be sure to use a good fan.

[SeedKing72]

Man, I would rather have the Metal Halide for Veg, no doubt.. I am not an EXPERT.. but I would think you would get the proper light spectrum and more lumes from a MH.. But what the hell do I know, I am sure someone else will have a different opinion.. I dont know how WATTS really plays into it, I dont think you can compare it based on watts unless you were talking the same thing like 400 Watt HPS vs 600 Watt HPS, then I would say 600 is better.. but thats apples to apples.. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION.. I would like to know what the real answer is.. but I always try to help..

I think SmokeAllDay is right, use both if you have it, but dont block the MH with the CFL, use them for side light real close to the plant, use them where the MH is not getting too.. also you could tie down some of the leaves to help the light penetrate..

Also working with one light is easier than 6 lights..But if you got them, use them all..
Keep in mind all the AMPS you will draw on that circuit also, just to be safe... You should be ok, but its fun to do the math just to make sure you dont blow the circuit..

I think its Watts/volts so a 1000Watt HPS would draw like 8.33 Amps on one circuit, which may be a 15 AMP circuit (its actually more, because the ballast needs like more watts than the 1000 watt bulb, maybe 50 more watts, it will say on the ballast) I moved all my stuff to a single circuit that had a 20 AMP breaker, I feel alot safer I have 400WATT HPS + 400WATT of FLors + 3 Fans

I hope my math is right, I hope I didnt ramble on.. take it with a grain of salt

[HARDDON]

what is preferrable... 1 250 watt MH or 6 40W CFL's for 2 plants going through veg stage?


Given the choices you offered, I would CFL for 1 - 2 weeks, then MH.

Given a choice, I would upgrade to 2 or 3 125W 6500K CFL's and choose them over MH anyday for vegging up to a month.

[BobBong]

yar..what HD said. CFL's are going to be better for vegging. less heat, closer proximity to the light and most of them are energy efficient. MH would be better for your flowering stage... but there are also better CFL options than a MH would provide.

[SeedKing72]

Are you guys saying a CFL has a better sprectrum than a Metal Halie? Also where did you get a 125 Watt CFL, I looked on HomeDepot.com and and I all see are 25 and 40, but they say they are the equivalanet to something more.. Do they have a special ballast..?

[BobBong]

CFL's come in all spectrum that's why. you can get a cfl with a temp of 5500k or 3000k.

obviously 5500k is going to be better for vegging.. then you impliment the red spectrum for flowering. the MH may have more light intensity.. but it's not really ideal. you can get these cfl's online... in all kinds of spectrums.

most of the time, no.. you don't need a special ballast.. just a simple light socket

[HARDDON]

Are you guys saying a CFL has a better sprectrum than a Metal Halie? Also where did you get a 125 Watt CFL, I looked on HomeDepot.com and and I all see are 25 and 40, but they say they are the equivalanet to something more.. Do they have a special ballast..?


Are you guys saying a CFL has a better sprectrum than a Metal Halie?

Yes, I am saying that. Assuming the CFL you buy has a Kelvin of 5500 - 6500. MH has a Kelvin of approx. 4300.



Also where did you get a 125 Watt CFL, I looked on HomeDepot.com and and I all see are 25 and 40, but they say they are the equivalanet to something more

You won't find them in Home Depot or Lowe's or Wal-Mart. They cost too much money for little Grandmother Mary Cunt to buy for her indoor ferns. :) You find them only in grow shops or online.


Do they have a special ballast?

Any CFL that is over 75W in true wattage required to power the light requires what is called a mogul socket. It has a built in ballast. It costs about $10.00.

[SeedKing72]

Okay, I will look into that.. because I have a MH converter bulb.. for my HPS and I know anything that says CONVERTER is losing something, I bought the HPS for flowering and the Converter bulb for VEG, but I am also using 5 2 * 40 Watt Flourescents.. I sure hope I have enough light.. You guys know a good website (insidesun.com, ebay,etc) to buy these High Powered CFL.. I need one to keep 1-2 mothers alive in another room for clones..

[Bonez87x]

Any CFL that is over 75W in true wattage required to power the light requires what is called a mogul socket. It has a built in ballast. It costs about $10.00.

Your saying my 150w indecasent sockets wont hold a 125 true watt cfl?
[CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE USE 150 WATT TYPE A OR SMALLER LAMP (120 60Hz ONLY)
made in china

[Sentinel]

im sure you cant go wrong with a 250+ watt MH and fluorescents for veg....

[HARDDON]

Your saying my 150w indecasent sockets wont hold a 125 true watt cfl?
[CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE USE 150 WATT TYPE A OR SMALLER LAMP (120 60Hz ONLY)
made in china


Correct. You will need to purchase a mogul socket. Its cheap and lasts forever, but the big CFL's have bigger bases.

You can find the absolute BEST CFL's for your grows.....using 65W bulbs, and NORMAL light sockets....here at .....

http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/compact_fluorescent_32_ctg.htm


scroll down to the 65W bulbs....

5500K
4100 Lumens each.
$29.00 each....

Don't let the high price fool you. These bulbs are the best you can get for close grow CFL. They are rated to last at least 3X as long as normal bulbs or normal CFL's as they dont diminish their light output until well into the second half life.

Worth every penny and I would'nt buy another CFL than these.