Amount of CFL vs Higher Wattage.

[Buddahbear]

Is it worth it to drop the extra money on the big CFLS (105-125 watt 30-50$ a light)
Or use multiple low wattage?

What do you guys with experience think, because I'm considering using all CFLs to save money but still would like to attempt a sea of green grow in a 4X4 organic soil bed (for 16 clone SOG).

[amstron]

I'd get the bigger cfls, as they have more lumens and better penetration. You will need a fair few cfl's for that area.

[Pass That Shit]

Are you trying to stay away from HPS? I would prefer 1 400W mh/hps over 4 of those 100+W CFL's.

[doco]

I want to use reflectors - I think they really concentrate the energy - so I go with three 125's in a 2 x 3 x 6 closet. This is my first grow with this setup though so Ill let you know how it goes. The main reason I use cfl is to minimize heat.

Ive seen amazing grows here with just a bunch of smaller cfl's so I know you can do that too and get great results.

[Buddahbear]

I think I'm actually going with a 400w CFL, even though I've always been nervous about the energy bill/ballast setup and shit. For my mother plants I'm going to make a CFL cab though.

[harris7]

I think I'm actually going with a 400w CFL, even though I've always been nervous about the energy bill/ballast setup and shit. For my mother plants I'm going to make a CFL cab though.

You gotta realize that HPS has the best efficiency. For 400W youâ??ll get about 50 000 lumens. VS a 400W CFL Iâ??m guessing would be like 24000 Lumens.

So if you only want that much light go with a 250W hps save on the bill.

[Buddahbear]

D'oh! I meant 400w HPS. Hahah I smoke too much herb. I don't even think 400w (non equivelant) CFLs exist.

I might be considering the 600wHPS though. How big of a growing space does a 600w cover? 6X6 or something?

[jamstigator]

3' x 4', roughly, for a 600-watt light. For a 4' x 4' space, one 1000-watt light is good, or two 600-watt lights. For a 2' x 3' space or a 3' x 3' space, a 400-watt light works. For a 2' x 4' space, a 400 watt light works okay, a 600-watt light is better (if you can handle the heat), or a 400-watt light plus some accent CFLs at the far edges works well.

I think your plan to go with a 400-watt light makes the most sense for your (2' x 3') area. Better to use a 400-watt light and find out you need a few cheap accent CFLs to go with it than to use a bigger light and find out you can't use it at all because of the heat.

[CLOSET KING]

I USE I OF MY 3 600HPS TO VEGG AS THAY GROW I FLIP ON MORE LIGHT BUT HPS THE WHOLE TIME BUT YOU COULD USE THIS IT KICKS ASS ON 12 PLANTS IN VEGG


MY ROOM IS 4X4X9 AND IN FLOWER I RUN 1800W AND THE ROOM SITS AT 80 85 AT 50 TO 60 % cool tubes sre the shut