good idea, but the math doesn't work ... while ten 50-watt CFLs total 500 watts, and perhaps as many lumens, etc., as a high-pressure lamp, they don't 'penetrate' the canopy ... fluorescent lamps' lumens fall off very quickly, as distance grows ... you might have 25,000 lumens 'up close' to the canopy, but, it may be 1/2 of that, just inches away ... you would be MUCH better off to buy a 400w, or 600w HPS (high-pressure sodium) lamp, and fan-cooled hood ... HPS works just fine for vegetation phase, too, if you can't afford a switchable ballast ... IF I was to go back to fluorescents (I used them for many years), I would run the 40w tubes, not CFLs ... they run much cooler, allows even light distribution (line your plants up under it, shortest, to tallest) ... I was up to 16 40-watters :wtf:, when I got my first 400-watt HPS ... it blew the fluoros out of the water, no comparison ... hope that helps :jointsmile:
the image reaper Reviewed by the image reaper on . 100x 20W (1000Watt 4000k CFL x 2 grow?) Hi guys, I'm not new to growing, but I am fairly new to CFL's... Currently I've started a growlog, but I'venot finished setting up my grow area. I've decided that 1 x 2700k and 1 x 6400k isnt enough I've added an additional 23W bayonett 4000K. I've decided it makes sense to spend $500 or so on a bulk buy of 100 x 20W. I'll then use half of that to create a 1000Watt fluoro grow, could this be taking things over the top? I'm sure it'll be tons easier to cool than even one 400W HID Rating: 5