Need Help: Light System Layout

[BlotterHead]

Ok im new to all of this.. I thought maybe you guys could help me figure out on how my light system should be setup. This is what i have.

3) 48" Daylight 40: 3050 Lumens
3) 48" Kitchen & Bath 40: 3400 Lumens
3) 5 Foot Duel Relfector Shop Lights 5 foot cord also.

I plan on geting a 1 more Daylight and 1 more Kitchen and the 4th Shoplight soon.

Does this all sound decent? or should i invest into something better.. Im new to this so i just wanted to start with something simple.

BlotterHead Reviewed by BlotterHead on 12-23-2005. Need Help: Light System Layout Ok im new to all of this.. I thought maybe you guys could help me figure out on how my light system should be setup. This is what i have. 3) 48" Daylight 40: 3050 Lumens 3) 48" Kitchen & Bath 40: 3400 Lumens 3) 5 Foot Duel Relfector Shop Lights 5 foot cord also. I plan on geting a 1 more Daylight and 1 more Kitchen and the 4th Shoplight soon. Does this all sound decent? or should i invest into something better.. Im new to this so i just wanted to start with something simple. Rating: 5

[BlotterHead]

Heres on what i plan to be my setup.

http://www.e-thug.org/farfetch/test.jpg

Now should i have just 1 light over my plant.. it just sprouted up from the ground yesterday... i got a 1700lumens light over it.. or can i just put all my DayLight/Kicten+bath lights over them? will that work too?

[Herbus]

Hey BH,

You can use any configuration you want. For veggi growth use the daylight bulbs that are more blue then red usually called "cool white" these will sometimes help keep your plants from stretching as much as the warm bulbs usually called bloom tube or something like that. I do very well growing under normal flourescent light during veggitative growth but I then move them under 1000 watt high pressure sodium. I would imagine though that you could just change your bulbs when you go 12/12 to a warmer type. I've never actually allowed them to flower under normal flourescent tubes but I suppose it works. The more light the merrier but just keep them as close to the plants as possible. Like 2" or so away is good and they will do fine for the first 3-4 weekish.

Best of luck,

Herbus

[harmonicminor]

I use t8 shoplight fixtures and upgrade the ballasts to run 2x. I run 2 bulbs with a 4 bulb electronic ballast. the only thing is your bulbs wont last as long but they will be almost 2x brighter. you can even hook them up for 4x. that would take 2 4 bulb ballasts per fixture.

[BlotterHead]

well im new, i want to try this out and see how it works .. i dont quite have the money to get anything else right now but thanks for the help =)