Help with Fluorecents

[David762]

T-8's work pretty well, especially 4 x 48".

T-8's work pretty well, especially 4 x 48".

Of course HID would be best but that just isn't going to happen during this grow. I was planning all cfls but the higher wattage bulbs are too pricey.

Using clamp lights gets pricey too using 26 watt bulbs. One clamp light is $7 plus 3 Y connectors for $2 each plus 4 bulbs $14 for a 2 pack. $27 for 104 total watts that are twisted in a spiral. On the positive side everything but the bulbs last forever!

I am thinking of adding T12 because I can get 48 inch shop lights (uses 2 bulbs) and 2 x 34 watt bulbs for $15 total. This is only 68 watts but not in a cluster so I can make a longer canopy.

For $3 more I get 2 of the T12 sets for 136 total watts.

Which is better? Cluster or tube?

I picked up a 2' x 4' 4 tube T-8 fixture (with bulbs) from a big-box home improvement store for under $50. And I switched out the original tubes for 48" GroLux from the same store for an additional ~$50. Rigging up a pulley system to keep the fixtures within 4 - 6 inches of the canopy probably cost me an additional $25. Of course, that was 4 years ago, and prices do change.

That size fixture should be able to handle 50+ clones in 32 oz pots, or 6 regular plants in 4 - 5 gal buckets. If you shuffle & rotate (120 degrees per watering), all 6 plants should be very healthy. (I'm talking about soil-based cultivation here.)

 

[Tilt]

Which is better? Cluster or tube?

the cluster will be more intense
the tube will be more disperse.
I would go with the cluster after seing blynx's threadhttps://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=190726

 

[DiiZZii3]

Dude u gotta remember ur gunna get outta ur grow what u put into it as in $, u wanna go cheap ur gunna get a small yield. Put some cash into it and rember that the equipment will basically pay for itself the first run.

 

[srenre]

That size fixture should be able to handle 50+ clones in 32 oz pots, or 6 regular plants in 4 - 5 gal buckets. If you shuffle & rotate (120 degrees per watering), all 6 plants should be very healthy. (I'm talking about soil-based cultivation here.

Thanks! Looks like I should be ok (at least for now)

Dude u gotta remember ur gunna get outta ur grow what u put into it as in $, u wanna go cheap ur gunna get a small yield. Put some cash into it and rember that the equipment will basically pay for itself the first run. Yesterday 05:36 PM

That will have to wait for the next run. I don't have any delusions that I'll get any large quantity or super quality. This is more of a test to get the basics down. This run is not intended for sale (just me) so as long as I get at least one mother and a few j's it will be considered a success. This is just some unknown bagseed so if I get enough smoke then I won't have to buy for a minute, then I could also buy some quality seeds!

Assuming I get this right then I intend to use this equipment for mothers and clones when I start upgrading so nothing is lost.

Which is better? Cluster or tube?

the cluster will be more intense
the tube will be more disperse.
I would go with the cluster after seing blynx's threadhttps://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=190726

It looks like I will be doing both. I broke my only 40 watt cfl so I put on a couple more 23's ... it is a mess and can't stay this way. Thanks for the advice and the link!