Lighting How many cfl actual watts will i need per auto??

[marclar]

Can I have to much light?

you can. but if you have the space the extra lumens cant hurt anything. if heat is your issue, then run as much as you can without getting to hot.

currently i have a 4x4 grow tent with about 2x2 used running 8 23w 6500k 1600LM CFL's , thats about 12800LM

 

[Stunted]

My tank is 32 sq ft. 4'X 8'. I use 28, 45 watt bulbs, that put out 3,000 lumens each, total 84,000 lumens. That is about 2,600 lumens per sq. ft. I never feel that my tank is overlit. I don't have plant burn and the tank grows fine. Sure is a lot more light per sq. ft than you are talking about. I t sounds like not enough light to me.

When I was using only CFL's I was running 12,400 lumens in 2 sqf (6,200 lumens per sqf)

Click here for the original post

 

[Nelson]

I think 100 watts of CFL per sq. ft. is about twice what is required.

I use the following as a rough guide:
HID lights around 50 - 75 w per sqf
CFL lights around 75 - 100+w per sqf

So I would be aiming for around 300w with CFL's or a 250 MH/HPS in that space (2 x 1.5 = 3)

 

[desertnance]

droskee-
You might think of t-5 fluoros in a small space such as that. Maybe 4 panel (4 ft. long) light overhead, then a 2 bulb panel light (x2), on one each side. If you have mylar or flat white paint, that will light up beautifully, plus w/ flouro panel, they can be within 3-4" inches of the plant w/ no burn. I bought a 60 w bulb (tri color LED)....supposedly equals 250w and have 2 other halogen bulbs (100w purchased at Home Depot), all in clamp lights for 4 regular females in a 3'x3'x9' area. Grow Ace or access Hydro might be good to comparison shop t5/t8 panel lights, LED panels (I have a 12"x12" sq LED light panel 45w) that is covering a 2'x3' space. Have mylar surrounding. Plants seem to bask in the rwb& o spectrum. In the old days, I recall having a basement using plain shop fluorescent 2 bulb panels x 6 of em.....2 overhead, 4 surrounding. Worked wonders and inexpensive....home improvement store or get a few grow light 4 ft. tubes to insert. Do the math, look at 2ft. fluoro kits and replacement bulbs. You'll come up w/ something awesome on a budget!!!

 

[droskee420]

So sorry Droskee420. I did not mean to hijack your thread, it was just a great question. Lol, Aslo very bad math on my part.

That's what the thread is here for....im glad to see it!

 

[Stunted]

I think 100 watts of CFL per sq. ft. is about twice what is required.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I however stand by my original statement

So I would be aiming for around 300w with CFL's or a 250 MH/HPS in that space (2 x 1.5 = 3)

:smokebuds:

 

[Nelson]

For sure you are entitled to your own opinions. So am I. I was just pointing out I get good results with half that amount of light and I stick to mine also. Advice is a homogenous blending of many different opinions. I wasn't trying to put you down just pointing out my experience.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I however stand by my original statement

:smokebuds:

 

[TshirtNinja]

get some multibulb 2ft t5ho...... they work fantastic and are the perfect light for your application. get at least 100-200w worth and that will work out decent to start your journey. welcome and look forward to seeing you make things happen :thumbs:

 

[Egzoset]

Personnally it's what it takes to end the journey which matters most to me. Starting young plants seems easy enough, but growing normal buds?... I'm still not so sure about it just by reading the thread...

 

[Stunted]

And I respect your opinion, at the end of the day all that really matters is the plants grow with what is provided

Here, have a toke with me :smokebuds:


/ edit: i reread my other post and it sounds bad and its not what i was really trying to say.....my bad

For sure you are entitled to your own opinions. So am I. I was just pointing out I get good results with half that amount of light and I stick to mine also. Advice is a homogenous blending of many different opinions. I wasn't trying to put you down just pointing out my experience.