Best light for veg

[atullemas]

For me the first 3 weeks i go for CFL lights. I use 4 bulb of 90 w each making 360w. I tested MH x CFL for seedling and its definitely the CFL is better for this phase. The leaves grows faster in CFL lights than MH for the first few weeks. After that i go for MH light. It has the best spectrum for veg.

 

[fredsandford]

it would be best if you can use cfl cool daylight 6500k 865 in first few weeks then switch ti MH and then in flowering HPS ...but thats to much so ....the best is to find whats good for your setup ...its on you to decide and try and then you'll know what works for you !

Exactly what I did my first grow I'll let ya know the results after the harvest!

 

[EventHorizon]

Personally for vegging I usually use three 26 watt 6500K 1600 lumen (4800 total) CFLs in a speaker box with reflective lining. But it doesn't beat my 100w 6500K 7800 lumen CFL. Also, if you can get 2100K or 2400K go with that for flowering... it's better than 2700K.

I personally have a 125w Sun God Komee Mini-Lotus 2100K 9500 lumen CFL for flowering.

 

[jaerock1984]

i got 4 under a 400w hps 11 hours a day and outdoors in the sunshine the other 13 hours. Seems to be working fine.
they about 2 weeks old and just started their 5th set of fans

 

[ruddie]

In a 1mx1mx2m area I have four sitting under roughly 560 watts of CFL and LED lights @ 18/6.

135W CFL 6400k
250W CFL 6400k
Mars Hydro full spectrum 300 (output is about 180ish).

Shortly I'll be adding in a 14,000k CFL to see what happens because 14,000k is HEAPS more blue. Check the two charts out below

https://www.aussieponics.com/images/uploads/6400kSpec.JPG

https://www.aussieponics.com/images/uploads/14000kSpec.JPG

 

[HerbGenes]

Hello ALL,

If you had just the option of using CFL lights for the veg state of the plant then how much watts would be needed for about 2-3 plants in a small grow area?? how many bulbs would you need?

All suggestions are appreciated.

 

[chazmania]

as others have stated I use 23W 6500K CFL's for the first couple of weeks before switching to 400W MH 4200K which is of course supplemented with CFL's.

i've found the 4200K MH ideal for veg as opposed to 6500K

 

[Lord Hydros]

as others have stated I use 23W 6500K CFL's for the first couple of weeks before switching to 400W MH 4200K which is of course supplemented with CFL's.

i've found the 4200K MH ideal for veg as opposed to 6500K

Did you compare the 4200K MH to the 6500K Hortilux Blue 400 watt? Regardless of this particular 400 watt bulb having the worlds best and most complete light spectrum (closest thing to the sun, but only the 400 watt) it is the winner in a comparison between these contenders.
1.) 6500K cfls (125 watt kept close to the plants and 3 of them to 1 of the 400 in a side by side)
2.) 400 watt CMH
3.) 600 watt MH conversion

The only one that came close was the 600 watt conversion. More growth but way less quality vegging than the 400 watt Hortilux Blue. There is a legitimate reason to why these bulbs are incredibly expensive.

I can't believe this thread was started in '09 and nobody mentions the king of MH, the 400 watt hortilux blue.

 

[chazmania]

Did you compare the 4200K MH to the 6500K Hortilux Blue 400 watt? Regardless of this particular 400 watt bulb having the worlds best and most complete light spectrum (closest thing to the sun, but only the 400 watt) it is the winner in a comparison between these contenders.
1.) 6500K cfls (125 watt kept close to the plants and 3 of them to 1 of the 400 in a side by side)
2.) 400 watt CMH
3.) 600 watt MH conversion

The only one that came close was the 600 watt conversion. More growth but way less quality vegging than the 400 watt Hortilux Blue. There is a legitimate reason to why these bulbs are incredibly expensive.

I can't believe this thread was started in '09 and nobody mentions the king of MH, the 400 watt hortilux blue.

I've compared my current 400W Metal Halide Apollo Horticulture (4200K) with the 400W Metal Halide Conversion Nikko Lighting (6000K). The Nikko worked well producing a vivid bluish/white light. The Nikko burns hotter. At the end of the day both lights produce comparable yields and quality (outstanding). These bulbs are also great in terms of their cost. I can post some comparison pix if you would like to see them.