Lighting What type of CFL to supplement LED?

[Gadgetguy]

Mainly bulb color, I have a VIPAR 600w with 5w chips. It will be in the center of a 2'x4' tent which is the footprint the manufacturer recommends. I want to add 2 125w CFL fixtures with wings on each side of the LED to help with spectrum and add some more wattage.

What color bulbs should I be looking at? The tent will be used for grows from start to finish for the time being. I will likely get veg spot set up in the next 6 months but will have a full cycle before then. For all I know the tent may even become the veg spot as I have a room with no occupants I can use....

Spectrum color is the big question here for the CFL and how high above the plants they need to be compared to the LED.

 

[az2000]

Spectrum color is the big question here for the CFL and how high above the plants they need to be compared to the LED.

I'd say warm 3200k for flower. I don't think you need any in veg. I always read LED fixtures with switchable veg/flower throw more power into flower mode. Veg seems to get by ok with less power.

I think CFLs need to be very close to the plant.

If you want stronger light that would cover more area, get a 1-2 tube T5HO fixture.

Or, get a $100 LED UFO to supplement your LEDs. Why CFL?

 

[yodabuds]

I would go with one 2700k and one 6500k to get a mix of the spectrums as autos I believe utilize both or photos as well for that matter thought out their whole life cycle... The greatest light out there our own mother sun utiliZes all the spectrums of light.... The 6500k during flowering will aid in trich production a bit.... If possible I had fantastic results with a uv on for the last part of flowering (the t8's off the solar flare really did kick up trich production several notches compared to hps)... Just my I would also agree get a few t5 fixtures to throw on the sides if possible, maybe a 2700 and 6500k on each side... Now that would rock

 

[Gadgetguy]

I've been reading and reading and reading and that is part of why. I have read (and we all know this is the internet so grains of salt taken) that it can help to have some flouro in there to help with the spectrum etc. I did contemplate doing some smaller T5 panels as well.

By all means if the majority says it won't help I won't do it as I don't need the meter spinning more than it needs to but I want to start out on the right foot with LED. So different, I'm used to HPS.

Good point yodabuds, I could do a T5 on each side with a mixture of flower and veg bulbs. Might be like when people flower with an MH AND HPS at the same time. People seem to like the results they get with the combination.

 

[az2000]

I've been reading and reading and reading and that is part of why. I have read (and we all know this is the internet so grains of salt taken) that it can help to have some flouro in there to help with the spectrum etc.

Now I understand. I bet it's related to the trend with LEDs toward white(er) light. If that's true, whether it would be beneficial to you depends on your LED's spectrum/ratio. Some lights like the Vipar (in the UK), Grow Northern, etc. have more white. I don't think I'd mess with adding more white to something like that (unless I was trying to compensate for not enough watts). If you have the traditional red/blue (purple) light I could see how it would make sense.

I'd say 6500k in veg, 3200k in flower.

 

[Gadgetguy]

Now I understand. I bet it's related to the trend with LEDs toward white(er) light. If that's true, whether it would be beneficial to you depends on your LED's spectrum/ratio. Some lights like the Vipar (in the UK), Grow Northern, etc. have more white. I don't think I'd mess with adding more white to something like that (unless I was trying to compensate for not enough watts). If you have the traditional red/blue (purple) light I could see how it would make sense.

I'd say 6500k in veg, 3200k in flower.

That was my question exactly but it is a VIPAR and through research is why I decided to go with that unit as my first LED. I'll try a run without supplementing the first time and see how it goes. My tent is the exact footprint they spec the lamp for so I'm not cutting corners, just wanted opinions on whether it'd be worth it or not to throw more white in, whether red or blue.

 

[turtlespeed99]

Well take my info with a grain of salt too as I'm trying out LED for the first time too... I remember from the rev's book that he talks about flowering under MH and not HPS!!(Hard to grasp form conventional thinking, I know). I was talking to a fellow grower about MH in flower and he told me that he switched to a duel spectrum MH/HPS HID buld and his plants where doing 2x better!!! Just my 2 cents thrown in the change jar.

 

[Gadgetguy]

Well take my info with a grain of salt too as I'm trying out LED for the first time too... I remember from the rev's book that he talks about flowering under MH and not HPS!!(Hard to grasp form conventional thinking, I know). I was talking to a fellow grower about MH in flower and he told me that he switched to a duel spectrum MH/HPS HID buld and his plants where doing 2x better!!! Just my 2 cents thrown in the change jar.

Yeah I just don't want any lights that put out that much heat because then I have to cool them lol. My goal with this tent is to keep electricity costs down while still pulling good yields and quality herb. So far, the plants are doing GREAT!