Hick said:
maximun??..I think the "recommended minimum" is 3,000 lumen for veg(or approx. 30 watts of HID) and 5,000 lumen (or 50 watts p/sq.ft of HID) for flower.
I've never seen lighting measured by "cubic feet", (LxWxH)it isn't accurate. You should only consider floor space or the number of "square feet"(LxW).
i.e.,,2x2 space 10' ceiling = 40 cu.ft.
@ 10 w. p/cu.ft, it would require a 400 watter....yet floor space dictates "that" to be 100 watts p/sq ft...transposed to lumens, around 10,ooo p/sq.ft.
I've read somewhere that plants can only utilize about 8,000 L p/sq.ft.(80 watts p/sq.ft)
I agree completely Hick. I was commending this individual for adding this information because it sounds to me like it comes from someones experience. I have always calculated my goals in lumens per sq ft, regardless of whether it be flouros or HID. In my complete 'noobish', panicky first grow, so far I have very little experience to speak of. But, one thing I did notice after building my overdriven flouros, was their explosive growth, tight nodes, etc. About 3 weeks in I moved them under HID, first a 400w MH (4" vortex), then a 1kw hortilux eye (MH 6" vortex). I was pretty disappointed in their immediate stretching, even at MINIMAL distance (according to the charts), because they are mothers.
Of course, this is all opinion, but I think if you look at lumens and the charts, I think it is actual distance from tops, that will pull my experiment off. 36k+ lumens in 8 sq ft is under the recommended minimum for flower I know, but not by much. And even when overdriven with the added heat, my girls have 'grown into' the bulbs overnight, with no stress.
I have several HID, but I am doing this to satisfy my own curiousity. I live in an area where summer temps will nearly make growing impossible by any conventional means, especially if you consider this old house's limited fusing. Spikes, helicopters ,excessive heat are a problem for HID's, but not for flouros. While toying with this idea, I made alot of suggestions to alot of cabinet/closet grower's encouraging the use of flouros, only to shortly after be followed by 'your wasting your time without HID' posts. I feel for these guys, with limited funds, space etc. and by testing and DIY projects I feel, there could be some reward at the end for this 'overly scientific noob that rambles'
and others.
After all, It says in the MP growing guide you can bud with less (flouros), it just may take longer. I got my lupe ready and they will go 12 weeks if necessary.
At least, I think that's what it said, I got a small emergency over here at the 'lab' and will post about it tomorrow in my journal.
Eman
