full spectrum 5000k cfl instead of 6500k for veg whats your opinion?

[johnnydfo20]

i had a 5000k cfl laying around its a 46w not coiled but tubed kind of its a monster sized screw in im using it to possibly veg for a short while b4 i switch to 12/12 i'd like to save a lil bit of money by not worrying about buying a 6500k bulb seeking others opinions on this. no trolling please

 

[ScrubNinja]

I've used 5000k a lot because they only sell the big watters (well, 48w lol) in that temp here, in the veg range. It works fine. Definitely no need to buy a new bulb imo.

 

[johnnydfo20]

cool preciate the quick reply i am bout to go to radio shack then home depot 2 get afew things didnt know if i wanted to put the 6500k on the list or not

 

[Hydro-Soil]

I use 5400K lamps for vegging. Works great.


The thing to keep in mind with Fluoros is that the listed spectrum is just a peak on the scale. Fluoros are generally around CRI91 which means they are putting out light across the whole spectrum. You can veg/flower under any Fluoro in a pinch.

Stay Safe!

 

[hilbie]

ive noticed that plants respond best to my 5500 k lights over my 6400k cfls when i used them-

 

[superpedro]

depends on what colours is used to make it 5000k...

 

[WoodsyOwl]

I had a 100W CFL n:vision full-spectrum bulb that sprung a gas leak in my bathroom.

 

[Researcher]

I had a 100W CFL n:vision full-spectrum bulb that sprung a gas leak in my bathroom.

That's what I would call a Mercury Vapor lamp.

 

[johnnydfo20]

damn i got a megalight is the brand name i belive

 

[hilbie]

depends on what colours is used to make it 5000k...

it actually doesnt matter with cfls, the bulb is muti specturm , blues, greens, yellows,orange n red. most floros put out color in every frequency to some degree.

know if it was a warm halide id agree, theese can have the least par of any light u could buy if u get the wrong one..all the light in blue/ green , n yellow.

 

[johnnydfo20]

i belive this one is green when i turn it off in a dark place it kind of glows green, my plants seem to like it they are wee seedlings but they are cute! and grow oh so fast

 

[ScrubNinja]

depends on what colours is used to make it 5000k...

The trouble we face in utilizing your advice bro is that I have never found a single SPD for any of the CFLs I use. Looking at scraps of info for CFLs and also studying the PLs, it seems to me like basically any standard bulb that 99% of us are using (ie the cheapest ones they had at the hardware store, lol) are all pretty much equal for all intents and purposes, and it seems to me like the kelvin scale is a pretty even scale, and a good way to work.

I wouldn't say you're wrong for a second, and you know that, but it's just hard to put that knowledge into practise with most CFLs lack of info. I can't even find lumen figures for some of my CFLs.

 

[johnnydfo20]

The trouble we face in utilizing your advice bro is that I have never found a single SPD for any of the CFLs I use. Looking at scraps of info for CFLs and also studying the PLs, it seems to me like basically any standard bulb that 99% of us are using (ie the cheapest ones they had at the hardware store, lol) are all pretty much equal for all intents and purposes, and it seems to me like the kelvin scale is a pretty even scale, and a good way to work.

I wouldn't say you're wrong for a second, and you know that, but it's just hard to put that knowledge into practise with most CFLs lack of info. I can't even find lumen figures for some of my CFLs.

sux we are working with such mysteries

 

[ScrubNinja]

Not really bro. It helps KISS for teh n00bz. I think it's also nature's way of saying - if you are really interested in the correct lighting, move on to a different format. Totally not dissing CFLs, but they are only for room lighting etc, and nobody ever claimed they were efficient except the guys selling them. Any specialist type lighting requires efficiency from the start. CFLs shine on themselves terribly, end of story, game over, for CFLs ever being the most efficient choice, and that is before the game has even started. Everyone is so worried about their yield efficiency but they have no qualms using an inefficient light...it's crazy. But like I say, they serve a purpose and they do it well - they get people growing cheaply and also allow them to see the difference that different bulbs will effect their plants. Rant over!

 

[superpedro]

The trouble we face in utilizing your advice bro is that I have never found a single SPD for any of the CFLs I use. Looking at scraps of info for CFLs and also studying the PLs, it seems to me like basically any standard bulb that 99% of us are using (ie the cheapest ones they had at the hardware store, lol) are all pretty much equal for all intents and purposes, and it seems to me like the kelvin scale is a pretty even scale, and a good way to work.

I wouldn't say you're wrong for a second, and you know that, but it's just hard to put that knowledge into practise with most CFLs lack of info. I can't even find lumen figures for some of my CFLs.

You are right about that. The lack of important data is horrible and I've even read an article failing some 80% of tested common small cfl's because they didn't emit the color they promised. Making the whole subject even harder to analyze.
Though most common brands use pretty much the same gas mix, you can be unlucky find awful bulbs among them - thats all I'm saying .
Besides a few with bad specs (each gas emits its own signature color - money can be saved cutting down on certain gasses - I found some nonames for a small aquarium that looked greenish once I tried them - but damn were they cheap ), coated bulbs with filter, bulbs that change color after a few weeks of use or burn out fast, mercury free bulbs and so on.

If you buy your bulbs in "normal" stores, you wont find any bulbs with plant optimized light. Plant bulbs would make grand moms living room look like a whorehouse.
The plant optimized pll bulbs I use does come with some useful data, costs about 20% more than the ordinary ones, not so much of a difference they should be ignored IMO.
I'd like to run my next grow with those bulbs all the way through. From what I've seen I know they can beat 6500K bulbs at vegge and I bet they will beat 2700K bulbs at flowering too. Though they have a kelvin score around 4500K.

 

[LJB]

scrubninja,

http://home.att.net/~ledmuseum/spectra7.htm

 

[superpedro]

http://home.att.net/~ledmuseum/spectra7.htm

Cool

Two completely different 5000K specs from same brand.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Well sure, I never said you won't get differences especially in 5000k range, just that for all intents and purposes if I go down the shop and buy every brand they have, they will all veg more or less like a 5000k. That is the real world result, actual plant growth with CFL bulbs that I own and use. No charts were used in the forming of this opinion.

Look at the other kelvins noted on the link...there is not that same variation. Otherwise show me the warm white CFL that gives compact internodes?

Interesting conversation, thanks.

 

[superpedro]

Well sure, I never said you won't get differences especially in 5000k range, just that for all intents and purposes if I go down the shop and buy every brand they have, they will all veg more or less like a 5000k. That is the real world result, actual plant growth with CFL bulbs that I own and use. No charts were used in the forming of this opinion.

Look at the other kelvins noted on the link...there is not that same variation. Otherwise show me the warm white CFL that gives compact internodes?

Interesting conversation, thanks.

Love a good conversation

The reason I'm into all this theory, is because of a very large consumption of cfl bulbs for my aquariums for a long time.(I have 15 both freshwater and salt running at the moment). I've tried a lot of different cheap bulbs to save some cash and still do.
I've had some experiences with bad spectrum bulbs before with 4/5000K bulbs. Did the research on how it could be, changing from an old 5000K to a new one that appeared brighter made growth slow down.
I also believe it was here on IC I've read a post from someone finding his 4-5000K bulb useless.
There is a noticeable difference between the best and worst mid range bulbs - I'm not saying the worst is necessarily to be found at your local hardware store, but this being IC I could imagine shops around the world with even lower quality bulbs on the shelfs than the few stores I found here. They exist, thats the reason I keep going on about it

Like we already agreed, I know most common brands are practically identical, but IMO it would still be a good advice to watch out for it. If I have to choose between two similar bulbs I go for the one with the most information just to make sure.
IMO The 2700K's and 6-6500K's seem to be less different from one another.

Wouldn't call the Kelvin scale linear when everything from green to white and purple colors can score the same value.
You wont find a warm white that gives compact internodes, but you can find a mid range bulb with enough blue to do it that has plenty red in it at the same time, to make it just as good a flowering bulb as a warm white.

5000K can be anything from pink to green in appearance, I've been lucky and found "pink-ish" appearing bulbs too.

Cheers

 

[XXXDank]

I have had great luck vegging with the 5000K natural daylight bulbs. This is the bulb I use to flower in my CFL closet. Home Depot $14.95. Works great.

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