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Best vs. the best

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Ok. I use 125 watt cf's, and I have been looking for the best price. I have found, however that there are dif brands that do better than others.

the bulbs on this site offer 14,500 lumens- http://www.4hydroponics.com/lighting/compactFluorescentBulbs.asp

Much more than what is stated on this site- http://www.kalyx.com/store....ile.htm

This one is 9,500 lumens- http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/lights.shtml

This one is 105 watts, and only 6,500 lumens, with only 5,00K-
http://www.bulbs.com/product....y=11240

This is the cheapest, but how good is it?
cheap one

So, which is the better deal?
 
You know, I've just had bad luck with the fixtues and bulbs in the format of those 125watt cf bulbs. My local indoor growing store stopped carrying them for just that reason. My current "ideal" lighting solution is the T5 tube fixtures. One of them is here:
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/TEK-LIGHT-T5-HO-4ft-4-LAMP-FLUORESCENT-LIGHTING_W0QQitemZ7722026497QQcategoryZ42225QQrdZ1Q
QcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/TEK-LIG....iewItem</a>

These are four feet long, so might be too long for you, but I think they come smaller. With these, you don't have to buy a fixture for extra, and the reliability is much better and this one gives 20,000 lumens. Plus, you can mix the cool and warm bulbs for the perfect spectruem. It costs a bit more, but in my opinion it is well worth it.

Capslock
 
Hmmmm, Capslock. Now you've got me wondering which is best. I just want to extend day length in one section of greenhouse. Maybe the T5's are a good solution??

Interesting discussion, guys.
Thanks,
KPG
 
T5's are too expensive for my tastes. I like the smaller size of the cfl's as well. Just gotta get a reliable brand. The bulbs that come in this packaging
http://www.kalyx.com/store/images/HLIFGL.main.jpg
are the best. I use them for like 16 hours a day, and last over a year at that rate. Plus, prices have been going down. The cheapest I've found is like $50.00.
 
www.ahsupply.com
I have bought from these guys before, they are also very popular in the planted aquarium world. Unlike regular flourecents wich you should replace fairly often, these CF bulbs last years with very little change in lumen output or color teperature.
 
Well, I've been using 85W bulbs for the last 2 years and have had incredible luck with all of the different brands I've used. I've bought bulbs from www.abcbulbs.com Another website I can't remember, and on Ebay where I was picking up 85W bulbs on close-out for $9/ea!

It was a great deal, and I only regret not buying 12 or so.

Sam
 
P.S.- I have to point out that the bulb that Farmtek is selling and the link above it are for the same brand's bulb. At $35 for 105W, it's a pretty sweet deal.
 
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]P.S.- I have to point out that the bulb that Farmtek is selling and the link above it are for the same brand's bulb. At $35 for 105W, it's a pretty sweet deal.

Hmm, how did you find this out?
smile.gif
 
Well, if you look at bulbs.com, it calls this the "value brand" and shows the same image that Farmtek does. Farmtek calls their version of it "Valuetek" and like I said, they're using the identical image in their ad.

Chances are pretty good you're getting the same bulb at both places. THere aren't that many companies making CFL bulbs...you'd be surprised how few there really are.
 
  • #10
Hey guys,

Take it as you will, but I’ll just confirm Cap's comments....

Those 125W CF's are notoriously short lived in the circles I have come across. I'd steer well clear of them.

About 6-12 months ago they became quite popular as a cheaper alternative on marine aquariums here in Australia (I’m sure the same was in the US). Loads of people bought them (I ran one over a refugium) and I honestly don't know of one that did not fail shortly after.

Even the majority of the on-sellers stopped stocking them.

So even though their initial low cost may seem attractive…. As with so any things, if you just fork out for better quality gear to start with, it’ll cost you less in the long-run.

Most have now gone back to NO's (standard and overdriven) , T5's or just right up to metal halides/HPS.

AJ.
 
  • #11
The brand I used lasted for over a year. One bulb blew out a couple of weeks ago, and the other is still going, aproaching 1.5 years in age. Pretty darn good if you get the better brand. You can't beat them.
 
  • #12
I use 23 watt and 42 watt compact flourescents from Home Depot
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