forgot about starter lights ,opinions please

Ok so i have been busy the last 2wks gathering things for my first grow. I am about a 1000 dollars in already and i pretty much have everything to veg/flower.... I put a seed in distilled water about 2 days ago and it cracked, then i moved it to paper towels so i didnt happen to drown it.

My seed has a nice tap root going now, i have my rockwool plug and 4x4 soaking in ph 5.5 as we speak, been there since yesterday. Problem is i forgot t5 fixture.....now im strapped for cash on a limited budget til this week end. I am talking home depot, lowes, menards money. This seed is ready and i am not, lol. So i need something inexpensive for the time being til i can get better, suggestions please?????

Just grab a few 5000k-6500k CFLs.

These are bulbs i presume? And does wattage matter?

2 small cfls will do fine for the first 7-12 days.

thinn said:

These are bulbs i presume? And does wattage matter?

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A little. I'd just go with some 26w if I was you.

And yeah. they're bulbs, sounds like you need to do some reading if you didn't know that. No offense.

billybob420 said:

A little. I'd just go with some 26w if I was you.

And yeah. they're bulbs, sounds like you need to do some reading if you didn't know that. No offense.

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Ha, as you can tell by my post count, im more of a lurker/reader than anything. I have read til my eyes bleed and proceeded to put a bandaid over it and continue, im reading on the forum constantly. This by far (cfls/leds/fluorescents) the only area i have neglected i believe. I appreciate the quick responses guys. Just remember, you were new at one point . I try to avoid asking questions because like i said, i know the info is posted here already. This time around i just totally blew it by forgetting. I have been wrapping my head around everything and trying to get everything i need, but minds forget, lol. +rep to the helpful! Much appreciated. By bulbs i meant standard house bulbs not the fluros. I by no means thought a cfl was a rock with light capable particles in it! Thanks again.

Ok well this is what i scraped up gentlemen. I got as close to 26w without going over as i could (23w) my question is with or without the light shields/reflectors... i can always take them back.


This is pure improv so enjoy the new guy tripping over his feet right now!

Looks good man.

I'd personally ditch the reflector and make sure the bulbs are horizontal (as most the light comes from the sides). If you used the reflector, the bulbs would be pointing downward which isn't as optimal.

Sounds good billybob, i just bought them just in case... I might keep them just for the cord, so they are mobile and just remove/dremel the reflector off. I dont think this will be to bright to lay them horizontally on top of the humidity top , correct? Maybe a couple dvd cases between the light and top cause these things get hot to the touch. Or maybe halve the reflector so it is blocking just the top from escaping.

stick em in a warm window till you get lights...peace

thinn said:

Sounds good billybob, i just bought them just in case... I might keep them just for the cord, so they are mobile and just remove/dremel the reflector off. I dont think this will be to bright to lay them horizontally on top of the humidity top , correct? Maybe a couple dvd cases between the light and top cause these things get hot to the touch. Or maybe halve the reflector so it is blocking just the top from escaping.

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Halving the reflector is an idea. You could make your own reflector too. You don't want the bulbs resting on anything.

If you are getting your t5s this weekend, I'd do what was already said and let the sun keep them going for a couple days in a window.