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Post by peatmoss on Mar 10, 2011 17:22:46 GMT
Hello,
I am fairly new to this hobby and I have decided to move my collection that is currently languishing on my windowsill into a shelving unit which I will outfit with lights.
First of all: What light will work for all types of CP? How close should the plants be to the lights? I was thinking I would terrace the trays at different hights so I could place plants at different distances to suit their needs. The plants would be under the lights permanantly and I will change the photoperiod during the winter.
Thanks!
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Post by ICPS-bob on Mar 10, 2011 17:43:51 GMT
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Post by robthered on Mar 13, 2011 15:51:19 GMT
Hello, I am fairly new to this hobby and I have decided to move my collection that is currently languishing on my windowsill into a shelving unit which I will outfit with lights. First of all: What light will work for all types of CP? How close should the plants be to the lights? I was thinking I would terrace the trays at different hights so I could place plants at different distances to suit their needs. The plants would be under the lights permanantly and I will change the photoperiod during the winter. Thanks! I'd go with T5 HO tubes. 4 tubes over your grow area should cover it. they go for about 30 bucks a piece (canadian $). I use T5's for all my plants. 16 hour light cycle. |
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Post by peatmoss on Mar 16, 2011 22:19:11 GMT
Do I still need four lights if the setup is only about two feet deep?
Thanks!
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Post by robthered on Mar 16, 2011 23:27:10 GMT
my nepenthes grow shelf is 20inches deep. I have 4 T5's over each of the grow areas (2 shelves). My plants love it. I'd highly suggest T5s, and I'd go with 4 if I were you. If you dont have the cash to spare, get what you can for now and add to it later. The nice thing about the T5s is that you can daisy chain them together so that they all run off one plug  . |
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Post by peatmoss on Mar 17, 2011 13:01:50 GMT
Thank you!
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Post by ABACUS on Mar 26, 2011 4:41:46 GMT
I use T5 bulbs in my setup. I use both 6 bulb and 4 bulb fixtures. As for distance from the plants, I have my lights hanging on chains so I can adjust the chain length when I notice that my plants look like they are getting too much or too little light. I have two setups... This setup uses a homemade wooden frame to hang the light. The legs are just screwed into the side of the table so it is kind of permanent. This is a 6 bulb fixture.  This setup uses two 4 bulb lights, one in the middle and one on top, to service two levels of plants. The lights are on a metal rack that I bought from Costco. This is my best setup because the rack has wheels so I can move it around and the rack didn't have to be modified.  |
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Post by lilly7430 on Mar 30, 2011 15:19:08 GMT
Where did you buy your lights from? And beautiful set up by the way |
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Myles
Full Member
Posts: 147
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Post by Myles on Mar 30, 2011 20:01:43 GMT
beautiful setup indeed!!! The plants look lovely
I use t5s as well as compact flourescents with great results
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Post by ABACUS on Apr 1, 2011 0:48:07 GMT
The brown fixture (first photo) is from Hydrofarm. This is the best fixture by far. Its of the designer series so it has 2 switches. They allow me to run either 2, 4, or all 6 of the lights. www.hydrofarm.com/The fixtures on the wire rack (second photo) are from Sunlight Systems, Inc. These are also nice lights too but they are more money. These fixtures have four T5 bulbs in addition to two 150 watt HPS (High Pressure Sodium) bulbs. This fixture also has two switches so I can run either just the 4 T5s, just the HPS bulbs, or all six. I rarely use the HPS bulbs as they produce a lot of heat and burn some of the plants although I have had some success growing dewy pines indoors with the HPS bulbs on. www.sunlightsupply.com/I get my replacement bulbs from www.1000bulbs.com/. I can buy them here in bulk without having to pay retail markup. If you are interested in buying a similar fixture, I'd definitely recommend shopping around. The hydroponics stores are very competetive in California so I was able to get my light at 25% off the advertised retail prices. Good luck with your indoor growing! |
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Myles
Full Member
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Post by Myles on Apr 1, 2011 15:17:28 GMT
you can also buy used HID light systems very cheap.
Abacus, do you run a fan blowing acros the lights to keep the heat from the HPS down?
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Post by ABACUS on Apr 1, 2011 19:29:54 GMT
Abacus, do you run a fan blowing acros the lights to keep the heat from the HPS down? I try to keep my setup simple so there are less things to break. I've only experimented with the HPS bulbs by growing dewy pines indoors (usually just run the four T5s on that fixture) but then I wanted to cook them anyways so I didn't use a fan and they liked it just fine ;D All of the other plants that I grow indoors thrive under the six T5s only (different fixture from the HPS bulbs). Also, what's nice about the T5s is that they don't have to be right on top of the plants so what little heat they do produce doesn't bother the plants (I have them about 18-24 inches away). Nepenthes also tend to get very big very fast when grown indoors so they outgrow my lights inevitably. I keep the lights as far away as I can to postpone the time when I have to get rid of them. |
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Post by kdodds on Apr 18, 2011 22:59:40 GMT
I do not know if it's appropriate to mention vendors here, but I have been using one particular vendor's brand of T5 lighting for some time now in reef aquaria, freshwater planted aquaria, and yes, for plants. While the light fixtures may not have the "state of the art" in reflectors and what not, they are scads cheaper than any competing fixture and, IME, every bit as good as most, and only slightly not as "state of the art" in performance as "state of the art" fixtures. They're also a nice, smooth black, very inobtrusive and suitable for, say, a living room or kitchen display. For comparison, a 4 bulb T5HO fixture for a 10 gallon, with bulbs, is $50. A 48" fixture (4x54W) is under $100. Remote ballasts, as well, means less heat. My little 10g barely gets to 80ºF in a 72ºF room with only a small crack in the glass top for ventilation.
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Post by bluemax on Apr 19, 2011 1:24:29 GMT
I do not know if it's appropriate to mention vendors here, but I have been using one particular vendor's brand of T5 lighting for some time now in reef aquaria, freshwater planted aquaria, and yes, for plants. I believe that it is considered alright to mention vendors and product names when discussing relevant products on this forum. Besides, you've got my curiosity piqued. That's a great price. - Mark |
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Post by kdodds on Apr 19, 2011 2:20:42 GMT
The fixture brand is Odyssea, they can be found for sale on ebay for sure, and I do believe the seller is the same as the vendor (but not 100% sure). Aquatraders.com is the only seller, other than ebay, of which I am aware. Let me say, though, that I would stay away from the MH units. The ballasts tend to overheat, or the lamps blow. The T5HO units I've been using for years without issue.
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