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-   -   What grow lights are you guys using? (http://www.bananas.org/f313/what-grow-lights-you-guys-using-10434.html)

Want Them All 11-25-2009 05:33 PM

What grow lights are you guys using?
 
I'm pricing out some 1000W metal halide, costs anywhere from $270 and up. This one goes for $316, is that reasonable for what it includes. http://www.hydrowarehouse.com/sunlig...-p-1454.htmls? Shipping is what killed the deal for me, the cheapest is $90!

Richard 11-25-2009 07:40 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
I'm very pleased with arrays of T5 "plant spectrum" lights. Unfortunately I don't have a source for you unless you are interested in a truckload.

sunfish 11-25-2009 07:43 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
There is always someone selling grow lights on Craigslist

Want Them All 11-25-2009 08:00 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard (Post 111741)
I'm very pleased with arrays of T5 "plant spectrum" lights. Unfortunately I don't have a source for you unless you are interested in a truckload.

Is this a special type of T5? What make these "plant spectrum", as compared to the generic T5 fluorescents? I was told that T5 H.O. is what's needed for plants.

Abnshrek 11-25-2009 09:06 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
I'm going to replace the one I have and get a 7ft canopy fluorescent and stick a couple tanning bed bulbs in it... I should be able to turn off my heater w/ the change as well as not have to worry about under-exposure.. lol

The Hollyberry Lady 11-25-2009 09:40 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Here's what I use - a 400 watt metal halide with a parabolic reflector and SunMaster full spectrum bulb...











: )

Richard 11-25-2009 10:39 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Want Them All (Post 111745)
Is this a special type of T5? What make these "plant spectrum", as compared to the generic T5 fluorescents? I was told that T5 H.O. is what's needed for plants.

T5 is a bulb format. There is a gamut of spectra available in the T5 format, for example Philips has 39 different spectra in their catalog.

r3tic 11-26-2009 08:38 AM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnshrek (Post 111749)
I'm going to replace the one I have and get a 7ft canopy fluorescent and stick a couple tanning bed bulbs in it... I should be able to turn off my heater w/ the change as well as not have to worry about under-exposure.. lol

Be careful using tanning bulbs, too much UV can be bad for plants.

Lagniappe 11-26-2009 11:41 AM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
I'm using two 1,000 watt MH. Can you hear the meter spinning?

Richard 11-26-2009 02:00 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe (Post 111788)
I'm using two 1,000 watt MH. Can you hear the meter spinning?

Zoom!

sandy0225 11-26-2009 03:02 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
if you had a light rail mover, you could probably do the same area with one light. You should look into it, it'll pay for itself in electric savings. You don't really care if they grow, just keep them in good condition, right?
this is the one I'm using but we're using 9 feet of track with it and a 1000 mh light.
Gualala Robotics Inc

Richard 11-26-2009 03:40 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by sandy0225 (Post 111811)
if you had a light rail mover, you could probably do the same area with one light. You should look into it, it'll pay for itself in electric savings. You don't really care if they grow, just keep them in good condition, right?
this is the one I'm using but we're using 9 feet of track with it and a 1000 mh light.
Gualala Robotics Inc

If 1000 W light is all you can afford to operate, then two fixtures holding 500W each of T5 plant bulbs would be better for the plants and you would not have the operational cost and maintenance of the rail.

momoese 11-26-2009 03:58 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Richard, I take it you disagree with what is said on this page of the website that Sandy linked to?

Light Rail 3.5 Light Mover - Why Move Your Light

Richard 11-26-2009 04:37 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese (Post 111815)
Richard, I take it you disagree with what is said on this page of the website that Sandy linked to?

Light Rail 3.5 Light Mover - Why Move Your Light

Yes. A light-mover does three things:
1) Provides the plants with less light and total energy than if the same wattage was distributed in a fixed array above the plants in the same area of coverage

2) Stresses the plants with a moving light source

3) Costs more money to operate and more time to maintain

momoese 11-26-2009 05:16 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard (Post 111817)
Yes. A light-mover does three things:
1) Provides the plants with less light and total energy than if the same wattage was distributed in a fixed array above the plants in the same area of coverage

2) Stresses the plants with a moving light source

3) Costs more money to operate and more time to maintain

Do you have any proof of these claims?

Richard 11-26-2009 06:49 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese (Post 111819)
Do you have any proof of these claims?

1) Provides the plants with less light and total energy than if the same wattage was distributed in a fixed array above the plants in the same area of coverage
Thermodynamics, Lewis & Randall; 1st Ed. 1923. Also achieved empirically in indoor trials at Vista, CA.
2) Stresses the plants with a moving light source
Plant Propagation, ? Hartmann.
3) Costs more money to operate and more time to maintain
Arithmetic.

musa_monkey 11-27-2009 01:49 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
A T5 24w sun blaster. Cheap and cheerful it does a great job inside my prop as it runs quite hot so the heat matt doesnt come on as much lowering running costs :)

Want Them All 11-28-2009 06:42 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe (Post 111788)
I'm using two 1,000 watt MH. Can you hear the meter spinning?

What are the dimensions of your heated space, it looks pretty big. I've changed my mind about the wattage of the lamp, gonna get a 1000w, instead of 600w.

Lagniappe 11-28-2009 10:09 PM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
It's 30'x 30'. I think the 1,000 watts are more economical in regards to per watt initial investment.

sandy0225 12-02-2009 07:39 AM

Re: What grow lights are you guys using?
 
We haven't had any maintenance on our light rail since we got it about 5 years ago, except dust the track before we start it up in the fall. It's pretty low tech. It was a factory refurb, so technically I guess something can go wrong on it, but it was fixed when we got it, and apparently they fix them well.We run it on the same timer as the light, so when the light's on, the rail is on too, not 24-7.
I don't know if it stresses the plants or not, they haven't said anything to me about it, but I do know before I got it I could only grow in about a 10x10 area satisfactorily and now we're growing in a 10X20 area down there and things are looking good. 90% of the plants I send out are started down there when they're 1-2" tall until they're 4-6 inches tall because it's the warmest place I have in the winter at 70 degrees.


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