What grow lights are you guys using?

Want Them All · 11-25-2009, 05:33 PM

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

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

There is always someone selling grow lights on Craigslist

Want Them All · 11-25-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

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

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want Them All

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnshrek

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

I'm using two 1,000 watt MH. Can you hear the meter spinning?

Richard · 11-26-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

I'm using two 1,000 watt MH. Can you hear the meter spinning?

Zoom!

sandy0225 · 11-26-2009, 03:02 PM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandy0225

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by momoese

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

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

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

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.

11-25-2009, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 479,509 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	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! __________________ Last edited by Want Them All : 11-25-2009 at 06:31 PM.

11-25-2009, 07:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 574,807 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	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. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

11-25-2009, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,045,133 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: What grow lights are you guys using? There is always someone selling grow lights on Craigslist

11-25-2009, 09:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 224,997 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	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 __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

11-25-2009, 09:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
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11-26-2009, 11:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 252,669 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: What grow lights are you guys using? I'm using two 1,000 watt MH. Can you hear the meter spinning?

11-26-2009, 03:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 367,068 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	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 __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

11-26-2009, 03:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,590 BananaBucks : 2,134 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,754 Times Was Thanked 10,888 Times in 3,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 729 Times	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

11-27-2009, 01:49 PM	#17 (permalink)
musa_monkey musa_monkey's Photo Gallery Location: Burnham, Bucks, UK Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 217 BananaBucks : 28,684 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 53 Times Was Thanked 147 Times in 71 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	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

11-28-2009, 10:09 PM	#19 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 252,669 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	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.

12-02-2009, 07:39 AM	#20 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 367,068 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	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. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

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