FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

ive been looking into some cheap and simple ways to supplement my plants light needs, and could use any advice.

one cfl bulb was 4000k rated (on the website)
another 'halogen' energy saver looked ok, but it says "warm white light" where ftc suggests cool white.

i was thinking of getting some 2ft fluoro's but really not sure what i need.

and i want to get out of it real cheap. im just trying to give the plants a strong boost along before dormancy arrives soon.

any advice appreciated. if you could supply links so i know exactly what we're talking about that'd be even better.

Hi Oblivio,

But T8 fluorescent lights. Cheap and they give out more lumens than compacts or T12's. Look for "Daylight".

hb

Don't know how many plants/pots/grow area you're trying to support so I can't really even guess.

This one would probably support 15 or so square inches at 5-8" above the plants, but if you're supplementing sunlight you should probably have it at 8-10" away so they don't get too much light (it can happen).
http://www.1000bulbs.com/42-Watt-Compac ... ents/1086/

This one would support even more:
http://www.1000bulbs.com/85-Watt-Compac ... ents/9182/

T8 are a good buy too. You just need cheap low-profile electronic ballasts for the T8's from a hardware store.

If the cost is the same, T8 is probably a better buy in the long run. But if a CFL will save you money not having to buy a ballast, that's something to consider.

Get 6500K daylight like hackerberry suggested, whether you get T8 or compact fluorescent. Brands TCP, philips, GE, sylvania, valuetek or sunlight are all solid.

I use this one.. http://www.1000bulbs.com/42-Watt-Compac ... ents/1086/

And I get AMAZING results.. I may bump it up a few hundrend lumans to a 85 watt that Veronis suggested tho.

im thinking of the 2ft long T8's, this is the pot.

its rought 8" wide, 8" deep, 2ft long

There ya go! Just make sure you get 6500k bulb and the highest wattage/lumens you can find.. You can never get enough lumens in a bulb.. just not enough lighting is what always lack .. But 1000bulbs.com is my sugestion if your up for spending a little more than a walmart brand

looks like my brother has offered me a twin 4ft fluoro w/ grow tubes.

aint no better than free!

cheapest way is to just leave it outside to get sunlight

it comes with this "marine glo 40w" bulb
its got a distinct blue colour to it

http://www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product ... 6060030101
Marine Glo Fluorescent Aquarium Bulbs

40 W
- 220 240v
- 106.68cm (42")
- 25.4 mm Diameter
- T8
- Service Life - 10000 hours
- Promotes marine reef life
- Standard intensity
- Visible actinic blue spectrum
- Simulates deep marine light
- Stimulates marine growth

Assuming that is a Flourscent bulb it should be fine.. If it isnt, then you'd be wasting your time.

I don't mean to throw a wrench into your free lighting, but just a few things to take into consideration...

That light has no red spectrum at all, which promotes flowering and some growth in terrestrial plants (something marine plants don't really need). Many plants grow okay without red spectrum but they probably won't flower much, if at all. I can't tell you whether that light will stimulate much foliar growth, but the fact that Hagen doesn't tell you the color temperature (e.g. 6500K) or lumen output number (light intensity) of that bulb isn't promising. A single T8 40W 48" tube should be around 2200-2800 lumens, or higher.

Also something to be concerned with - if the tubes are more than a year old, they've lost most of their output power (whether you can tell by looking at it or not, your plants can certainly tell) and will do your plants little good. If they're less than a year old, you can use them and see how it goes.

It would be about ~10 or 15 bucks to get a couple T8 6500K (daylight) tubes if you don't want to take a chance. Philips, GE, TCP or Sylvania tubes from Wal Mart, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. would work (32W or better, 40W). Store/generic brands typically don't put out enough power regardless what the box says.

You can use the same ballast; just plug the new bi-pin T8 tubes into it.

thanks, it is a pretty old light so i might have to go buy a few new tubes tonight.

cheers for the tip

ahh crap.

i just bought

Osram, "lumilux" cool white, L18/840, 1350LM. its the 2ft fluro
no mention of the colour temp though.

now, re-reading this thread im seeing everyone suggested "daylight" T8's.
yet FTC's light guide suggests cool white or cool blue.

*sigh*
looks like another trip back to the hydro store. i wish they could just tell me the temperature of it but it never seems to be marked on there

ok, i went back and got

"national light sources (NLS) daylight, 6500k 18w triphosphor fluoro" 1450 lumens

FWIW to anyone else..

18w/865

= 18watt, T8 bulb, 6500k

if you get a 18W/840 = 18watt, T8, 4000k

in the hope all this may help others identify their tubes by markings,







i see they also sell a 12000k "super daylight" tube