A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Looking for Artificial Light is a lot like looking for Artificial Intelligence

I'm confused. My AP system has been doing really great. The only problem I have is a lack of light. I really thought I had enough light in my window but apparently I don't. Everything is leggy and the only thing blooming is the peas. Even the peas were disappointing. I got one per plant!

So, off I go to start looking into buying some artificial lighting. Ugh! There are so many different types to choose from, so many different numbers to compare, and trying to figure out what all the numbers mean.

Right now, I'm looking at probably purchasing a T5 HO set up. The operation cost is inexpensive (meaning my electric bill won't sky rocket), and they are generally as close to my price range as I'm gonna get. The one I was looking at can be found here:

http://www.accesshydroponic.com/t5-grow-light-4-ft-4-x-t5-grow-ligh...

It has bulbs for both veg growth and flowering growth, the lumens seem reasonable and it comes all inclusive (bulbs, ballast, timer and hood.

I wanted to get some feedback from those in the know to see if I'm making a wise decision with this purchase. Or if there are other recommendations within the same price range (150 - 200 bucks) or cheaper even! LOL

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on June 15, 2011 at 4:04pm

Florescent lighting, keep in mind that you need to keep the light tubes very close to the leaves of the plants. This makes it very difficult to use florescent light to grow larger plants or differing plants. I've grown lettuce successfully under florescent T5 fixtures but I generally had to move the light almost daily to keep it as close to the plants as I could without the leaves actually touching the tubes. My lighting fixture was a 4' long 4 tube fixture that was really only useful to light a footprint of about 16 inches by 48 inches.

Permalink Reply by Aaron on June 15, 2011 at 4:10pm

Valid point TCLynx. I am concerned about that but I'm also worried about my electric bill. We already pay a fortune up here ($0.13/KwH). And I do have larger plants to worry about as well. This was my second option:

http://growace.com/product_info/400w-hps-mh-umbrella-reflector-digi...

Do you think the additional power consumption is worth it?

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on June 15, 2011 at 4:16pm

There are others on here with far more experience growing indoors under artificial lighting. As you have already experienced, not enough light may still grow plants but the growth is going to be sad.

Permalink Reply by LogicalHydro on June 15, 2011 at 4:17pm

Aaron,

TC makes a great point but T5's can still manage larger plants, you just might have to by 2' fixtures and angle them. They are cheap on the bill too. This new one looks like a good price, watch shipping prices though. That's usually where they get you. The ballast is dimmable as well so if you gave it a month and thought it was too expensive you could always dim it down. I run a 150W and a 250W and they do great from 2-3' above my plants

Permalink Reply by Aaron on June 15, 2011 at 4:22pm

TC ~ Thanks for the valuable input. Your feedback is always appreciated by me on this site!

LogicalHydro ~ I had thought about running an additional fixture (one from the top and one from the side) but that would absolutely kill my pocketbook! If you don't mind me asking, what kind of plants are you growing under the 150 and 250W lamps?

Permalink Reply by LogicalHydro on June 15, 2011 at 4:28pm

Yeah I know what you mean about the price, but additional angles usually do great for the plants and T5 fixtures are easy to maneuver and move and you don't have to worry about excess heat too much. Ballasts and MH/HPS bulbs get very hot. My 250 is above a hydro bucket with a dwarf washington navel and the 150 was over DWC peppers. Small bulbs can come as conversion type bulbs also that lets say are MH but have red like HPS in them so you don't have to change for flower or anything which is nice. What size wattage are you planning on obtaining?

Permalink Reply by Aaron on June 15, 2011 at 4:35pm

4X54 Watts for the original post. The second option (MH/HPS bulbs) is a 400W setup. I would still like to stick with flourescent HO T-5 bulbs though. The second is just a backup in case I can't find anything that will do the job in my price range for flourescents.

Permalink Reply by LogicalHydro on June 15, 2011 at 4:48pm

What type of setup are the lights going to be over? What size? I love T5's. IMO Beware of CFL's, cuz they arent worth the money.

Permalink Reply by Aaron on June 15, 2011 at 4:52pm

The suface area is about 2' by 4'. Not very large but I do have a couple taller plants (squash and cucumbers) Well the cucumbers were just yanked out this morning. The base of the stem split :(

CFL's? What is that?

**Update. Just googled it. Compact Flourescent Lights. Got it!

Permalink Reply by LogicalHydro on June 15, 2011 at 5:09pm

a 4'- 4 T5 fixture should work alright. I would invest in some pulleys like the 400 watt setup advertised because they are ten times easier to raise and lower than most hangers. that way you can also raise one side faster than the other or adjust accordingly. remember T5's can get almost touching to the plants, but they can still burn so always keep an eye on them.

*** I also do most of my ordering from these guys and so far they are reliable. Prices are about average.

http://www.greners.com/grow-lights/fluorescent-grow-lights/t5-fixtu...

Permalink Reply by LogicalHydro on June 15, 2011 at 5:14pm

these are pricey but amazing IMO: http://www.greners.com/grow-lights/products/yo-yos-light-hangers/pr...

Permalink Reply by Aaron on June 15, 2011 at 5:32pm

$17 bucks... I don't think that's bad at all. Of course being up here in the last frontier, we are use to higher prices.

Back to the lights.... The website is great and their prices are lower but they don't include a balast. Are balasts not required for these lights?