Grow lights?

[Kazedwards]

What kind of grow lights does everyone use? I have a single light that is 3-4' long. It does ok but this year I have more plants than light. I was thinking that I would get a shop light at lowes/Home Depot. I just need to know what kind of bulbs. I was thinking T12. What do you guys use?

[Worth1]

If you are starting from scratch and want to use tube lights go with T5 or at least T8 lights at 6500K bright daylight.
I use a big bank of CFL lights but it is a project on its own most people aren't willing to tackle.
Worth

[luigiwu]

Depends on what you're trying to grow. If only seedlings until they go out, I do really well with just T8s - 4 bulbs on each 18-inch deep restaurant style wire shelving. I'm starting now and they go out mid may at the latest. All from home depot and using Alto Daylight Deluxe bulbs, cheap and works great.

[Kazedwards]

Yes I am wanting to do tube lights. Just something to get me from March to May. From the sounds of it T5 or T8 are the way to go. I wonder were I heard T12 from.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Kazedwards

Yes I am wanting to do tube lights. Just something to get me from March to May. From the sounds of it T5 or T8 are the way to go. I wonder were I heard T12 from.

That is the old lights they had and still carry.
The T5 and T8 are better.
The number at the end stand for 8th's of and inch in diameter of the tube.
T5 5/8ths T8 8/8ths or 1 inch T12 12 8ths or 1 1/2 inch.

Worth

[4season]

As my T12 units go bad they are replaced with T8 ones. Somehow I always felt the T12 tubes were fragile, but the narrower T8 tubes don't bother me. Higher Kelvin lamps with more output seem to be more common too.

[BackyardFarm]

I use shop lights. T8s are the way to go for an inexpensive setup.

[FredB]

If you want to cover more than 3 or 4 square feet, you should get a metal halide light. A 400W metal halide light fixture that will cover a 5' x 5' area costs about $200. Google "metal halide grow light" to find suppliers.

[bower]

I got my fixtures just when they were switching from T12 to the better ballasts for T8 - but the new ballasts will take either 12's or 8's bulb. I was trying out some different colours and bought a couple of T12 bulbs by mistake and it is noticeable, they don't give as much light as the T8. Also wore out quicker - one of the two was toast in a year. All my T8 bulbs are still working.

The new ballasts use less energy than the old T12 ones, and of course, you can't use T8 bulbs in a T12 fixture, so eventually you would end up not finding bulbs. So I was cautioned by one honest salesman, not to get a T12 fixture by mistake.

The T5's are even brighter, but they are more expensive, and so is the fixture. Not compatible with T8 or 12.

[Spike2]

My very first grow light was a set up actually sold as a "grow light" system. I also have a 4 foot shop light and a 2 foot shop light with the grow bulbs.

[JaxRmrJmr]

Here's what I use. (4) T5 bulbs included, you can use the outside 2 bulbs or the inside 2 independently - or all 4 at once. They can be daisy-chained together. The fact that the bulbs are included is what sold me.

10,000 lumens at 6,500. They also sell 4 foot ones.

link

[Father'sDaughter]

I use 4ft T8 shop lights with 6500K bright daylight bulbs for seedlings. Trick is to keep the lights as close to the plants as possible. T12s are, for the most part, being phased out, and I didn't want to spend the money on T5s if I didn't need to.

[Cole_Robbie]

Here's my thread about building a cheap light:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=35099

I'm actually using a 1000 watt metal halide right now, mostly for the heat it puts off, to warm up the room and sprout seeds. After transplant to six-packs, the plants go out into the greenhouse.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

I use 4ft T8 shop lights with 6500K bright daylight bulbs for seedlings. Trick is to keep the lights as close to the plants as possible. T12s are, for the most part, being phased out, and I didn't want to spend the money on T5s if I didn't need to.

This is my 3rd season using T8 x 48" on double tube fixture. I have 3 of them. Right now I am using just one unit for about 30 small seedlings.
When I pot up, the I'll put the second into operation.
I paid about $13 for each fixture and about 7 buck for two bulbs with 6500 K (~ 22 bucks per complete unit) . I am using daylight and daylight deluxe. Each tube consumes 34 watts. All I had to do was put the tubes/bulbs in ... PLUG IT IN !!

Gardeneer

[beachykeen]

This is my first year growing under lights (I used to buy all my tomato plants). Like many others here, I am using the T-8 48" lights. I have double units on 3 shelves (total of 12 bulbs) on a 5 shelf unit. I enclosed the sides of my shelving with cheap mylar emergency blankets, and use foil roasting pans to contain my plant cups. I also keep an oscillating fan going in the room. Plants are gorgeous, and I am going to start hardening off this week.

Mary