Cheap T5 High Output Fluorescent 39Watt Bulb

[Livewire88]

Hi Everyone,

I am in the process of setting up a tank in my garage to grow aquatic plants, I have everything except T5 Bulbs, I have been searching everywhere and found these bulbs for a great price, I just need to know if they will be suitable for growing plants??

Cheap T5 Bulbs

I just dont fancy paying over £10 per bulb

 

[gatorsean]

Im pretty sure "cool white" bulbs do not work well for growing plants, but Im not totally sure about that.

 

[fishprotector]

Many of the specialist aquarium bulbs provide light in the the most beneficial spectrum for plant growth. I do not think that standard household bulbs will provide this.

 

[ian]

they'd be fine...just out of interest are you using C02?

Try here as well

http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/?gclid=CJmtisn566wCFUINtAod8ymmMA

Many of the specialist aquarium bulbs provide light in the the most beneficial spectrum for plant growth. I do not think that standard household bulbs will provide this.

this comes from marketing blurb...most light will grow most plants. Light is a driver, it doesn't really need to be in any spectrum. Aslong as the PAR of the bulb is OK (and T5's tend to good enough), you'll be OK with any kind of bulb.

 

[ian]

also that link you gave...you need to buy a min of 6 bulbs. The lampspecs website i gave you, you can buy just one.

 

[Livewire88]

they'd be fine...just out of interest are you using C02?

Try here as well

http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/?gclid=CJmtisn566wCFUINtAod8ymmMA

Many of the specialist aquarium bulbs provide light in the the most beneficial spectrum for plant growth. I do not think that standard household bulbs will provide this.

this comes from marketing blurb...most light will grow most plants. Light is a driver, it doesn't really need to be in any spectrum. Aslong as the PAR of the bulb is OK (and T5's tend to good enough), you'll be OK with any kind of bulb.

Thanks for the advice, I have been reading up and found a site where all the members specialise in growing aquatic plants and the advice is that normal Fluorescent bulbs will be fine for what I want.

I will be using pressurized co2 in the new year but need to decide if I will use it on my main tank (in sig) or the grow tank, I will more than likley use it on the grow tank then save up the pennies to also run pressurized co2 on my main tank.

Would you advise spending a bit more on some bulbs from lampspecs or just go with the ones I linked, bearing in mind I am not looking for any nice colour, just strong light to grow the plants.




edit; I am not to fussed about having to buy min 6 bulbs because they will get used in the long run.

 

[ian]

this is why i ask about pressurised C02...you need to be able to grow plants properly if you're gonna have a tank where you want to make a little money. You can't just bang loads of light over it and expect everything to grow without having leaves that are covered in algae. No body wants plants that are covered in algae. If you're going to add a lot of light, you need to be adding the rest of the equation. This is why i said in the previous thread that it would be easier for you to grow plants emersed and then sell them on. This way you don't need C02, and dose NKP. Most of the aquatic plants you buy are grown this way...



check how tropica do it.

 

[flix_cw]

This is why i said in the previous thread that it would be easier for you to grow plants emersed and then sell them on. This way you don't need C02, and dose NKP. Most of the aquatic plants you buy are grown this way...

i saw a thread a while back, a sort of journal, where a member had grown plants emersed. It wasn't you was it Ian?

 

[ian]

yes i have an emersed propagator, it's here...



http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/375556-my-emersed-propagator/

this just needs to be done with pots on a larger scale.

 

[Livewire88]

Well that was a very interesting video to watch. Your advice may just have saved me quite a bit of cash! I was set on trying to grow under water but the benifits of growing out of water seem quite apealing.

I have a huge low loft in my garage which in the summer gets very humid, I am going to look into setting up a long tent style greenhouse (I am going to do a lot of reasearch first) the only thing I am worried about is the police knocking on my door thinking I am growing drugs lol

I live very close to where the local police helicopter home and they have been known to do runs looking for unusual heat sources with the thermal camera.

Now I need to know if my T8 lights in my main tank will be ok to be used along with pressurised co2?? Its never ending all these questions!!

 

[flix_cw]

yes i have an emersed propagator, it's here...



http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/375556-my-emersed-propagator/

this just needs to be done with pots on a larger scale.

not actually what i remember reading, but nice work! i've got loads of leftover moss i recently bought, wondering what to do with it. Could i chuck it in a clear piece of tupperware with a bit of water and pop it on the windowsill?!

 

[ian]

yep Felix, sometimes moss takes a little longer to grow emersed, but again, i know people who sell it on every so often and make a little profit.

Now I need to know if my T8 lights in my main tank will be ok to be used along with pressurised co2??

I'm using pressurised with my 50w of T8's at the moment and things are great, in fact, the best i have had so far. I have no algae what so ever (touch wood!), the plants are growing (slower than with higher watt T5's) well. I know the plants have all they need with the pressurised C02. I'm dosing TPN+ at the moment with some extra ADA eca weekly.

 

[SO19Firearms]

I live very close to where the local police helicopter home and they have been known to do runs looking for unusual heat sources with the thermal camera.

They go up with the national grid and use there's too. But you're unlikely to be using 600W+ lights and by-passing the meter etc so I wouldn't expect any trouble. You could use some of the larger CFL's for emersed setups if you fancy, but there's probably not much point.

EDIT: and are you def. not looking for a nice colour? It doesn't have to mean a difference in price (much), but it can def. effect the way you view your plants.... The planted tank - T5 on the cheap