T-8 Question

[stoopeechee]

I'm setting up a new light for an overabundance of seedlings and was wondering about bulbs.

So far I've got two32 watt T-8 "Daytimes" ie. 2800 lumens, 6500K temp and 85 color.

when I bought a second fixture I got the "Naturals" 2950 lumens, 5000K and 86 CRI.

Which is the better bulb?
Would you run one of each?

I know most run a hot/cold bulb set up. Did I buy the right bulb?

sorry for all the questions

[akgardengirl]

I use the daytime light bulbs because someone here on TV said they were the ones to use.
Sue

[shlacm]

Originally Posted by akgardengirl

I use the daytime light bulbs because someone here on TV said they were the ones to use.
Sue

Same here... 6500K... whoever it was seemed to know what they were talking about!

[Buck7762]

I'm using 6500K bulbs for the peppers I started in Feb. and they look great. I'm not mixing bulbs, but have heard of others doing it that way. I've also read on other posts that it doesn't matter what type of bulbs you use, so who knows? If all is well when the weather allows me to get them outside, I'll stick with that set up.

Buck

[husker nana]

Originally Posted by stoopeechee

I'm setting up a new light for an overabundance of seedlings and was wondering about bulbs.

So far I've got two32 watt T-8 "Daytimes" ie. 2800 lumens, 6500K temp and 85 color.

when I bought a second fixture I got the "Naturals" 2950 lumens, 5000K and 86 CRI.

Which is the better bulb?
Would you run one of each?

I know most run a hot/cold bulb set up. Did I buy the right bulb?

sorry for all the questions

Today I also purchased two shop light fixtures and two different types of lights as husband built me another set up.

One set of 32 watt T-8 Daytimes 6500
One set of 32 watt T-8 Residential 4100

One of your questions was, "would you run one of each"?

I tried that with the shop lights but it wouldn't work until I put the same light in in each unit. Does your shop light unit allow you to mix two different lights?

I guess I'll have to try an find the thread that a few people wrote where they purchased a box of ten lights that averaged out to $2 apiece to see where they purchased them at.

[akgardengirl]

I got a box of 10 daylights at Lowe's for around $35.00. A little more than $2 apiece up here but still not bad.
Sue B.

[Stepheninky]

Originally Posted by stoopeechee

I'm setting up a new light for an overabundance of seedlings and was wondering about bulbs.

So far I've got two32 watt T-8 "Daytimes" ie. 2800 lumens, 6500K temp and 85 color.

when I bought a second fixture I got the "Naturals" 2950 lumens, 5000K and 86 CRI.

Which is the better bulb?
Would you run one of each?

I know most run a hot/cold bulb set up. Did I buy the right bulb?

sorry for all the questions

Both will work fine for you. I usually do try to get the 6500k but either of those will grow the seedlings about the same IMHO

[attml]

I am using a combo of 6 lights. My center fixture is a T12 with 2 - 40 watt Phillips plant and aquarium bulbs. Then I have 4 - 32W T8's (5000K ) being over driven by a high output ballast running Phillips AltoII Daylights. All of my seedlings are growing well so they all seem to be working well.

Phillips T12 40W Plant & Aquarium - http://www.amazon.com/Philips-392282.../dp/B0025PPEI6

Phillips T8 32 Watt Phillips AltoII Daylight - http://milo.com/philips-32w-4ft-t8-n...ent-light-bulb

[TomNJ]

I've done a lot of online reading on the various bulbs and wavelengths of lights for seedlings and concluded they all work well.

There are some camps that prefer warm lights (2800k) although most feel they are better for promoting fruit set rather than foliage growth. Others swear by cool whites (4100k), while another camp loves cold light (6500k), claiming it is more appropriate for leaf development.

I know many like to alternately mix warm and cold light bulbs, but this is mostly ineffective since the light intensity falls off at a rapid rate with distance, so you are not getting an even mix of light wavelengths. The plants under the warm lights are getting essentially all warm light, and the plants under the cold lights are getting cold light - only plants spaced evenly between the lights get a meaningful mixture. If you want a middle mix of wavelengths, just buy daylight bulbs (5000k), which is what I use.

There are a lot of strong opinions out there on this subject, and lots of conflicting "science". From my reading, the majority seem to agree that high lumen output from the bulbs is more important for seedlings than the wavelength, and that special "plant lights" are usually less effective because of their lower lumens. Most wavelength recommendations fall between 4100k and 6500k.

I have grown under T12 cool whites and T8 daylights and both work very well. Just keep the lights very close to the seedling tops (1-2") to maximize the light intensity, and use a fan to keep the plants cool and eliminate damping-off. Even though fluorescent bulbs are thought of as not getting hot, they will definitely raise air and soil temperatures when hovering just above the plants. If it gets too warm, seedlings can get a bit leggy.

TomNJ

[greenthumbomaha]

Reviving an old thread since many of us are ramping up for the 2014 season and may be purchasing new bulbs. Be prepared for sticker shock, or maybe I shopped at the wrong place. Lowes 2 pack T8 GE 5000k daylight $8.98 . Any current source of those $2.00 cool whites?

-Lisa

[mrdoitall]

LOL the poster said "a box of 10 daylights at Lowe's for around $35.00. A little more than $2 apiece up here but still not bad." The school I went to said that was $3.50 each. LOL

[marc_groleau]

I mix cool white an warm white an rotate the plants every day or so. They each get a mix of lighting that way. I don't know if it's effective but it sure don't hurt my plants. They always look pretty good.

[HoosierDaddy]

For the last 5 years I use T-8 fixtures with 32 watt 5000 K bulbs.