Has anyone tried light tubes for gardening?

HydroExplorer · May 15, 2014

I'm trying to work out a way I could use light tubes to grow stuff indoors with natural light. I was just wondering if anyone has tried it, what they did and what the results were.

rags57078 · May 15, 2014

can you post a pic of the light tubes ?

HydroExplorer · May 16, 2014

I didn't build them. I'm trying to find someone with a working design so I can copy it.

Light tubes used in homes are usually round tubes made from highly reflective aluminum. It's literally a tube that goes up through the roof and terminates in the ceiling (similar to a skylight)

I was thinking of coming up with a way to build my own using mylar to line plastic drain pipes or something along those lines to direct light from outside into my basement. So I could have my main feed tube that goes right into the basement and have other tubes directing light from several different locations into my main feed tube. It's currently just an idea but I want to actually build this.

dutchbucketsby · June 12, 2014

I think you would have to supplement with additional light. They really brighten up a dark room, but it is still just a small window. You could check with a light meter.

Kirklee

lefolly · June 13, 2014

Checking out some of the THC enthusiasts sites what gets recommended are these solar grow lights but boy are they pricey. They claim 16500 lumens, which is about a 150w HPS bulb.

dutchbucketsby · June 19, 2014

My neighbor has 3 light tubes. He said that he will use my light meter to document lumens inside and out side at close to the same time and height.

19 years ago I grew tomatoes in a Mylar lined closet with eight old style fluorescent bulbs hanging vertically. The medium sized fruit tasted like home grown even though it was winter.

I believe a light tube would have made them even better.

I think that was about the time that hydroponics started to kick in. I registered a website called " Closet Grower " to sell Mylar. At the time it was priced like gold and was very hard to find. Dang I was on the first wave, Internet website, cutting edge product, hip web name that would attract a cross section of computer nerds.

If only Google had been in place, someone might have bought some of the web names I bought.

My foray into this new tech didn't help me become rich and famous, but the $1200 I spent for my 1st used computer (ALL PROGRAMS WERE ON FLOPPY DISC AND GAMES WERE INCLUDED) in 1991 WAS THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT ! My wonderful partner learned so much that she has become quite an expert.

I'm glad she loves me !

When I get the readings I will post them.

dpurdy · June 19, 2014

HydroExplorer,
Check out solatube on the web. They have a lot of info on their pages.
dpurdy

May 15, 2014	#1
HydroExplorer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 132	Has anyone tried light tubes for gardening? I'm trying to work out a way I could use light tubes to grow stuff indoors with natural light. I was just wondering if anyone has tried it, what they did and what the results were.

May 15, 2014	#2
rags57078 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 278	can you post a pic of the light tubes ?

May 16, 2014	#3
HydroExplorer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 132	I didn't build them. I'm trying to find someone with a working design so I can copy it. Light tubes used in homes are usually round tubes made from highly reflective aluminum. It's literally a tube that goes up through the roof and terminates in the ceiling (similar to a skylight) I was thinking of coming up with a way to build my own using mylar to line plastic drain pipes or something along those lines to direct light from outside into my basement. So I could have my main feed tube that goes right into the basement and have other tubes directing light from several different locations into my main feed tube. It's currently just an idea but I want to actually build this.

June 12, 2014	#4
dutchbucketsby Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Arlington,Tx Posts: 8	I think you would have to supplement with additional light. They really brighten up a dark room, but it is still just a small window. You could check with a light meter. Kirklee

June 13, 2014	#5
lefolly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Washington, Z8b Posts: 25	Checking out some of the THC enthusiasts sites what gets recommended are these solar grow lights but boy are they pricey. They claim 16500 lumens, which is about a 150w HPS bulb.

June 19, 2014	#6
dutchbucketsby Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Arlington,Tx Posts: 8	My neighbor has 3 light tubes. He said that he will use my light meter to document lumens inside and out side at close to the same time and height. 19 years ago I grew tomatoes in a Mylar lined closet with eight old style fluorescent bulbs hanging vertically. The medium sized fruit tasted like home grown even though it was winter. I believe a light tube would have made them even better. I think that was about the time that hydroponics started to kick in. I registered a website called " Closet Grower " to sell Mylar. At the time it was priced like gold and was very hard to find. Dang I was on the first wave, Internet website, cutting edge product, hip web name that would attract a cross section of computer nerds. If only Google had been in place, someone might have bought some of the web names I bought. My foray into this new tech didn't help me become rich and famous, but the $1200 I spent for my 1st used computer (ALL PROGRAMS WERE ON FLOPPY DISC AND GAMES WERE INCLUDED) in 1991 WAS THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT ! My wonderful partner learned so much that she has become quite an expert. I'm glad she loves me ! When I get the readings I will post them.

June 19, 2014	#7
dpurdy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Norwich, New York Posts: 255	HydroExplorer, Check out solatube on the web. They have a lot of info on their pages. dpurdy