Power compact lighting - Orchid Board

HereticHammer · #1 04-12-2009, 01:02 PM

I am certainly not new to orchids but this seems to be the most active forum so I am posting here.

I have grown orchids for about 20 years now but only spent a short time in the beginning raising them under lights.

Now I am setting up a 55g Orchidarium to grow miniatures.

I have decided to use an old CoralLife light hood for lighting. It has four 65w power compact bulbs.

Currently it has two 10000k and two actinic bulbs that were used on a reef tank. Obviously, the actinics would be useless for plant growth but I don't know about the 10000k bulbs.

Any ideas? Should I go with all 6700k bulbs or 10000k or a mix of the two?

Thanks ahead of time for any help.

Amanda L · #2 04-12-2009, 01:51 PM

Hi HereticHammer, welcome to the OrchidBoard!!! My very biased opinion is that this is the best forum to learn any and everything you ever wanted.

I grow under lights. I don't have a fancy set-up, just 2 desk lamps and CFL bulbs. I have read that for good vegetative growth 6500k is good and for flowering you need something a little lower, like 5000k (or something close). I am by no means an expert on lighting, but I really don't think the 10000k bulbs will work. There is a great forum section "Growing Under Lights". You should be able to find any answers to any questions there. I know a lot of people here use T5 lights and have tremendous success with them. Good Luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

HereticHammer · #3 04-12-2009, 02:15 PM

Sorry Amanda, I put my link in my signature and forgot to put my name. How rude of me. I fixed that.

Anyway, I don't know if they make power compacts lower than the 6700k. The only sources I have for them are aquarium supply sites.

I do plan to stay with my power compact setup because it was very expensive and so should not go to waste, lol, but also because it was able to grow beautiful corals so I know it can really power some good light. I just need to find the right spectrum for orchids.

I know the 6700k lights are used by freshwater plant growers which is something I have never done since I do mainly reefs but I would assume that they care little about flowering.

Hmm, now I need to see if I can find lights lower than the 6700k. I don't even know where to look. lol

I hope others will offer their opinions. The tank should be coming this week so I really want to order the lights soon. I ordered a custom tank with a drain in one of the back corners since I have a misting system I plan to put on a timer so that the whole thing, lights, watering, humidity and temps will be automated.

I already have everything either here or ordered except the light bulbs and fans.

I just discovered the world of miniatures and since I am in Texas is it much easier to raise them in a very controlled orchidarium than to try and keep up with watering them in the extreme Texas heat as they are so tiny. I am horrible with keeping up with things in small pots much less itty bitty pots. lol

Amanda L · #4 04-12-2009, 02:24 PM

I'm sure someone will offer up some advice for you. Good Luck and PLEASE post pics of your set-up when your done with it.

HereticHammer · #5 04-12-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanda L

I'm sure someone will offer up some advice for you. Good Luck and PLEASE post pics of your set-up when your done with it.

Actually, it is not going to be like some of the dart frog habitats I have seen talked about.

This will be a pure orchidarium for form and function only not beauty. My plans are eggcrate along the back and sides for hanging orchids and a raised eggcrate bottom to allow for holding of some water for humidity. So to look at it won't be something dazzling except for the orchids which is my interest.

I still plan to do a set up post at my blog. When I do I will post a link here for anyone interested. I need to borrow a decent digital camera though. I also need to find out what is a good cheaper digital camera for photographing orchids, even close up but alas that is another post I guess. lol

Corwin · #6 04-12-2009, 03:24 PM

You could perhaps look here or there

HereticHammer · #7 04-12-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corwin

You could perhaps look here or there

Nope, neither here nor there had anything. lol "Here" didn't not even have power compacts which was odd considering how huge they seem.

"There" had PCs but only in the aquarium wavelengths that I have mentioned, 6700k, actinic, and 10000k.

Corwin · #8 04-12-2009, 03:39 PM

Yes the only one I saw (here) is a 96W, not a 65W

HereticHammer · #9 04-12-2009, 03:51 PM

I may have found them here:
http://www.naturallighting.com/

But this is the only spectrum I can find close to the 5000k that will fit my ballast.

Naturallighting.com - Natural Full Spectrum Lighting[title]

Is everyone agreed that I will need 5000K? Will 5500K be close enough?

Also, should I mix these bulbs with 6700k for growth or are the 5500k enough for both flowering and growth?

Thanks

Corwin · #10 04-12-2009, 04:06 PM

I think that post answers your question. It looks you need a 2.7K rather than a 5K, together with a 6.7k