Help me choose a light

[Call_Me_Bob]

here is what i ended up doing. i took my metal shelf and reconfigured it so its wider and i can utilize all 5 tiers. there are three tiers about 4' tall, and then two tiers under them. the undersides just have some of the old t12s i used underneath. i havent gotten my light yet, but i have two dome lights with 6500k CFLs for now, and the windows. i used to grow phals in the middle of this room, alot farther from the windows, and they did fine. so im not too stressed about getting a light, but as i can afford it, id like one. i still need to get something to catch water though...


Untitled by orchidman10, on Flickr


Untitled by orchidman10, on Flickr

[Call_Me_Bob]

even so, if you got a more efficient reflector, you would be able to boost your light levels

[naoki]

Bob, you could make a tray with plywood if you are handy a little bit (it's pretty simple). I water-proofed it with Kool Seal Elastomeric Roof Coating and I used silicone caulk for the edge. I got this paint from Walmart, and some people uses this paint to make plywood aquariums. As a double assurance, I put 3 cheap plastic trays you can get from nursery inside of the plywood tray. I also attached a drain plug, so if water keep accumulating, I can drain it via a hose.

I agree with Bob and Drew. Efficient reflector is a major part of lighting. One reason skinnier T5 is great is that you can design a more efficient reflector than T12.

[johnblagg]

you go for effiecient Ill keep growing orchids like I do and blooming them all winter with out adding extra cost to what works just fine... I never said that reflectors dont work or help I said I have enopugh white surfaces close enough to do the job and everyone is assuming somehow I said reflectors are ineffiecient or some such thing ..... I did not what I said is my set up works great as is and that the flat white shelf above them and the wall behind them is enough ...sheese you assume that I need more light concentrated in a area that does not need it and that I should collect the light that is getting to the rest of the room for other plants just so that I would have to add lights to provide what is already getting to them the way I have it because reflectors are awesome you should try em

[naoki]

John, none of us are criticizing or we don't mean to offend you. Sure, if it works for you that's great. Some of us try to get maximum value/growth out of a given cost. Once we start to increase the number of orchids, the cost of electricity isn't trivial for some of us.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by naoki

Bob, you could make a tray with plywood if you are handy a little bit (it's pretty simple). I water-proofed it with Kool Seal Elastomeric Roof Coating and I used silicone caulk for the edge. I got this paint from Walmart, and some people uses this paint to make plywood aquariums. As a double assurance, I put 3 cheap plastic trays you can get from nursery inside of the plywood tray. I also attached a drain plug, so if water keep accumulating, I can drain it via a hose.

I agree with Bob and Drew. Efficient reflector is a major part of lighting. One reason skinnier T5 is great is that you can design a more efficient reflector than T12.

i think ill take the easy route and get some
under the bed" storage bins. and egg-crate on top of it, simple as that. although adding a drain would be nice...

Originally Posted by naoki

John, none of us are criticizing or we don't mean to offend you. Sure, if it works for you that's great. Some of us try to get maximum value/growth out of a given cost. Once we start to increase the number of orchids, the cost of electricity isn't trivial for some of us.

: agree:

we are all just trying to help here