Not Understanding LED Tape?

[silken]

I'm not going to wade in too deeply into this one, but bear in mind that there has been talk for several years in the U.S. at least and I think in Canada of discontinuing T12's as being too much of energy hogs. I read official reports saying it should have already happened (I think in 2012 or 2013) but they still seem to be available. I just hate to see you invest $$ in something that MAY be on the way out. I would opt for the HO (high output) T5's which are much smaller and supposedly more energy efficient. They are common and fairly easy to find. Going with 6400k would give you a full spectrum bulb and many orchid growers use them successfully (including myself). LED's are fine too, but I think they need to become more common and less expensive before there will be a lot of people putting them to use.