Quote:
Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL
yeah I thought I'd seen her around here 
Okay I'm seriously considering a 4ft 4light T5 setup, but I've looked around (Ebay etc..) and I notice that there is quite the range of pricing. For instance, our local hydroponics shop sells them for 400 dollars, specialty lights sells them for 250, and on ebay I see them for 150!
I feel like somehow the fixture varies between brands - Ross you recommended NewWave - why is this one better? I saw some site (can't find it now) that said Tek is the best, but the ebay seller is selling the 4x4 Tek lights for cheaper than the new wave ones .... I'm really confused 
Any help would be appreciated!  |
I have no personal knowledge or opinion on the Tek lights. I used the Sunblaze 44 (4 foot, 4 tube) for over a year and I was not satisfied it was working correctly. The company offered to replace ballast but I still needed a replacement. Becca (another Orchiboard member out in Idaho) recommended New Wave and I tried it. It was a bit more money but ships with bulbs. The Sunblaze did not - they were extra. The New Wave uses 95% reflectance German aluminum and the Sunblaze has a mirror-like reflector. The New Wave is approx 2" wider than Sunblaze therefore has a different reflector design. I think this combo gives the higher foot-candles.
Now on the Cats - yes the books and growers say 3000+ foot candles, however I contend that is based on greenhouse growing where light intensity varies over the day length. So if you strive to provide 3000+ foot candles, you will certainly get much less than that at dawn and dusk and cloudy days. However with indoor lights, the intensity is at "full bore" seconds after the lights turn on and stays that way steadily for the length of day you,ve chosen. I believe the accumulated light energy in the plant may actually be higher with light growing, than in many bright windowbox situations or even greenhouses, especially at our latitude. If you check the pictures John included throughout that long post, he is using even t8's and blooming Cats. Don't fall into the trap I did at first and design your setup on specs alone. There's more here to consider than just the specs. There are just too many successful growers of all sorts of orchids who grow exclusively under lights. I think Wendy does, in fact. I was hoping Bill (Ocelaris on the Board) would chime in since he has all the science info we would ever need and can either confirm or correct my assumptions. I'll PM him and see what he has to offer.
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