Reddit mentions: The best flourescent tubes

Sorry about the length of the post but this is information I wish someone had given me when I was starting. Hopefully it's not too basic.

I am by no means an expert but I can walk you through my trial and error period (which I am certainly not finished with) for terrariums. I don't know that I'll be able to help with the nepenthes though discussion in this thread indicates that humidity is key for those plants. I am seriously limited on space where I currently live so I've developed a setup that seems to work for my plants, though it's not ideal for all of them.

Initially I had been growing my plants on a windowsill but this summer I moved to a location that has proper shading over the windows (great for people, terrible for plants) so I needed to migrate to a terrarium. I started caring for plants in May so I didn't really know what I was doing. If you haven't already, I recommend purchasing The Savage Garden: Cultivation Carnivorous Plants by Peter D'Amato. It's a great introductory book with lots of useful information about growing and indoor/outdoor setups. You can find it on Amazon for a moderate price.

I ended up purchasing a 10 gallon aquarium from PetSmart or PetCo for something like 30 dollars. The box was damaged so I got it for cheaper than whatever it was listed for. Those come with a water heater for fish which you can place in a bottle of water inside the aquarium to increase humidity if needed. I then bought some Plexiglas and melted holes in it with a soldering iron for ventilation. I used that instead of the lid the aquarium came with so I could use more lights if I needed to. I mostly have sundews so I opted for a 2' t5 light set up which can get pretty toasty, but my sundews loved it and it got very humid inside. I use four of these lights for ~5000 lumen output. You would probably want to go with t8 lights as they operate at a lower temperature. Do not purchase lights branded as "growlights" as they are almost always more expensive than similar lights and will not last as long as something from Phillips or GE. Like UseUrLogic said, use lights with a color temperature of 6500 K or higher. I find that 6500 K is the easiest to find and work fine.

I do have two flytraps and they were not happy in the aquarium, but they were still growing. I imagine one of them would have died had I left them in such a humid environment for any longer. I then moved again and needed a new setup, since I didn't want to kill the traps. I'm now doing something like this but much more jerry-rigged. My plants seem to like it though. You might consider something like this as my flytraps love it too. I'm going to try taking them outside soon in an attempt to have them go through natural dormancy. I may just give in and try fridge dormancy though I have heard mixed results.

--------------------

I was bored so I looked up some information that may be useful to you when deciding what to do with your plants. Most of the is from The Savage Garden.

It behooves you to find out what your pings are, as different species can have radically different growth requirements. Consider posting images here or on the ICP forums if you can't ID them yourself. Here is what Peter says about pings in terrariums: "Forget temperate varieties here. some warm temperates do nicely, sich as P. lusitanica, P.caerulea, and P. primuliflora, but do best with cooler winters. Most of the Mexican species thrive under grow-lights, in a tank or not, at room temperature. Use the pot-and-saucer method to allow for drier winter conditions."

For the cephalotus he says "Excellent as a potted specimen year round in the unheated greenhouse-style terrarium. Colorful and vigorous under grow-lights." He also says it should be fine on a partly sunny windowsill in relatively high humidity and that you should mist it often.

The Nepenthes maxima (Highland Nep.) is apparently a good terrarium plant and easy to grow, though it likes good air circulation and misting at night. The truncata is a lowland variety and apparently will do well in a steamy terrarium. Both of these varieties will eventually outgrow all but very large terrariums.

The only plant you own that I have personal experience with, other than the flytraps, is D. Aliciae. Unfortunately I overfed mine shortly after getting it an it died back to the root. It's coming back now but it won't be as big as it was before for a least another two months. I've found that it's a pretty hardy little plant. It can handle temperatures of up to 95°F and down to ~40°F (though that's pushing it). I currently grow mine at ~85°F. It doesn't need much humidity at all (I was growing it in 50% and it's now doing quite well in about 35-40% rh) but growsundews.com recommends humidity over 60%.

Good luck with the plants!

TL;DR "UseUrLogic" is correct in that you will not be able to keep them all in the same terrarium. You may be able to start with all but the flytraps in but then I recommend migrating the pitchers to windowsills and misting often. Try to find out what the pings are. Maybe consider a setup similar to Bisnick's as it will accommodate your pitchers even when they are larger, though it will require a larger light setup.

EDIT: Units were incorrect.

Heh, that's a question on a topic which I've researched plenty, so it'll be a somehow long post.

My reasons for getting grow lights were:

• temperate climate becoming long and cold winter climate in the past years
  
• keep plants growing during winter
  
• start seeds early, before spring
  
  The requirements were quite simple:
  
  
• average initial investment; don't get the cheapest things, but not the most expensive either
  
• maximum light output possible; light output is measured in lumens and you want as much as possible
  
• proper temperature colour; the "shade of white" is important for plants and you want the lights to mimic the sun as much as possible; optimum colour for growth is 6000-6500^o Kelvin, optimum colour for flowering is warmer (2700-3000^o).
  
• cheap operating costs; especially in regard to bulb replacements, they can get very expensive
  
• compact; the lights will be fitted on a shelf in a living area.
  
  So, off to research as mentioned. There are about 5 common (in therms of availability, cost, flexibility, etc) methods of making light for your plants:
  
  
• classic lightbulb
  
  Cheapest choice and the worst possible. Much of the electrical energy is wasted on heat and you don't want a lot of excess heat near your plants. It's also a waste of money considering you'll be running the grow lights for a long time. Colour temperature is too warm for growth.
  
  
• fluorescent tube lights
  
  This is the best option and my choice - reasons follow below.
  
  
• compact fluorescent lights
  
  2nd best choice, especially for a more "compact" setup. You'll have to take care about hight temperatures though, as the ballast is at the base of the bulb it will heat up the surrounding air. Two 18W CFLs in a large box with the lid off increased the temperature by almost 20^o Celsius and you might cook your plants.
  
  
• metal-halide lamps
  
  Definitely a good choice, but for a more industrial setup. They have a high electricity usage and get crazy hot though, ventilation would be definitely required if you use them.
  
  
• LEDs
  
  Cool, new tech which is very interesting. However, good LEDs are still expensive and more complicated to maintain (additional electronics, cooling, etc). Their development will certainly be interesting in the near future.
  
  Good, so it's decided: fluorescent tube lamps. These are the classic white tubes which require a few hundred volts to produce fluorescent light, very common in offices/shops/public lighting/etc. As the voltage required for them to function is much higher than the network voltage, you'll need a ballast to light them up; by all means, try to get the electronic type (expensive, but reliable and more efficient).
  
  Next, it was the fixture choice. Optimum cost/performance ratio is provided by the 4 feet shop fixtures (1.2 meters), something like this. Due to space constraints, I went for the 2 feet version with 2 lamps inside a fixture.
  
  Now for the lamps. There are many formats for fluorescent lamps; most common are T5, T8 and T12. T12 is old and not very good performance-wise. T5 is very good and available in small formats, but expensive as shit and quite rare where I live - therefore, T8 won in the end. They are also very cheap. If you have money to burn, you can buy High Output lamps (marked as HO usually), but money for 1 lamp is usually 2-3 times the price of a regular lamp - not worth it in my opinion.
  
  Ok, now for the small trick. Remember you want as many lumens as possible for your plants to thrive. Since the bought fixtures were quite compact, I did not put 1 fixture per shelf, but instead mounted 2 fixtures on each shelf (giving me 4 lamps/shelf). The trick was not mounting them parallel to the shelf, but joining 2 lamps on their edge and making each a bit slanted (from the side it looks a bit like the roof of a house: instead of -- it's /\ ). Get some quality lamps (I got Philips, about 1200 lumens each; make sure you get the "cool white" type for the 6000-6500^o colour) and you have >4000 lumens per shelf which is quite good.
  
  From reading around, there's no need to complicate life by putting reflective tape or special materials inside the fixture. A good fixture painted white is already more than 90% reflective.
  
  Next problem was the ballast, which was still putting out enough heat to concern me. I cracked open the lamps and moved the ballast outside the lamp fixture, which decreased the air temperature below the lamps by 7-8^o Celsius. It might be the difference between cooking the plants and having them grow :)
  
  The whole thing is placed in an IKEA Gorm shelving unit, very similar to what can be seen here. A metal shelf might have been better in some ways, but wood looks nicer inside the room and decreases the risk of electric shock in case some wire becomes loose. For now, it'll do.
  
  Plants are under lights for about two weeks and seem very happy. Some even started to turn red at the edges (indicating too much light), which didn't happen outside on a balcony shelf. Might have to raise the lights a little, will see how they respond.
  
  So, that's the whole grow light setup. Total cost was ~200-250$, including the shelving unit/lamps/fixtures/cables/accessories. It's definitely more complicated than getting a ready-made fixture (like the LightWave T5) but I like DIY.
  
  Next plans are:
  
  
• get a bigger shelf, of course
  
• try overdriving the lights. Overdriving means increasing the light output of a regular lamp by applying a higher voltage, almost to T5 levels. It shortens the life span of the lamp, but not by much. A starter guide is here.
  
• start more plants :)

I recommend two or more CFLs of 23 watts or greater. Check out these bulbs (also comes in 45 watts, also just look around at department stores) *be sure to check the specs

http://www.amazon.com/Full-Spectrum-Light-Bulb-Fluorescent/dp/B0018OS06S/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

This will be more than enough for your herbs, keep in mind that the Aerogarden (if your familiar) uses only 26 watts, so if you have two 27 watt bulbs (5500k) you will have great growth, no need for any other type of lighting budget wise (LED, MH, HPS, t5)

As for fixture you should watch this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs_QRorECvo

For the hydroponics, the aquarium pump specs are gonna work fine for your Rubbermaid. I like using Deep Water Culture technique, I recommend getting a pump with two air outputs and attach two 6" or 12" air stones to circulate and bubble nutrient water to the roots. It is simple and effective, not taking anything away from your plan.

http://www.petco.com/product/109838/PETCO-Air-Pump.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

As for nutrient water, pumping it straight from your sump will be fine and will probably improve your lawn, if you had a valve on the container I highly doubt two inches of old water will poison your plants but you should just to a fresh water change if you can, maybe keep a spare Rubbermaid on hand to store the plants during the water change. That way you can just take off the top and pour the water out (your sump pump sounds perfect though).

I hope this addressed some of your concerns, I am not too versed in the fill and drain method, but the Deep Water Culture method is very cost effective, feel free to ask any more questions and good luck.

>There's a guide to light in my post history.

Wow, you post a lot. That was not an easy find, but on the plus side I know now more about lip care. I assume you mean this post.

My original plan was to mount two strips of lights, or build something if I couldn't find one, along the sides of the center mirror like this, but the original post on Amazon by the person who did this didn't really give any specifications other than "Ikea $20."

These 27 watt and these 45 watt, both ALZO Full Spectrum Compact Fluorescent CFLs, 5500K Daylight with a CRI of 91 (I think), look perfect using the information from your previous post (again, I think). Except for their clunky gigantic size and potentially blinding light.

I can build a smaller version of this light bar, to fit along the sides, but I just think it would look tacky with the cheery wood and huge bulbs, plus be way too bright. Am I wrong in this? Also, you had mentioned a lot of other different suitable types in your original post. Do you know if there something that meets the criteria that comes in a strip form for the side of a mirror? I don't even know how to look for something like that and I fail to believe I'm the first one to try to do this correctly and not have it look gaudy.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to post. It really means a great deal to me.

Edit: For what it's worth, she does already have the 8" Simple Human 5x mirror for close-up stuff. I'm not sure if that matters, but since I had already written you a book with a bunch of links... :)

There are different ways to look for leaks. Clearly something is wrong, you need a second opinion. Find a small tube light - like this but with someway to plug it in and it needs to be thin enough to fit in a clarinet. I recommend a hardware store - you can check size and employees might have suggestions. You want it to be as bright as possible. They are usually pretty cheap.

Drop it into your clarinet like a cleaning swab, turn it on, and finger a problem note. Look for a leak. Better yet, get your pro friend to join you, check their clarinet to see what normal looks like, then check yours. Fancy machine not required.

Or just find a different repairperson. You need a second opinion. And check the register key anyway. Just because you couldn't see it the first time doesn't mean it isn't there. Hell, I'd take it off, change the pad, and put it back on again. Ditto for the A/G# keys. If you can't find the leak, I'd do that.

Bright light inside the clarinet is how the best repairperson I know checks for leaks.

You could go with cfls but honestly the quality (even the chinese companies like marshydro and galaxyhydro/roleadro) in the cheap LEDs is actually quite impressive.

Just do some research on em. But for your space I still think 1 or 2 mars hydro 300w would be best (they run at ~140w and give you about 4x the yield per watt as CFL)


If you wanna do cfls though, you could get some 40-60w cfls in small fixtures placed throughout (they have to be within 2-4 inches of your plants at all times) or get 1-2 of these https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-Fluorowing-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I

but for the price you are paying for cfls, you could get one of those mars fixtures on ebay for less than 70$.

That 120w cfl hood might yield you 1-1.5 ounces and the mars would yield you at least 4oz and would produce the same amount of heat and electricity usage and a muuuuch better quality end product.


hope this helps!

Hijacking here because you seem knowledgeable, and this is somewhat related. I'm building in a similar sized space as OP. I have Two of these hanging from the ceiling and on either wall I have 2, 2ft strip t5 lights. Right now I have 6500k bulbs in everything for veg, but the total lumen output for the bulbs I have to switch for bloom is just about 20000 lumen.

According to the lighting guide here in the microgrowery, 2000 lumen per square foot is minimum with medium in the 5k/sqft and optimum around 7k/sqft. For my space, I'm just around 2200 lumen/sqft. Do you feel this is adequate?

I'm still in veg, but when I switch to flower, I'm concerned if I'll have enough light. In such a tight space, adequate ventilation isn't easily achievable for a HPS(400W Ideally) lamp without raising the temperature too much (I think anyway) The room fluctuates between 71 and 76 now, so I worry that the HPS will push it into the mid 80s or possibly higher and hinder the plants' health.

OH and I there's 4 plants all of equal size each in 3 gallon containers if that helps.

I was considering getting one more of those bulbs I linked and hanging it vertically(with no reflector, I'll buy one of the hanging sockets) in the center of the 4 plants. So far I topped them twice, and I have 4 main khola nodes on top! They all look great, I'm so proud and happy. Like I said though, this is veg, and come flower it'll be lacking output.

TL;DR: 9sqft grow room, 20000 lumens at 2700k(about 4000 of the lumen are admittedly at the 3500k range) or around 2200 lumen/sqft. Is this adequate for a bloom I can be proud of?

P.S. Sorry for hijacking.

What a pretty planter! Unfortunately, I don't think this is going to be a good fit for the space you've described. No plant will survive completely without sunlight - and unfortunately herbs are some of the more light-demanding plants out there.

If you wanted to build this anyway, you could provide enough light for the plants to grow using a grow light - probably just one big one could do the whole group (something like this) It's pretty ugly to be honest, but it works to keep my plants alive in the Washington winter!

The best plant I can suggest is some kind of Pothos - either an upright or vining type, you can buy them at Home Depot/Lowes pretty much all year. Leave that door open to give the kitchen a little light and they'll grow just fine - they're almost impossible to kill.

Good luck!

Install a wall swing-arm lamp above your bed. You might buy with confidence from a local store. I can't tell from the product photo, but you want a corded model. There's a metal tube that runs down the wall to protect the cord. It's a super-easy install, just find a stud in the wall.

Do yourself a favor and pop for a full spectrum CFL bulb which casts light similar to daylight (get a 100 watt equivalent... again, maybe easier and sometimes cheaper to buy the bulb from a local hardware store). It will look weird at first because you've spent your entire life living in an orange-to-yellow world indoors.

Unless you need a book lamp for traveling, or read as a method of inducing yourself to sleep, go with a robust lighting solution. You will find it easier to stay awake in a well-lit room, or at least well-lit in your immediate vicinity.

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cable-05932-Heavy-Reflector/dp/B0007UV9VM

http://www.amazon.com/GE-Watt-Energy-Smart-CFL/dp/B00J7IOMCS/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1426143734&sr=1-2&keywords=cfl+bulbs

You can afford a grow light. CFL's can be used effectively for growing, you just have to keep them close and in a reflector. Just ask anyone at /r/microgrowery. I grew some Purple Queen (I know that sounds like pot but it's totally not!) and Pratt's Black Brass Buttons plants over the winter on a few cfl's just to have something to tend to and they grew like weeds. For starting seeds a few of these cheapy lights would get you set straight. They ought to be about a foot or foot and a half above your seed trays.

It'll be more effective than you think and you'll have useful 'grow lights' for chump change.

Edit: You'd probably want a 10" or 12" brooder light as opposed to the 8.5" I linked

Hello there. To answer your first and second questions, I wouldn't repot it until it is happily growing so as to not disturb the roots, and even then only once gets too big. The nursery probably just used pure peat, so unless you think it looks bad it'll be fine in there. It's a swamp plant and likes very wet soil, so ordinarily I would say just keep it permanently in a tray with water around a quarter of the way up the pot, but since your light conditions aren't ideal, keep the water slightly lower. If anything experiment with it and if you see mold let it get drier and increase the light. To answer your third question, obviously full sun is ideal, but your current setup might work. I recommend this light bulb http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0050C3HVW (sorry I can't format on mobile) as a supplement, I currently use one for my nepenthes. It screws into a normal socket and seems to work well. The plant should at least grow well enough with it, but don't expect any red coloration. Hope I helped!

Don't really want your album, no offense, but it sounds like you just need a Dimmer Pack, some dimmable CFL tubes, and a fixture receptable to put them in.

You run a dmx line between your DMXIS box to the dimmer pack. Then the light receptacles plug into the 4 edison outlets on the dimmer pack. You then can use your DMXIS control software in conjunction with Abelton to trigger the lights on and off by telling it which outlets should be giving power at any given time. Obviously this way will not get you any color changes. but would be fairly cheap. Also I would be wary of warm up time, ect for the CFLs so it may not have the response time you are looking for.

If you wanted colors you are going to have a substantial amount of work compared to the first way. I would get some Chauvet ColorTubes and its optional DMX dongle for manual control. Next you need to figure out what you want to happen on each clip trigger, and program that scene into DMXIS.

Hope that helps in some way.

I try to water it when the soil gets dry but it stays muddy for a while. Should I repot it into a faster draining soil?

The light I'm using is this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AZOV9K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ay-CCbPDK02ZN
It actually has been giving me really good growth on a ficus forest, Chinese sweet plum, and surinam cherry.

A little late to the party, but I just got these. Waiting on them to come in the mail but they seem to be very promising.

I also just heard about using High pressure sodium Lamps, a bit over the top for me, but I thought I'd pass on that as well.

Good luck!

Looking good man, I would just keep doing what you're doing because she looks healthy. where did you get the seed? and eventually you can switch to 18/6. Also later on if you decide that you want more light I have had two of these for the past 3-4 years and they're still going strong. you're in for a wild ride, here's my first grow.. I started in my closet with zero ventilation lol fun times.

I use to have LED lights (90W LED grow light, 2 inches above my cactus) and they were pretty happy, except the pinkish blue color really hurts my eye and make my room like Christmas year round. I switched to a 125W CFL and a 4x 24w T5HO (both around 10000lm, 2-3 inches above the plant). so far I couldn't tell the difference other than a couple dollar more in power bill and a lot more pleasant light.

none of my cactus etiolated under those lights yet (4 months under LED and 2 under CFL/T5HO) so far I like the CFL better because I can upgrade it to a 200w/switch the spectrem to red easily to induce flower. but that sum up all the experience I have with lights, hopefully it helps

I have the one you linked. I think it's okay but probably not bright enough for my succulents and cacti to thrive throughout the winter. I've mostly been using them for my succulent props though and they do great under it. I recently bought this lightbulb and this fixture to use on a few of my succulents for the winter. I read that you need a fluorescent light bulb with at least 6500K. I'm hoping this setup works because I can't afford anything much more than that for my plants lol.

Take this advice. TAKE IT. Throw away all those bulbs and ghetto rig you got ( which is good, first time DIY is a right of passage) but trash it and buy this http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001UV6P9I/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1347112107&sr=8-1 you'll need the other bulb for flowering here it is http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002TJS7LE/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1347112191&sr=8-3

Now you already got those little ones so use those as well, put them on the sides. You want like a box of light around your plants when usin Cfls not just from the top. Looks good so far my guy.

Although I haven't bought from these guys this package is kinda a nice bundle of basic starter stuff. I would probably just get the seeds from other vendors at better prices. Another one to consider is [White Hot Peppers] (https://www.whitehotpeppers.com/). Good prices, cheep shipping, and a few mystery freebies tossed in.

You can get some good LED or compact CLF lights for around 75 bucks that will cover 2"x2" space to grow a few plants.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UV6P9I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mars-300W-LED-Grow-Light-Full-Spectrum-Hydro-Veg-Flower-Indoor-Plant-Lamp-140W-/291666162702?hash=item43e8a8740e:g:hgQAAOSwMVdYIpHw

I can answer this one! I have an awful situation where I live in the best place ever for succulents - Southern California - with tons of sun and absolutely none of it hits any of my windows. So I bought this bulb and this grow light and I have five happy babies that are growing on my desk with no natural light. The grow light on it's own wasn't enough, but the light+bulb have been working great and all of my succulents are growing again.

Welcome to the wild world of growing! Prepare for fun and frustration.

When people state watts in this forum (and anywhere else really as it relates to growing), they most certainly do NOT mean the equivalent.

It's going to be a little tricky to get a single CFL bulb at that wattage. If you only have the option of 1 female receiver, I'd look into this. Or this with several bulbs in it.

I'm not sure what size space you're dealing with, but lighting is important. Do yourself a favor and get something that'll work well.

That is not a good enough light for growing peppers.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-Fluorowing-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1382155587&sr=8-4&keywords=Grow+light

That would be fine for a plant or two


Pretty much any pepper will gor indoors. Try and avoid thick walled or huge peppers like bells though. Those need a lot of energy to grow. You'll have better lick with smaller pods.

It is not the best situation, but if you get them a sun-lamp (sold as "SAD lights" on amazon) or "full spectrum light bulbs", that will help a LOT. If you get the sun lamp, be sure to protect the cord so they can't chew it. Also, you can get multi-vitamins from oxbow and those will help too.

You can also get a portable play pen to set up outside for a few hours every day so they can have sunlight. Make sure to get one with a top AND bottom so that they don't escape or get attacked by animals.

If you use the search bar for "battle station" "vanity" "vanity ideas" and limit the search to this sub, you will find plenty of vanity ideas for large, small and in-between makeup collections. Ikea is very popular, So are lit vanity mirrors from con air. I personally like my lightbulb it is the best replacement for natural lighting if thats in short supply, good luck.

Yeah if you really want him to be happy I’ve heard great things from lots of people about these lights

Try a full-spectrum bulb in your bedroom. I use Alzo Digital. You can get them on Amazon. Not the most pleasant to look at, but it's worth it.

Something like this

Be sure it's not behind a thick lampshade. Frosted glass is ok though.

Unanswered question from the previous megathread

Author /u/wilstreak - (Permalink)

Sorry if this might not be in the right sub.

But what is the simplest way to make a setup for indoor youtube vlog video.

I currently only have Sony NEX F-3. For a newbie, i think i am quite happy with the video and audio quality so far. The only thing lacking for now is probably lighting.

What do you recommend as the least minimum lighting setup?

I watch Peter Mckinnon previously and see him recommending Aperture 12D or something, but it is way over my budget (since i still need to buy lamp holder, diffuser, etc).

Some people recommend me to just use regular Philip lamp that looks like this in 45 watt. Do you think it might works?

I am not looking into professional setup or anything, this is mainly just for reviewing e-commerce product.

Thank you.

Sorry if this might not be in the right sub.

But what is the simplest way to make a setup for indoor youtube vlog video.

I currently only have Sony NEX F-3. For a newbie, i think i am quite happy with the video and audio quality so far. The only thing lacking for now is probably lighting.

What do you recommend as the least minimum lighting setup?

I watch Peter Mckinnon previously and see him recommending Aperture 12D or something, but it is way over my budget (since i still need to buy lamp holder, diffuser, etc).

Some people recommend me to just use regular Philip lamp that looks like this in 45 watt. Do you think it might works?

I am not looking into professional setup or anything, this is mainly just for reviewing e-commerce product.

Thank you.

I mostly lurk here, so the only advice I’d feel comfortable giving is basically “use open space and mirrors.” What I can talk a little bit about, though, are light bulbs.

You should know about color rendering index and how it relates to light bulbs: the sun has a CRI of 100; the higher the CRI rating of a light bulb, the more natural it looks. Also, color temperature: the color temperature of daylight (white light) is about 5500k–6000k; a color temperature lower than that would be yellower, and a color temperature higher would be bluer.


Here is a good example of natural-looking light bulbs: 5500k color temperature and CRI of 91 for a reasonable price. Keep in mind, though, that you shouldn’t just mindlessly use exclusively daylight light bulbs. Yellow light is comforting/relaxing and definitely has its place.

Here’s some more reading.

I dont see why you would need to water three times a day unless you are doing a hydro set up, but with a budget like that I would suggest you stick to soil. It will be cheaper and more forgiving if you mess up. If I were you I would go something along this route:

150 watt CFL-60$
Soil- 20$
Nutrients-40$
Fan-15$
pH test strips-13$
Total=150$

All you need after that is some pH up and pH down and an PPM meter and you will be good to go. Less than 200$.

This is the CFL I'm referring to. You can find a 4 pack for 10 dollars at hardware stores. They're great. This would be good for an Excel tank.

There's a whole bunch of "beginner plants" search online for low tech plants. Trust me there's a lot. For lights it depends on how much money you're wiling to spend.

If money isn't too much of an option then i'd say either the finnex stingray or the finnex fugeray. you should do your own research to see which one works better for you.

If money is a little tight or you just don't want to send too much then what works for me is to get those clip on desk lamps i bought mine at walmart for like $7 then buy these lights. I have two 5g and use this setup for both and they grow plants beautifully. Be warned that the bulbs are a little powerful for a 5.5g and you should dose nutrients to combat algae.

These will drop straight in, and are warm white: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-141507-Fluorescent-14-Watt-15-Inch/dp/B002CYXHPW/

Changing away from fluoro will likely require replacing the fitting, and certainly require rewiring the fitting to remove the ballast. If you want to do that, pick up a pair of pretty much any light fittings you like. You may be able to DIY or may need an electrician to install them, depending on rent vs own, where you live, how competent/confident you are etc.

Yeah I'd take it inside if I were in PA. In the ground the roots will survive the cold but a lot of time the needles will fall off and you just have a big ugly thing.

I'd recommend getting some supplemental grow lights too if you are gonna put them next to a window. I recently added some above my indoor herb box and my stuff has taken off like crazy. I got a couple of these put in a standard standing lamp with the little directional arms like this and it's worked out great. If you really wanna go all out, get a light timer for the lights to turn on and off at the right time of day. I have my herb box sitting in a windowsill where it goes in to shade around 2:00, so I have my lights set to turn on at 2:00 and turn off at 7:00.

For smalls all you need to do is an infinity table - white thin matte particle board at Home Depot, one side screwed to the wall, other screwed to a table next to the wall. Do some lights like these and you're good. This setup is eh/eh, I wouldn't go with a backdrop like that personally, I'd just use a white wall. Make sure you use color balanced lights, makes it so you almost need no editing at all - something like this: http://www.amazon.com/ALZO-Joyous-Spectrum-Lumens-Daylight/dp/B0018OS06S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1457564633&sr=8-3&keywords=color+balanced+led+light

Thats what I used and my pictures came out great!

Easy answer: Purchase a daylight 42 watt CFL bulb for bigger/more plants or a 23 watt CFL if you're growing smaller/less plants. The standard bulb you have wastes a lot of energy (money) on creating heat.

Complex answer: If you are trying to grow plants that flower, you need both red and blue light. Red for the flowers to grow and blue for the vegetation/leaves. You'll want to purchase an LED grow light bulb that emits both forms of light. These are the most energy efficient bulbs converting nearly everything into useable light for the plant. The only downside is they emit an ugly purple color and it can be unsightly in the home when it's on.

I have six of these in a fixture and they are nice and bright. They are about 2" away from the top of my trees and they are responding well to the light.

I bought both of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018OS06S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089MIH8I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hopefully they work out ok :)

I got one of these for my herbs and succulents. It's a 40 watt CFL bulb that outputs the equivalent of 200 watts! It's been about 2 weeks and my plants seem pretty happy.

Does something like this work?

EDIT: Also is there any reason you're recommending an 8.5" over the 5.5"? The lid I have for my aquarium has a lip that will barely fit a 5.5", and I don't think the 8.5" would fit. I want to lay them flat on the lid.

This looks fun, doesn't taste delicious but it can maybe be really fun!

At the moment, I have these guys in my over-mirror bathroom fixture -- two 6500K LED light bulbs, 810 lumens each (1620 total). My understanding is this is still a little bright for makeup application, but the first bulbs I tried felt really dark for the bathroom.

I have several light options picked out for my new vanity setup, but I haven't managed to receive an unbroken mirror yet so that's still a work in progress. Hopefully before Christmas.

A Fluorowing by Hydrofarm, and a timer that follows the date's standard sunrise/sunset times.

It seems to be working well, the plants appear to be enjoying it, so hopefully they handle winter well with that level of exposure.

This Hydrofarm grow light system This would allow me to grow plants and herbs in my sun room in the winter and anyone who knows me knows that food is super important to me, both in health and taste.

Growing next to reflective walls helps a lot. No need to get fancy. Simple white walls would do.

Also, you may not be too happy with just CFLs you got at Lowe's. You'll need more light and you'll want it at the correct color temperatures so it produces light the plants need.


Here are the bulbs for veg (you need 3 per plant):

https://www.amazon.com/Feit-Electric-ESL40TN-Fluorescent-High-Wattage/dp/B001AZOV9K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1437162409&sr=8-4&keywords=cfl&linkCode=sl1&linkId=e4a1fd0cfe82a245311abc63a9ffbf99


Here are the ones you need for flower (need two of these per plant):

https://www.amazon.com/TCP-68942ED-CFL-Spring-Lamp/dp/B006IDCGLO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1437163600&sr=8-2&keywords=cfl+soft+white+42w&linkCode=sl1&linkId=8addc7bbc669fb75ca4c63bc2613fe67

This is where I found the info:

http://www.growweedeasy.com/growing-cannabis-cfl-shopping-list

I thought about doing a CFL grow. I changed my mind after I saw how much I was going to pay for light bulbs.

Good luck with your grow.

edit: removed the tinfoil hotspot myth

You could just get a full spectrum compact fluorescent clip light to supplement lighting. If youve already got a desk lamp laying around, just get a full spectrum bulb and aim it at your tank. You can probably find them in your local hardware store. Look for anything in the 6500k-7000k range (or get a 4 pack for $12 on amazon. ) Be aware that fluorescents do need to be replaced about every 6 months. They will still put off LIGHT (so you can still use them for spare lightbulbs around the house) but they will no longer put out the correct spectrum for plant growth after that time period.


this is cheap and claims to be 6500-7000k lights, which would be the appropriate spectrum, but I couldn't tell you how bright it's going to be, or what the par is.

I would probably buy an actual planted tank light or go with a fluorescent. That way you at least know what you're getting. You can get a stingray clip light for $22 or for about $40 you could get a 12" planted + and get up to med med/high light levels, depending on your tank depth.

What you've got there is an F14T12CW.

The F14 refers to 14 watts, T12 to the diameter of the bulb, and CW to the color temperature which is nicknamed "cool white". An equivalent F14T12 that is "soft white" will be much warmer, and "warm white" will be warmer still.

Old tech at this point, so the big box stores may have long-ago clearanced that size. But the local hardware store should have it still, or you can order online.

Buy a pack of starters at the same time -- I've never regretted replacing the starter at the same time as the lamp with old T12 stuff.

Those lamps are a "period feature" now, they were new at a time when having florescent lights was high-tech and something to show off.

I have used just plain ol compact fluorescent bulbs and a clamp light to grow things before... worked fine (https://www.amazon.com/Agrobrite-FLC26D-26-Watt-Fluorescent-equivalent/dp/B0050C3HVW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1540053707&sr=1-1&keywords=Agrobrite+FLC26D)


I also use these (https://www.amazon.com/ft-F24T5-HO-Fluorescent-Spectralux-Included/dp/B002JLI7VC/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1540053901&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Sun+blaze+T5+4+bulb)

I also have a few T5 4' daisy chained. no issue with those either. its generally pretty forgiving.

Ive had no issues with my space. just make sure and ventilate and measure temp and light.

I started replacing the bulbs in my house with "daylight" bulbs and I'm a huge fan of them. They really make a room feel like it's filled with sunlight and not artificial light. These are the ones I got.

http://smile.amazon.com/Spectrum-Light-ALZO-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B0018OS06S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1411157330&sr=8-4&keywords=daylight+bulb

They are definitely T5. So in your opinion, would I be better off using 1 of the lights pictured for veg, or on or two of these CFL's for 2-3 plants in my 4x4 tent setup? I'll check into the T5 light and see if it's HO. It's designed to replace "high bay" HPS lighting in a warehouse setting with 30 ft. ceilings.

Something like this

...or would the kind lizards like be better?

Cool! I was looking at the 2' version of those, any recommendations for electrical timers? (Does the brand usually matter?) I was also looking at a smaller bulb that was 24 watt, more like a basking light for a reptile as I have some extra like this one

Daylight bulbs. Everywhere. I found them on amazon (I can link you if you want) and they are in my overhead fixture, and in the lamps I use for closeups.

Now, granted I am nowhere near perfect, but I think they have improved my swatches.

Here is the link

These are the ones I have. They come in a pack of four and they are $30 USD on Amazon right now. That's the cheapest per light I have found. My light-starved plants love it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018OS06S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GXMRCbQJW3D27

Sorry I don't know how to do fancy links.

Use unfiltered black light T8 bulbs
Sylvania 23113 - F30T8/350BL Fluorescent Tube Black Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TZUMQ8?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
The box I have is from ryonet it uses 8 bulbs, spaced about 3.5 in on center. I’m approximating the glass is about 4 in from the base of the bulbs. My box does not use a vacuum just a lid and I use a piece of foam that is thicker than the screen by about an inch and it compresses when the lid is latched to force the screen flat. Hope that helps, I can give more info if needed

I use this 40W blue CFL and a digital timer connected to a lamp by my bed. Works great!

got this

been using for seedlings and clones. works great!

Another tip about blue light and sleep: you can replace blue-emitting bulbs in your lamps/lights with orange ones:
Bulbs |
Nightlights

I turn these on after it gets dark and sleep like a baby. It's like f.lux for real life. One of the tips I write about in my Ultimate Guide to Sleep Hacking

If possible pick up some CFLs like these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AZOV9K/

I have my mothers and clones under 4 of these and some lower wattage daylight CFLs and they've all been very happy. Keeps seedlings and clones from stretching

Here’s what I use, they love em

Feit Electric High Lumen (2800)... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AZOV9K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-23113-F30T8-350BL-Fluorescent/dp/B000TZUMQ8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Half the price and work like a charm.

Link to bucket pics
I used:

• 2 Dayspot CFL 26W/64K, Equivalent to 130W, FLC26D 12 hours on 12 hours off
  
  
• 5 Fans SilverStone 120mm Fan Filter with Grill FF121 (Black)
  
  
• 1 AcuRite 00613A1 Indoor Humidity Monitor
  
  
• 1 Titan Controls 734150 Apollo 14 8-Outlet Power Strip with 24 Hour Timer, 120-volt
  
  
• 1 LimoStudio High Quality 4 Socket Photo Bulb Adapter - Converts 1 Socket into 4 - Use for Standard Socket Flourescent Bulbs, AGG882-A
  
  
• 3 LE® 12V Flexible LED Strip Lights Kit, LED Tape, 6000K Daylight White, 300 Units SMD 3528 LEDs, 73 Lumens/ft, Non Waterproof, 12 Volt LED Light Strips, Pack of 16.4ft/5m, All Accessories Included
  
  
• 2 Aluminium trash bins
  
  
• 2 rolls of duck tape
  
  
• and I use Figi and Evian water only because of balanced ph lvl and added minerals. Maybe a few Poland springs here and there when I was out of the other water.

delicious

With this you could turn your world orange:)


Oh and this just looks fun;)

well right now I'm using two desk lamps that are 24w 8000 lumens cfl light bulbs. Also the leaves are clipped because those were the original stems that I cloned.

I'm upgrading to this growbox with this lighting fixture for my two plants:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YXDS9Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UV6P9I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

what do you think?

You're very welcome! I'm using the Zoo Med 18" Naturalistic Terrarium Hood with these Philips CFL Daylight Bulbs

There’s a whole lot of information on r/succulents These are the lights I use, and they work wonderfully. I do 12 hours on and 12 hours off.

Okay I will get a bigger pot and remember potting soil, thank you.

So this would suffice for light then?

You don't need a grow light.

Just a BRIGHT WHITE light. 6500k color temp.

Tough to tell from the pic, but it just looks like a normal florescent tube light. There are some limitations, and there are different ones.

Is there any writing on the bulb? or any imprints on the metal ends?

If it is a seasonal thing, SAD, [full spectrum light bulbs] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089MIH8I/ref=psdc_328863011_t1_B0018OS06S) can help. They've worked for me anytime I've been living out of California. I also prefer to do my makeup with them too. They are supposed to be more like natural light.

Your plant's looking pretty sad. 20w isn't really adequate. 100 actual watts/square foot is recommended. You'll need a few more like that, even if you're just using them for veg. I use this 125 watt for the first few weeks before switching to MH.

These actually look good, two of these can both work for the ceiling fan/light and the little lamp I have, what do you think?

• Click this link for the lamp

These, yes. These, no.

CFL = OK

INCANDESCENT = NOT OK

You'd probably want to start looking at CFLs.[This] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UV6P9I/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00) along with some 23w cfls with reflectors is what I will be doing for my grow. I was told I would need 80-100 watts per square foot of the grow space so the same should apply with you. Also due to the height, ventilation shouldn't be an issue with a couple fans though I would wait for someone with more experience to give you better responses.

I got a full-spectrum daylight-simulating CFL light bulb from Amazon a few years ago and it's great. Sunlamps for SAD were like $70 when I checked - those bulbs are $5 each and can be used in regular lamps. Here's an even cheaper version.

sweet! I have thought about getting some lights for my plants, but i thought LED lights is the only thing that works?
Anyways, I will definetly be buying a couple of those!

EDIT: For some reason I am not able to buy exactly those in my country, do you think these will do? http://www.amazon.com/Feit-Electric-ESL40TN-Fluorescent-High-Wattage/dp/B001AZOV9K/ref=lp_328863011_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1372178555&sr=1-14

A few hours of east windowsill light won't be enough for succs who are used to full sun! I've heard people have success with this bulb, but I've never tried it myself so I can't speak from personal experience

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-LED-420091-Daylight-Equivalent/dp/B00FK8VDBC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=daylight+6500k+light+bulb&qid=1574192933&sprefix=daylight+6500&sr=8-3

I personally have a $12 grow light I bought from Walmart, and it's been working fantastically for me if you want to change routes

I have the following ones wishlisted (for clarity's sake, I haven't actually tried any of them yet, so I don't actually know from personal experience if they're any good).

Exo Terra Night-Glo Moonlight A19 Lamp, 75-Watt
http://amzn.com/B000633URQ

Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Spot Lamp, 75-Watt/120-Volt
http://amzn.com/B0002AR3QC

Exo Terra Repti-Glo 2.0 Compact Fluorescent Full Spectrum Terrarium Lamp, 26-Watt
http://amzn.com/B00101IC7G

And I'm looking to put them in a set of these:

Exo Terra Mirror Dome Light, 7-Inch
http://amzn.com/B0041OU75O

If these are the ones you had bad results with, well, I'd love to hear about it so I can look for something else!

Thank you! This is my light!

There's a $60 125 watt CFL fixture that I use to illuminate clones and seedlings. It is just right for putting directly over a standard nursery flat humidity dome (1x2 feet).

Hydrofarm FLCDG125D Fluorowing Compact Fluorescent System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_jnFEwb6HX94SH

My favorite humidity dome for cloning is actually a transparent plastic storage bin about the same size as that nursery flat.

A handful of cfls or a 100 watt CFL with hood. I think a flourowing? Not much needed to keep it alive. It will get lanky So keep topping it though

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001UV6P9I?vs=1

have you considered getting a pack like this?

Edit: Formatting

I'm not entirely sure if it's safe to use a uvb bulb. I would just get a low watt daylight bulb like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Repti-Glo-Fluorescent-Terrarium/dp/B00101JIA6/ref=sr_1_9?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1539478371&sr=1-9&keywords=exo+terra+lamp

That's true. I found that they have light bulbs that do this. I'm going to have to get me some.

I have a separate bowl that I dry start various carpet plants in, and I use a random lamp with these bulbs in it: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-823031-Twister-Daylight-Equivalent/dp/B00FK8VDBC?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00 I think these may be what /u/Gastropoid is using in the other comment

 

However with a tub of that size you might want to use 2 to make sure everything is covered.

I'd use a light like this

60-watt incandescent equiv is a 13-15 watt bulb = 800 lumens. Those are meant to replace bulbs for home lighting use. Something like this is a true 125w CFL and is rated at 7000 lumens to give you an idea at how much more light output grow lights have. https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-Fluorowing-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1482898412&sr=8-4&keywords=cfl+grow+light.

You might also search for PLL or T5HO in this sub, especially if you plan to have a lot of plants.

Just searched amazon, found a 200w equivalent 40w cfl that would probably work.

Feit Electric ESL40TN/D 40-Watt Compact Fluorescent High-Wattage Bulb, Daylight
http://amzn.com/B001AZOV9K

Those limits are for heat reasons, so as long as the bulb is lower wattage than the rating, you're good.

I'd personally try something like this: Hydrofarm FLCDG125D Fluorowing Compact Fluorescent System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Gq9avb111DS9T

Cheaper option:http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HG1JC0U/ref=pd_aw_sbs_lg_3?refRID=0G0QRJC0PAW8MQJVVP45

I've seen them used throughout veg. I'm not sure if you can purchase other colored bulbs for flowering. They don't produce much heat which is also a plus.

One of these + one of these is what I have set up. Only downside is the light turns on suddenly but you get used to that. And it's cheap! (And winter is coming... no one likes waking up in the dark).

I have a hydrofarm 125w setup for $62.05. It works very well for what it is, but keep in mind that the ballast is in the bulb and not the fixture, so you'll end up paying more in the long run with bulb replacements because you're also buying a ballast (I only needed it once).
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-Fluorowing-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395153590&sr=8-1&keywords=hydrofarm+fluorowing

I get dark winters (WA state) and use CFLs like this in clamp lights because they’re easily repositioned and don’t get too hot.

Edit: link failure

You can also use LEDs, which I’ll probably upgrade to when my current bulbs eventually burn out. They’re a bit more expensive up front.

Hello. Doing both of those things is what led me here. :) My doctor recommended one.. and it was reading the reviews where someone mentioned that "I bought such and such product and when reading the manual (or something) it stated that it wasn't actually qualified as a SAD therapy device." So my thought was.. well, shit.. how do I verify that shit before spending the absurd amount of money this stuff costs?

..but yes, at the moment I'm just looking at getting those light bulbs

Turn those bulbs on their side so the majority of the emitted light is pointing towards the plants and not the other bulbs. All you're doing right now is illuminating your light bulbs. Literally every bulb in there, including the spiral ones, are pointing their most lumen emitting surfaces away from the plants. If someone asked me how they could waste the absolute most light in a Grow setup I would show them this. I really, really hope this is a joke. If not, I'm not trying to be mean, but you need to do some reading. Have you never seen one of these: Hydrofarm FLCDG125D Fluorowing Compact Fluorescent System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Ku1LybB2CVFKG

Notice the horizontal orientation with a reflector along one side. The reason there isn't a reflector on the end of the bulb is that very little light is emitted from that part.

Again, not trying to be mean here but you should have been able to figure that out by looking at the bulb.

Also, get yourself an orange light bulb and make it the only light you're allowed to have on for the hour or two before you want to sleep.

For me the important thing to prevent getting too UP is turning off lights at sundown. I have my living room lights on timers to turn off and signal me to wind down...I might need to adjust BC right now I’m really UP.

A cheapie way to go is ALZO cfl bulbs in Amazon and plug in timers. That’s what my kids have. I use the Phllips sunrise alarm clock Or the Happy Light which works with a timer.

I have put the ALZO lights in one of my living room lamps to be on only during sunlight hours...I spend a lot of time at home.

These guys

Philips 823031 CFL Light Bulb 13W T2 Twister Daylight 6500K, 60 Watt Equivalent; 4-Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FK8VDBC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_qRuaHMjXMRxX8

I went with a set of [these](Philips 823031 CFL Light Bulb 13W T2 Twister Daylight 6500K, 60 Watt Equivalent; 4-Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FK8VDBC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CqkKybQ1ZFG75). Plants seem to be stoked in a northern winter.

i use these:
Philips 13w 6500k CFLs
And these clamp lights to house them:

Someone linked this one. But it's fluorescent. Should I try to find something that isn't fluorescent?

also these are good

These are full-spectrum compact fluorescent bulbs...

Amazon Link

https://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-Compact-Fluorescent-Growing/dp/B00HG1JCJG would you expect this to work??

LED

Fluorescent

Desklamp with a 6500k CFL?
Bulb
Lamp

look at this... http://www.amazon.ca/Hydrofarm-Inc-AGROSUN-Equivalent-160W/dp/B0055F4VB4/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1421988831&sr=8-9&keywords=grow+light two of them is a lot of light. If you can afford it - http://www.amazon.ca/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-125-Watt-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421988875&sr=8-3&keywords=grow+light

its like these, you can get 2700k and 5600k bulbs for switching

weve done about 6 grows now

Grab 2 of these

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LWIQ1C/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr3_2?qid=1427215700&sr=8-2-fkmr3&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=Felt+electric+bulb+orange

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

http://smile.amazon.com/Philips-420091-60-watt-Twister-4-Pack/dp/B00FK8VDBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426476206&sr=8-1&keywords=6500K+bulb

These! You may be able to find them cheaper in a department store though.

I'm using these full spectrum CFL bulbs, they put off a little heat but not much

I ended up going with this bulb and a clamp lamp based on your recommendation; here is a pic of my baby setup.

Possibly. But like I said, I currently use apps on both my phone and pc to automatically filter out the blue light and yield a red hue. They are really cool as they track sunrise and sunset each day.

I think I'm going to subscribe to buying these for my bedroom:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000LWIQ1C/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr3_2?qid=1427215700&sr=8-2-fkmr3&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=Felt+electric+bulb+orange

One for each light I have in the room, minus one light in which I'll keep a standard bulb in.

To not get too personal, I have been having a hard time adjusting. I just moved last week and this is the first time I have had my own apartment - as opposed to a roommate. Every other apartment I've had, my entire life (minus a few bookshelves and kitchen stuff) was relegated to my room. My desk, my TV, my kettlebels. It was a really unhealthy lifestyle but it was all I could afford. Now, my bedroom is only for sleeping, changing, and sex - which are the only three activities you're supposed to use a bedroom for anyway. I do some light (non-academic) reading in bed either with a book or with my kindle paperwhite (which has the option to turn off the glow screen).

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-125-Watt-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1347486071&sr=1-4&keywords=grow+lights

How do you think these are for a 1 or 2 plant grow? If I'm being too cheap, just tell me. I'm not ready to throw tons of money at this just yet.

While I'm not exactly sure what you're doing may I offer a suggestion?

Order 2 of this item:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019HVHMS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Now you're at 8 for the ring light. Each bulb pulls 85 watts so you'll be at 680 watts total.


Or you can do 12 by buying 3 sets of:
http://www.amazon.com/ALZO-Joyous-Spectrum-Lumens-Daylight/dp/B0018OS06S/ref=pd_sim_60_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=4160Z66ARRL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0GG9VY14PXNRT9CZ93CW

total wattage pulled: 325.


I'd really look into using CFLs for the photo ring. Keeps the wattage and heat down. unless you need the heat as part of that wet plate stuff.

Yes, it's illegal to distill alcohol for personal consumption; owning a still is not illegal. The reason I bring the Kingston court case up is because it is treated in much the same way as possession of cannabis in most areas - the courts at large don't care unless you're selling, hence it being an outdated law.

As for home grows being restricted in Colorado - of course they are, that's how the law was written; stating that it's restricted because it's not safe but that renters require permission whereas homeowners do not is arguing false cause. It's basically the same argument for having pets in a rental - some areas allow it by law, some do not (at least in the US); in addition it also give added 'protection' for landlords who are victimized by illegal grow ops. But that's the US and this is Canada.

The reason for flagging illegal grow ops is obvious; if you don't have to worry about living in a place, chances are you don't worry about spreading dirt, water and everything else around, hacking up the wiring and causing a mess. A future buyer has a right to know if there may be water damage or potential future mold issues due to this.

What you're not seeing -again- is the thousands of Canadians who already grow their own and you'd never be the wiser to it. You talk about Colorado having all the "best" equipment for growing, which is completely false. Spend 5 minutes searching the yellowpages of your city and I guarantee you that you will find a Hydroponics center if your city is larger than 50 000 people.

Even still, the Internet brings the very best equipment right to your doorstep and totally private unless a warrant is issued for your financials.

less than 5 minutes on Amazon

http://www.amazon.ca/Aviditi-PTU-70-Reflective-Hydroponic-35-Inch/dp/B008B8BQRE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406428720&sr=8-2&keywords=grow+tent

http://www.amazon.ca/Hydrofarm-FLCDG125D-125-Watt-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B001UV6P9I/ref=pd_sim_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=01MWGNJ2TFW85VJ0Z10A

http://www.amazon.ca/iPower-GLFANXINL6FILT6MD25C-6-Inch-25-Feet-Ducting/dp/B00DIIPTHA/ref=pd_sim_hi_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1TK5SZXH60ZRC8HKJ9FH

http://www.amazon.ca/General-GH4120-Hydroponics-WaterFarm-Complete/dp/B001ID8CMG/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1406428847&sr=1-1&keywords=hydroponics

http://www.amazon.ca/FloraNova-7-4-10-One-part-Nutrient-quart/dp/B00KERVR9C/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1406428887&sr=8-5&keywords=hydroponic+nutrients

Combine all of the above with a GFCI outlet and a surge protected power bar and you're all set up to grow with an extremely low risk of water damage or fire. Add a basic small dehumidifier and zero mold. The argument against it due to risk of property damage is silly. You could make the same argument against house plants or home aquariums, try taking away either of those.


Finally, why should we let people grow their own?

Because, if we don't we create yet another class of criminal; Allowing 4-6 plants per adult for personal use is the best way to avoid further criminalizing people - people will do it either way, the surest way to increase risk is to force it underground. If you stomp on people's ability to do for themselves instead of regulating it, bad things happen.