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Post by shoggoths on Aug 16, 2011 19:36:46 GMT -5
I thought it was better to start a new thread here to talk about T5HO and plants distance.
So at which distance do you put your plant from those fluorescent type ?
I've read that to get the benefice of fluorescent light, it was necessary to put the plants inside a 15 inches distance. Altough, every plants that I put at this distance are burning or, for nepenthes, yellowing. If I put my plants at 18 inches, they still become very red and burn less. I think it is perhaps still too much.
Also, seeds are sprouting at 15 inches, I don't know at 18.
So, what do you think ?
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Post by auth100488 on Aug 16, 2011 20:18:30 GMT -5
mines are at 5 inch MAX, ... T5 does not produce heat ... or just a bit, never had any problem... Dunno about others tho.
Btw i use 3ft T5 39w HO.
The air might just be too dry, which makes heat even more intense for those little guys. I keep my seedlings at 90% + humidity!
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Post by 31drew31 on Aug 16, 2011 20:54:09 GMT -5
I'm using 2ft bulbs on my little aquarium/grow box. 2x 24w HO T5's and 2 regular T5's at about 8" away from the plants. If I didn't have the top of the aquarium blocking me from going closer they would probably be at 6". I am mainly growing pings and drosera in this terrarium, no neps.
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Post by shoggoths on Aug 16, 2011 21:17:32 GMT -5
Strange, I have 4 T5HO in a 16 cubic foot tank and they do raise the temperature by about 7 C. There is this temperature raise in the tank even if I've a plexiglass between the fluo and the plants (and a fan that blow the fluo hot air out via the holed tank roof). The humidity in the tank is betwen 70 and 100 %.
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Post by auth100488 on Aug 17, 2011 7:48:15 GMT -5
Strange, I have 4 T5HO in a 16 cubic foot tank and they do raise the temperature by about 7 C. There is this temperature raise in the tank even if I've a plexiglass between the fluo and the plants (and a fan that blow the fluo hot air out via the holed tank roof). The humidity in the tank is betwen 70 and 100 %. hmm let me show you my setup maybe you will understand what i am saying! ill upload pictures later on!
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Post by auth100488 on Aug 17, 2011 8:30:51 GMT -5
there you go those t5 are not even hot enough to affect the plastic cover.
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Post by 31drew31 on Aug 17, 2011 10:01:13 GMT -5
If I did that with mine it would be 100+ degrees in there. My setup with the lights about 1" above a piece of glass raises the temperature about 10 degrees above ambient. I also have a computer fan blowing 24/7 over the lights. Without the fan the temperature would easily be 90-95 degrees. My set up is in a basement, where the rooms temperature rarely sees above 70.
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Post by auth100488 on Aug 17, 2011 10:20:44 GMT -5
hmmm thats wierd, maybe the specific lights brand you are using produces more heat :S i dunno, usualy T5's are very low on heat :S
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Post by robthered on Aug 17, 2011 10:24:57 GMT -5
hmmm thats wierd, maybe the specific lights brand you are using produces more heat :S i dunno, usualy T5's are very low on heat :S It depends on the wattage of the bulbs. I have 54watt tubes which are really freaking hot. Burns slightly when i touch them. The lower the wattage the lower the heat output. Reposting my post from the other thread here: I'm using 4 T5HO 54watt tubes on each of my shelves. They're quite close to the plants (6 inches above the tallest plant, and 10 inches above the smallest), and the plants are showing a lot of color. The only thing is that I'm thinking that the light might be too intense. For example, I have a n. spectabilis X aristolochioides and when I first got it the pitchers looked like this: Now they're extremely purple in color and show no signs of green anymore. I know they color more with age, but they're coming out this color even before they open: The peristome is pretty much black. I've since moved my lights up slightly but I still think they're too intense. If any of you are using T5HO 54watt tubes, what distance do you have the lights above your plants? PS - Dont mean to hijack the thead but since we're talking about lights I thought I'd toss this in there
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Post by hal on Aug 17, 2011 10:40:47 GMT -5
I think if you have the transformer inside a sealed tank, you'll see a temperature rise.
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Post by auth100488 on Aug 17, 2011 10:44:10 GMT -5
HO at 54w ?? i though 4fts were 59w for HO, anyway, i am using 3ft at 39w (they don't make higher watt/ft ratio as far as i know :S) it might be it tho, you are probably right
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Post by H2O on Aug 17, 2011 16:40:25 GMT -5
Auth, your using a single 3 foot light, that kind of light is nothing when comparing it to 6 4'T5HO. That's close to 300w more then your 39 watts. Telling people to put plants that close and that they dont produce heat is rather misleading.
Shoggoths, your setup sounds good, I really wouldnt worry about it and your plants will adjust to the light. I find that some Neps will take more light then other so they go towards the ends of the lights where it's less intense. You'll find out what distances work for your setup but to start 15-18 inches sounds fine. 3 inches really doesn't make much of a difference. Most of my Neps are between 13 and 18 inches. Hope you find what works for you, just remember to take everyones advice with caution as everyones setups are very different.
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Post by auth100488 on Aug 17, 2011 17:42:28 GMT -5
Auth, your using a single 3 foot light, that kind of light is nothing when comparing it to 6 4'T5HO. That's close to 300w more then your 39 watts. Telling people to put plants that close and that they dont produce heat is rather misleading. Shoggoths, your setup sounds good, I really wouldnt worry about it and your plants will adjust to the light. I find that some Neps will take more light then other so they go towards the ends of the lights where it's less intense. You'll find out what distances work for your setup but to start 15-18 inches sounds fine. 3 inches really doesn't make much of a difference. Most of my Neps are between 13 and 18 inches. Hope you find what works for you, just remember to take everyones advice with caution as everyones setups are very different. Well i am using 2x t5 and so far people have been telling they were using 4xt5 also i said i did not know if the temp diff between 3 and 4 footers is big.
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Post by shoggoths on Aug 17, 2011 19:30:48 GMT -5
Thanks H2O, I'm beginning to think that perhaps I must start to include the coating of my wall tank (it is a glossy white polymer) in my evaluation ... It's so reflective compared to a fish tank (even with mylar). Robthered, do you have reflexive walls near the fluo ? I closed one of my 4 T5 (the one in the back) and after 2 days my nepth "seems" a little greener. But it is perhaps just my eyes Anyway, it would be nice to go on with T5 feedback if someone else wish to share it's setting. As we seems to have found, the wattage and number of fluorescents used must be said to avoid misunderstanding. For this benefice. I have 4X 4feet T5HO 54W in my tank.
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Post by lloyd on Aug 17, 2011 20:03:21 GMT -5
I remember there was a post or thread somewhere here about T5HO's being most efficient when they were fairly hot. Something about that if you're running T5HO's cool, you might as well be using ordinary T5's (from someone who doesn't use fluorescents at the moment).
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