LED Without LEDs -My First T5 Grow

AltarNation

Well-Known Member
Hahaha... I found a fish-catching net for 1.09, makes my order 49.05 with free shipping :P

Looks like I'm going with four more flora suns and keeping my coral wave count at 2x for now.
 

48martin

Well-Known Member
Now here's something that's been bothering me. How does a 24" tube cost the same as a 48" tube? I have yet to see more than $1 worth of difference in price. Seems a bit uncool to the people that don't have room for 48" tubes.
chaps my ass but I am sure its a manufacturing issue. There seems like more consumer uses for the larger tubers. In some cases the 24" might cost them more at the end of the day, depending on demand and if they have to retool their machinery each run.

Here is a question. Since some of you guys are helping out UV with their new tubes, why dont you all ask Jeff at UV to test the elusive purple Fiji? Would be great to get a chart of that one and since you all are doing a bunch of R & D for them.
 

AltarNation

Well-Known Member
Here is a question. Since some of you guys are helping out UV with their new tubes, why dont you all ask Jeff at UV to test the elusive purple Fiji? Would be great to get a chart of that one and since you all are doing a bunch of R & D for them.
Hmmm... not a bad idea but not sure he'd do it on the grounds that it's a different company's bulb and they've chosen not to release it... if he doesn't want us sharing his new chart, something tells me he ain't gonna share another company's 'secret' chart either.
 

AltarNation

Well-Known Member
Guys we could probably pool our resources and open up a shop to sell all the generic grow and bloom bulbs we get with our fixtures... LOL...

Okay, I got my new 4-bub on it's way and 4 flora suns on their way... this will be my last purchase for a long while.

Will probably mix and match some of the reds from the top fixture into the side lighting too. And I think I'll take the two retrofitted tubes off the fixture and hang them in the front or between rows of plants in the middle as more side lighting. This will allow me to hang the fixture lower and closer at the top, and the bulbs can get more direct exposure since they have no real reflectors anyway. I'm thinking I will try to dangle them between the plants so both sides of the bulbs are being put to good use.
 

infinitalus

Active Member
Here is a question. Since some of you guys are helping out UV with their new tubes, why dont you all ask Jeff at UV to test the elusive purple Fiji? Would be great to get a chart of that one and since you all are doing a bunch of R & D for them.
It may be illegal to do so. Also, it is really costly to do a spectral analysis.
 

infinitalus

Active Member
Guys we could probably pool our resources and open up a shop to sell all the generic grow and bloom bulbs we get with our fixtures... LOL...
If only the badboys came with lamps. Im not too keen on the Radiions; while they do project more lumen/sqft, I prefer vented ballasts and fixture for heat to rise up, a fixture that is more friendly with my 6" clip-on fans, better reflectivity, better light output with superior ballasts, and covers a larger area.

I do have a few spares on hand already though :D I guess better to hold on to a few in case one breaks and Im already in a bind.
 

AltarNation

Well-Known Member
Yeah they are emergency bulbs at this point... I only got the 4-tube radiion which I suspect is about equal in size and distribution as my hydrofarm 4-bulb. Maybe a little narrower. But it's going to be for side lighting so I think it will work out for my situation. I'll be sure to post some feedback about it when I get it set up. If I don't like it as much i can always swap it with my hydrofarm 4-bulb that's in veg now.
 

AltarNation

Well-Known Member
Hey, here's a funny question... anyone got a good rack for storing their extra bulbs? I have been keeping the shipping tubes for storage and it is a total bitch to get at them. I am thinking about looking for a door-side umbrella rack or something, lol. So I can pick at them without having to open tubes and unwrap padding etc. etc...
 

infinitalus

Active Member
Yeah they are emergency bulbs at this point... I only got the 4-tube radiion which I suspect is about equal in size and distribution as my hydrofarm 4-bulb. Maybe a little narrower. But it's going to be for side lighting so I think it will work out for my situation. I'll be sure to post some feedback about it when I get it set up. If I don't like it as much i can always swap it with my hydrofarm 4-bulb that's in veg now.
I agree, they would be useful for side lighting. Im going to be using my 6-lamp Radiion for three mothers next grow.
 

infinitalus

Active Member
Hey, here's a funny question... anyone got a good rack for storing their extra bulbs? I have been keeping the shipping tubes for storage and it is a total bitch to get at them. I am thinking about looking for a door-side umbrella rack or something, lol. So I can pick at them without having to open tubes and unwrap padding etc. etc...
I keep them unsheathed, laying horizontally on a rack in the closet separate from anything else other than a couple of scales to make sure they stay in place. I just rotate them if I need to see the label
 

AltarNation

Well-Known Member
I keep them unsheathed, laying horizontally on a rack in the closet separate from anything else other than a couple of scales to make sure they stay in place. I just rotate them if I need to see the label
Yeah I need some kind of rack to keep 'em safe... don't have a good closet spot for 'em because my closets are asininely shaped, heh. (None of the shelves are 48" wide)
 

kpmarine

Well-Known Member
Hahaha... I found a fish-catching net for 1.09, makes my order 49.05 with free shipping :P

Looks like I'm going with four more flora suns and keeping my coral wave count at 2x for now.
Free shipping isn't free, it costs $1.09! Dammit, now I've got that song from team america stuck in my head. haha
 

48martin

Well-Known Member
It may be illegal to do so. Also, it is really costly to do a spectral analysis.
There are many reasons I can come up with that wont work. But until you try, you don't know. How costly is it to do a spectral analysis, especially if you are a large light manufacture? How much does R & D cost them that you all are doing for free?
Everything is negotiable especially in retail. You just need to know who to ask and how to ask for it.
Just throwing that idea out for you guys.
 

kpmarine

Well-Known Member
There are many reasons I can come up with that wont work. But until you try, you don't know. How costly is it to do a spectral analysis, especially if you are a large light manufacture? How much does R & D cost them that you all are doing for free?
Everything is negotiable especially in retail. You just need to know who to ask and how to ask for it.
Just throwing that idea out for you guys.
Worst they can do is say "no".
 
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