optimum artificial lighting for nep
 

i understand that there might be some forummer using light for their terrarium, there are numerous articles talking about using the right kind of bulb or lamps, and the pros and cons. I noticed most people use 6500k fluoresent lamp or PL light becoz it is cheap and easy to get/maintain/setup. There are also some hardcore people using metal halide or high output T5 lamps as well. I have tried using expired 10,000k T5 lamp from my marine aquarium and I have seen rapid growth on my viking seedling, it slows down once i switched over to energy saving lamp fluoresent light. It seems like the plant benefits from high "K" as well even we are using the same wattage of bulb.

I think it is good if we can discuss and list down all example of lighting used and its effect / growth rate.

Re: optimum artificial lighting for nep
 

That's interesting, if I understand correctly, high K light (actinic) mostly produce blue light with wavelength roughly between 400-500 nm. The chrolophyll is most effective in absorbing light wavelength of 430nm and 660nm. So theoretically speaking grow light (4000K), Daylight (5000K) and Super Daylight (6500K) fluoresent lamp should be more effective since they produce full spectrum light.

In nature high K environment is mostly found underwater >15 feet deep.... Hence high K light shouldn't be more effective compared to those full spectrum light when growing terrestrial plants... right?? :spinning:

I used to be nuts with planted tanks.... *biggrin2*

Re: optimum artificial lighting for nep
 

To share wat i know so far, we normally need to have 3 kind of T5 lights which are white (around 10k), blue & actinic. In a marine environment, blue & actinic spectrum is a must for them to grow and maintain colour. There are also people who use 20k bulb so that they only need to add a actinic lamp instead of using all 3 kinds.

So, i believe corals are almost same as plant, they do photosintesis as well but they have other important factors as well.

I will be adding in a actinic light to the current white T5 light next week to study the effects of the combination. I hope i can get some good news

Re: optimum artificial lighting for nep
 

Ok, I hope you can get some good news for your next trial.

Now, something I just realized about you "expired" T5 lamp... From my limited experience in growing seedlings and observing them in the wild, I always found seedlings grew and thrived in very shaded condition. So is it possible your expired T5 lamp produce less light intensity compared to the non expired fluorescent lamp that could have actually produced light intensity more suitable to grow seedlings??? Hmmm.... :confused:

Re: optimum artificial lighting for nep
 

NepNut....David grows nep using grow lights.Ask him.But he says they always have red spots on their leaves.They like natural sun better.Good luck!:1thumbup:

Re: optimum artificial lighting for nep
 

the brightness from the 3ft expired lamp is still much stronger than any conventional 4ft lamp

Re: optimum artificial lighting for nep
 

I'm using HPS (400 W) for two of my rooms in the basement. The plants are doing very well with it. Iirc HPS has only 2700K but there are also bulbs with more blue in it. The next time I get new ones I'll try to get these because the yellowish light of the HPS looks horrible. Nevertheless the plants enjoy it ... they are pitchering, flowering and looking healthy. I've got some vikings and ampullarias in my terrarium (with 150 W MetalHalide ceramic type) and some of them under HPS. The plants under the HPS are growing faster though it's hard to compare because the MH is only 150 W. But there the plants are nearer to the lightsource.