Will fluorescents help supplement my LED?

[Kindest]

I run a small cab with the 126-w penetrator 3x LED. My only problem with this light has been the footprint, it's 25% too small for the cab.

If I add a couple of small T-12s at each edge, will this be worth the additional cost and energy? Or is this a waste? I'm okay with the additional heat they will add, as I'm barely holding 60F now that the cab is in the garage.

 

[jcmjrt]

I'm sidelighting with fluorescents - CFLs during veg and since I have 'em PAR T5 during flower. If you need to purchase something, you might want to consider an LED bulb that will just screw in to a regular socket...although I'm sure that T8s would be a good addition as well...and if you have 'em, use 'em.

I saw some LED bulbs on sale at ledsupply in the closeout section.

 

[vukman]

I'm sidelighting with fluorescents - CFLs during veg and since I have 'em PAR T5 during flower. If you need to purchase something, you might want to consider an LED bulb that will just screw in to a regular socket...although I'm sure that T8s would be a good addition as well...and if you have 'em, use 'em.

I saw some LED bulbs on sale at ledsupply in the closeout section.

Extra light is always good, especially if it is white light and your running an LED.....a lot of work is being done with white light and LED and the results are very very promising.

What you really should be concerned with are those temperatures. 60F at night during flowering is okay but not at any other time... You should try to raise that to around 70 at least if you want to have happy plants. Low temps will definitely stunt their growth........

Good Luck

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Like vukman says, additional light will help... especially since you can handle the additional heat. Not sure how much T-12s will help but they definitely can't hurt. 60 degrees is enough to slow growth considerably so if you don't get any benefit but heat it might be worth the trouble. Best wishes.

 

[PetFlora]

Right idea, not the best solution.

I supplement with cheap bathroom vanity fixtures (~$20) and cheap low watt led bulbs (I buy from Chinabuye.com- ~$7 per 3-4watt bulbs and free shipping!), which have their own drivers and heat sinks.

During flower I also add CFLs-Repti Glo and Basking light

Note the light bar is ~ 12" below the ufo. I either rotate the plant or the light bar daily to cover all sides

View attachment 190326

 

[joe guy]

If u go with t8s wally world has the 4foot 2 bulb reflectors for 7 to 10 bucks and 2pack of bulbs for another 10 that way ud be adding 5600 lumens for 20 bucks i did full run using just those and it came out decent not hid good but ok for what i spent.. Been thinkin of adding them for side lighting under my 400.. If u want check my albums under super sour desiel.. But as said above more lights never hurt...good luck bud..

 

[Kindest]

Eh... I think I need an upgrade from my $.99 garden thermometer. Temps are now low 70s with just one of the 2 foot t8s.

I think my best option is going to be running 4 of these vertical in the corners. Any downside risk?

 

[exploziv]

I'd prefer the lights to be in the same direction relative to the plant tops. Light coming from sides or under the leaves can be stressful for the plants, so I'd say put them above the plants, next to the leds if you can.

I use leds and t5's (mix of daylight and warm white) and I'm pretty happy with the results. way better than using any of them alone.

 

[Kindest]

I'd prefer the lights to be in the same direction relative to the plant tops. Light coming from sides or under the leaves can be stressful for the plants, so I'd say put them above the plants, next to the leds if you can.

I use leds and t5's (mix of daylight and warm white) and I'm pretty happy with the results. way better that using any of them alone.

That's awesome advice; something I didn't realize. You probably saved me some trouble. Thanks exploziv_gbb

 

[exploziv]

no problem, man! glad i could help.
good luck with your project!

 

[Bud buster]

I think hitting them from the sides makes them branch out and have tighter internode spacing the sun is only over a plant for a little while most of the time they are being hit from the sides as it rises and falls in the sky.

 

[joe guy]

My thoughts exactly i want to try puttn the floros on each side like hid on 12 but first 4 hrs just the hid then 4 hrs side light then have seprate timer turn the floros off and last four just hid again.. Kinda mimic the sun and noon time i guess..

 

[exploziv]

My thoughts exactly i want to try puttn the floros on each side like hid on 12 but first 4 hrs just the hid then 4 hrs side light then have seprate timer turn the floros off and last four just hid again.. Kinda mimic the sun and noon time i guess..

that's a great ideea joe, but imho, you could put the floros lower than the leds, on the sides, but not lower than canopy level. plants don't get direct lighthing from under the canopy in nature, isn't it?

I did a test grow about a year ago where i was using for the first hour daylight t5's alone (from a side), then leds (centered) and daylight t5's (side) for the next 5 hours. then i would have warm white t5's from the other side go on for 5 hours with the leds and then leds off and just the warm white t5's for the last hours.
That was making the plants spread a bit better under the lights, but since I saw no observable yeld improvement, I just leave them on all the time. That gives me a bit more wattage at all times. I sometimes add hids too.

 

[Iffy-Caradoc]

Additional lighting.

Additional lighting.

I'd prefer the lights to be in the same direction relative to the plant tops. Light coming from sides or under the leaves can be stressful for the plants, so I'd say put them above the plants, next to the leds if you can.

I use leds and t5's (mix of daylight and warm white) and I'm pretty happy with the results. way better than using any of them alone.

Explosiv_gbb,
You might just have saved me a lot of heartache.
I was planning to supplement my 3 x 600w Hid lights over an 8' x 2' gravity hydro table, with an 8' twin fluoro fitting. I was gonna position it down the centre of the table, just below the canopy, so that they got more light from underneath and sides.
Your comment on underlighting causing stress has made me think again!
Stay safe

 

[Bud buster]

You do realize many people just use side/vertical lights and get huge plants with no top light the sun is always more side light than top adding side lights will give you more growth in extra branching and help with shaded bud.

 

[joe guy]

Well mabe they will just go on the same.timer if i ever end up puttin them in... If there is not a diffrence than hell pushin and pullin all those damn pins is annoying tryin to figure the math and what not.. It sounded like a good idea in my head lol...

 

[Bud buster]

It does fallow nature but more light is better. I never give my plants top lights when young they are surrounded by cfls then a 400 on the other side and now a 1000 watt for 16 hours but they get an extra 4 hours from florescent tubes to save some power.

 

[Kindest]

Well, since I'm planning to scrog these vertical doesn't make sense in the long run anyways. Thanks for the discussion.

 

[Kindest]

I'm happy with the two T8s that got added this weekend. For now they're resting horizontal about 3" from the seedlings. Adjustable cab shelf hardware paying off already, nice. And the floros are helping hold temps at mid 70s, just like I needed.

So back to the original question: I have to assume adding this 25% wattage in floros will help yield in the end, no?

 

[BrownThumb]

I would think so if the lights are placed strategically.