has anyone tried lighting their terrariums with T-5's? The come in color spectrums ranging from 6500K to 20K (and beyond but I expect your probably out of the useful wavelengths after you pass 10K)
T-5's are more powerful than VHO's and Power Compacts, on the order of delivering about 300% more PAR, they are energy efficient, and the bulbs have a useable SPECTRUM life of 2 YEARS!
These are the hot new bulbs in reefkeeping, replacing in many cases the venerated metal halides, they have that much punch.
Plants are pretty easy (for the most part) to grow under NO flourescents, but I wonder if there is a cost savings in only having half the bulbs, and only having to replace them every couple years.
And please don't get confused, I am not talking about a 2 year bulb life here, I am talking USEFUL spectrum, reefkeepers are even more concerned about spectral shift than CP growers, a shift lower than around 8K (6.5K being the color temp of the sun) causes horrendous algae problems in a delicately balanced reef tank that can take a year to clear up, so we tend to investigate these things with a very critical eye.)
So, anyone tried them on their plants?
a dual tube 24" fixture can go for about 140.00 (obviously much more expensive than a NO from home depot) and bulbs range between 15 and 25 dollars.
T-5's are more powerful than VHO's and Power Compacts, on the order of delivering about 300% more PAR, they are energy efficient, and the bulbs have a useable SPECTRUM life of 2 YEARS!
These are the hot new bulbs in reefkeeping, replacing in many cases the venerated metal halides, they have that much punch.
Plants are pretty easy (for the most part) to grow under NO flourescents, but I wonder if there is a cost savings in only having half the bulbs, and only having to replace them every couple years.
And please don't get confused, I am not talking about a 2 year bulb life here, I am talking USEFUL spectrum, reefkeepers are even more concerned about spectral shift than CP growers, a shift lower than around 8K (6.5K being the color temp of the sun) causes horrendous algae problems in a delicately balanced reef tank that can take a year to clear up, so we tend to investigate these things with a very critical eye.)
So, anyone tried them on their plants?
a dual tube 24" fixture can go for about 140.00 (obviously much more expensive than a NO from home depot) and bulbs range between 15 and 25 dollars.