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Got the shelf :D

Ok, so I got a huge shelf for Christmas, and I've got one fixture with two four foot 40w 5000k bulbs, with around 2200 lumens. I've sort of mounted it, more like hung it (it came with chains, so I shortened them to two links, then hung it on the shelf). Now what?

Right now, the plants are about 5 inches from the light. Is this too close? I was planning on adding another fixture on the shelf because of the crud-load of space.

Pic (only two plants up there so far
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)

DSCN2499.jpg


(That's a north facing window)

Many thanks,
-Ben
 
tell me how this works out. my room only has a north facing window and i can only grow plants in my room. my 2 terrariums are almost filled. i would use some of those compact flourescents maby 2 per rack.
Alex
 
Awsome shelf, It looks like the same one that i got last christmas. It works really well because you can move the shelves up and down. Dont think the plants are to close, I just moved my 55gal on one of my shelves works great. And dont worry you will soon run out of space.
 
Ok, thanks. This is enough light, right? lol, I kinda always get worried 'bout stuff like this.

Here's a pic of the whole shelf:
DSCN2498.jpg


-Ben
 
Definitely get another fixture. I use four tubes (two fixtures) on all my shelves. I use that exact unit - I have three of them. If you get ambitious later, you can use t5 fixtures on there, too. Those REALLY put out light. But four tubes of regular fluorescents will let you grow anything on there. And for drosera and pings, if anything you're too far away. But that distance is good for a lot of plants so I'd keep it. And fill up the shelves!! Get some of those black garden flats and you can hold tons of plants on a shelf.

In this photo, the shelf below the neps is where my drosera are. It's about the same height as yours is. The nep shelf is obviously much taller.

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Capslock
 
Nice! I'd suggest devoting one shelf to very short plants and keeping the lights as close as possible to the pots for plants that grow on the surface of the soil. Then the lights will still be close enough to the shelf below to light taller plants. If you shop around you can find 4' two-bulb shoplights for $10 a piece, so it shouldn't be too expensive for you to light as many shelves as you need.
~Joe
 
I used to use the same thing. I used 3 sets of shop light fixtures (6 bulbs) on each shelf. Here is a picture of it lit up...

plantrack.jpg


I used tubs to put the plants in, so I could just fill a few tubs and water everything, it was nice to just grab one and pull it out to inspect/admire the plants too.
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Wow, thanks for all the help guys. I moved the shelf up 2 inches higher, so I think that should do it. My birthday is coming up, so I think that many more plants should appear....
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I spent 30 bucks on that one fixture and bulbs, it's about 20 bucks per fixture. I have no more money now...

I don't think I'll be able to fit more than two of those on one shelf, since it's about 15 inches wide, and each fixture is 6 inches wide. I can't wait til my neps get as big as yours, Capslock! Speaking of neps, mine have been in very low light for the past 2 months or so, and they haven't been growing much, but they're still perky, so how would I go about putting them on the shelf without frying them?

-Ben
 
With fluorescents, don't worry about frying them. They'll be happy as a clam with that light, and it's not enough to burn 'em.

Capslock
 
  • #10
Ok. I'm sooooo excited! Hopefully I'll have some colorful plants in a few weeks! What do you guys use to mount your lights? (i.e. string, twisty ties, other stuff)

-Ben
 
  • #11
Well i used the chain stuff that came with them, But if you dont have it i have seen it at Home Depot. There also was little hooks that came with it too, im sure you can find them with the chain. Good luck

Jayson.
 
  • #12
I used heavy duty zip ties (NOT TWIST TIES) for some and the chains for others... I found I could get the lights tighter and get them to stay where I want them with the zip ties.
 
  • #13
OO good idea thanks. I have to try that some time.
 
  • #14
Ok, I'll maybe look for those sometime. Heh heh, my D. binata shall come out of dormancy tommorow...

-Ben
 
  • #15
omg you guys gave me an idea... I need one of those now! I know where to get shop lights too!
smile.gif
 
  • #16
I know that this is a little off topic but um.....nep ak .....i think that you spell it as Nepenthes bicalcarata.

[b said:
Quote[/b] ]Camponotus (Colobopsis) forms symbiotic relationships with Nepenthes bicularita (spelling?)
 
  • #17
N. bicalcarata haha
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Alex
 
  • #18
sweet I love being to lazy for like 2 weeks to even look up how to spell it thanks!
 
  • #20
OK any ways, i think I'm gonna go buy some shop lights... hopefully my mom doesn't get upset that I'm getting MORE lights...
 
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