Lighting UVA/B...worth the $$??

[Ozone69]

With the recent upgrade on the overhead lights in my grow closet, I'm not sure that I'm going to continue with the T5 side lights that I'd been using with the old LED's. So I'm brainstorming ideas for what to use them for and one thought I've had is to reuse one of them by position it over the doorway where I've got some space so it's above everything, then outfitting it with a bulb from an outfit called Zoo Med made for reptile aquariums and the like that is a UVB bulb.

They make one in the oddball, 3ft length light I've got, but they run about $25 a bulb. Sooooo.....replacing all four of the side T5's with 'em is just NOT happening. lol

But one would be doable if folks think it's worth it. I suppose for one bulb $25 isn't too bad, heck I spent more than that on one of the Exhale CO2 bags and it's a crap shoot how much difference it makes, so why not $25 for a bulb? :smoking:

Anyhow...any thoughts on the benefits of a T5 UVB bulb would be appreciated

 

[Coffee&Kush]

With the recent upgrade on the overhead lights in my grow closet, I'm not sure that I'm going to continue with the T5 side lights that I'd been using with the old LED's. So I'm brainstorming ideas for what to use them for and one thought I've had is to reuse one of them by position it over the doorway where I've got some space so it's above everything, then outfitting it with a bulb from an outfit called Zoo Med made for reptile aquariums and the like that is a UVB bulb.

They make one in the oddball, 3ft length light I've got, but they run about $25 a bulb. Sooooo.....replacing all four of the side T5's with 'em is just NOT happening. lol

But one would be doable if folks think it's worth it. I suppose for one bulb $25 isn't too bad, heck I spent more than that on one of the Exhale CO2 bags and it's a crap shoot how much difference it makes, so why not $25 for a bulb? :smoking:

Anyhow...any thoughts on the benefits of a T5 UVB bulb would be appreciated

What's up ozone! I can't say that they do any harm. We were using the 4'×8 bulbs t5ho setup for our first couple runs and I bought 3 of the powerVEG bulbs to throw in the mix and the plants seemed to love them. Can't really speak on how much of a difference it made as we had used cfl's the grow prior and a 600hps thereafter. But I will say, the two cherry bomb auto's we had under there were pretty frosty! Sorry I don't have any other info. But they make a wide assortment of other bulbs now too, might be something useful for ya. I'll see if I can find thier website right quick...

 

[Coffee&Kush]

http://www.eyehortilux.com/products/power-veg.aspx

 

[Ozone69]

The powerveg bulbs look nice. Unfortunately, from what I've been able to find they only make them in the 2 ft and 4 ft sizes. I was hoping to find something to reuse the 3 ft fixtures I already have. But they are an odd ball enough size that it might end up being worth it to just get a couple 2 ft fixtures with the bulbs.

Thanks for the info!!!!!

 

[G.Leave]

Hey I ran two LEDs last winter...one had UV and one didn't. I found an immediate difference with the UV with early crystal formation to the plant that was under the UV light. I switched the plants positions and within 2 days the UV light had more crystal appearing. I was certainly sold at that point...I grabbed a third light complete with IR and UV. Well worth using UV spectrum.

 

[Ozone69]

Hey I ran two LEDs last winter...one had UV and one didn't. I found an immediate difference with the UV with early crystal formation to the plant that was under the UV light. I switched the plants positions and within 2 days the UV light had more crystal appearing. I was certainly sold at that point...I grabbed a third light complete with IR and UV. Well worth using UV spectrum.

That's part of why I'm looking. The manufactured LED panels I was using have IR and UV in their spectrums. They just needed a bit more overall oomph for the space. Since I lost those spectrum going to the 3500K full spectrum COB LED's (at least to the best of my knowledge), I'd kind of like to find something to add them back in with. Maybe I'll poke around and see if there's anything in the CFL department as well since those fixtures can be had ultra cheap.