Best UVB SOurce?

purplehays1

Well-Known Member
so ive heard UVB from reptile lamps is good, but i dont want to create a ton of heat in my tent. What is the best option?
 
I have t5 reptile uvb, it doesn't give much heat, almost identical to normal t5's.
just a specific bulb for any t5? I have a couple strip t5 lights that would be perfect if could just pop a new bulb in, or am i misunderstanding?
 
groove, thanks for the help, i have found what u are describing, how long each day do u run it on your girls?
 
I'm only use when flowering. My current setup won't allow me to hang it near top colas, so I run it for full 12 hours. Its almost 30-40 cm higher than top of the plant. Before that (my first ever grow, 4 years ago) its much closer but it didn't seem to hurt my ladies. btw most people think it could hurt the plant (full exposure for close distance), so be carefull

my lamp is identical to t5's so I just replaced the tube as you thought.

my lamp:
Repti Glo 10.0
 
I've been through this a 1000x I wont tell you not to do it, just that the results are hit and mis. They can stunt, they can frost they can also do nothing.

All uvb bulbs are made of special glass as to pass uv light easily. Flouro have a short life span before the glass becomes polarized and will no longer pass a generous amt. Of uvb. THey put off a very limited amt of uv and plants must be very close.(except for during burn in period of the bulb)
Then there are hids like mercury vapor or mh. These last longer and put off more uv with a more reasonable penetration and intensity. But sometimes too much as well as being fairly hot.

Anything below 460nm and I've seen pretty much the same effects.
 
m only use when flowering. My current setup won't allow me to hang it near top colas, so I run it for full 12 hours. Its almost 30-40 cm higher than top of the plant. Before that (my first ever grow, 4 years ago) its much closer but it didn't seem to hurt my ladies. btw most people think it could hurt the plant (full exposure for close distance), so be carefull

my lamp is identical to t5's so I just replaced the tube as you thought.

my lamp:
Repti Glo 10.0
ZOO MED™ REPTISUN™ 10.0 UVB High Output Fluorescent Bulb


i think this is basically the same thing but for my size t5. U are saying i can run it 12 hrs? U dont see any negative reaction?
 
I've been through this a 1000x I wont tell you not to do it, just that the results are hit and mis. They can stunt, they can frost they can also do nothing.

All uvb bulbs are made of special glass as to pass uv light easily. Flouro have a short life span before the glass becomes polarized and will no longer pass a generous amt. Of uvb. THey put off a very limited amt of uv and plants must be very close.(except for during burn in period of the bulb)
Then there are hids like mercury vapor or mh. These last longer and put off more uv with a more reasonable penetration and intensity. But sometimes too much as well as being fairly hot.

Anything below 460nm and I've seen pretty much the same effects.
It is my understanding that HID light glass is designed to block uvb rays? What is the life span of the HO T5 before it polarizes, and how does that happen? Real curious about this as I plan on adding a couple of them next run. As for the hit and miss thing could it be strain related? Equatorial or high mountain strains have evolved in a high uvb enviroment. Could they possibly be better suited to additional uvb? Also there must be charts or articles that show the effectiveness of using certain bulbs. I am researching this as we talk but just started so know crap lol.
 
so ive heard UVB from reptile lamps is good, but i dont want to create a ton of heat in my tent. What is the best option?
Reptile lamps don't put out very much heat at all. Any light source currently made will put out some heat. The UV LED lights don't put out shit and seem to fail quickly. I think the reptile light is your best option.
 
Reptile lamps don't put out very much heat at all. Any light source currently made will put out some heat. The UV LED lights don't put out shit and seem to fail quickly. I think the reptile light is your best option.

Ya that is what im going with, thanks
 
Hid bulb manufacturers use cheaper glass. Mostly borosilicate. It is stronger and blocks uv, and handles temp changes better.

The life of flouro bulbs is about 6-12 month's. Same ad normal bulbs because it is the same reaction occurring, Not only are you losing if but all other spectrums as well.

Wiki can explain polarization.

Some strains do better but mostly the key to getting frosty plants is the proper environment. Not too hot plenty of light and air, properly feeding, and pure darkness. If a plant is doing good it will improve but if a plant is not it won't effect it positively.
 
charts aren't exactly perfect because production of quartz glass seems to be imperfect because there is a wide difference in outputs of the same wattage bulbs.
 
i plan on running 2x2' of the reptisun 10 on a 4 or 6 hr timer from week 6 of flower to finish. I will be running them in mid day for the ladies starting like 3 hrs after lights on.
 
Just run them 12/12 less timers and it will work better. I've played "midday" lighting with little effect actually my results actually yielded longer flowering times
 
my led has a uv-b cfl on it with a separate power source so I can put it on a different timer works great so far now I just got to get better at growing :)
 

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