View Single Post
Old 06-10-2009, 05:25 AM   #20 (permalink)
JustinF
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Port Moody BC, Canada
Posts: 34
Real Name: Justin Fournier
Default

The spiral CF are nearly useless as plant lights. They put out very little usable light to the plants, remember the green spectrum is that which the plants do not use, and are reflecting, and what the human eye sees as brightest.

Chlorophyll a responds to approx 410-430nm & 650-680nm, Chlorophyll b responds to approx 430-460nm & 620-650nm, the rest of the output between that is pretty inconsequential, and what most bulbs put out a lot of. I have not found a T5 plant bulb better then the Coralife 6700k, it's nearly as good as the famous GE 9325 55W PC. Until the 9325 came along, The favorite among many was a Zoo-Med Flora-Sun, GE Gro-n-Sho, Sylvania Gro-lux and Philips Agro-lite all T8 and excellent performing. When it comes to temps though, I would chose a T8 combination over PC. All above mentioned T8 are all very pink, you would be best served by combining them with a full spectrum bulb with a CRI as high as possible, 95+ to give you a natural appearance.

Shop around a little and compare the spectrographs of what you find to this.


I really hope you do find something better, because I am always looking to make improvements!
JustinF is offline   Reply With Quote