UV Suppliment Lighting

[mr. childs]

I've also heard old fluoro gets cracks in the phosphor lining (CFL especially) and allows a decent chunk of UV through. I used to use the older ones on purpose for that reason although I don't know if it helped lol

maybe @Or_Gro will tell us the readings from his uvb tubes after a year & tell us how bad theyve deteriorated...

 

[Or_Gro]

maybe @Or_Gro will tell us the readings from his uvb tubes after a year & tell us how bad theyve deteriorated...

I have 2 4-footers in each 4x4, about 22” high, on sidewalls at 45 degree angle...basically new, putting down ~80 uw/sqcm across the canopy, 6 hours each day.

Remind me next year...maybe i’ll be runnin them closer

 

[Randomblame]

I was thinking of exposing just the insides of my arms from a few feet away, for 30 seconds. But honestly even that makes me uncomfortable with the flower power solacure, it actually goes a bit below 280! Thats wild! In retrospect i would have preferred the “super b” paired with Hps.

That t5 sounds pefect for matching with leds. I dont see any info on the site, any ideas when to expect them?weeks, maybe a few months?

Unfortunately I have no release date and no further infos.
@Airwalker16 has found a Solacure website where they said they would develope a T5 with some visible light like a reptile bulb but still with the same phosphor mixed in they've used for their other bulbs. So they must be close to the powerveg+ or reptile bulbs spectrum wise but should go down to the same UVB range like the other Solacure bulbs.

 

[Randomblame]

maybe @Or_Gro will tell us the readings from his uvb tubes after a year & tell us how bad theyve deteriorated...

Look at the lower left corner, mate!
You still get 34% UVB after ~2000h. If you use them lets say 5-6h per day they last around a year. But you can still use them in your veg area to harden off the plants before they go into the flowering area. This way you can directly start with up to 6h(or more) to get the thc increasing effect from the beginning.

 

[Randomblame]

years ago growers learned that plants grown with 6400k T5s produced better flavor and potency. I grow with T5s and add a uva plus bulb along with 2 P@A bulbs for deep red and can keep my lights 6 inches from my plant without burning them using the UVA plus bulb for the full 12 hour daylight cycle. CMH bulbs also produce plenty of UV light but even just a 6400k T5 will produce a noticeable improvement in taste and potency

Yeah, coolwhite bulbs have much more UVA below 6" distance. But it dissapears pretty fast further away and at the typical hanging height there is almost no UVA left, just a coolwhite daylight.

 

[Randomblame]

Interesting graphic, noting the differences between compact and linear tubes..
View attachment 4337239

This site is full of useful data..
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-tests.htm

Solar UVB intensity @ noon measured close to the summer solstice in Whales, UK (doesn't even reach 300nm!)...
View attachment 4337242

Some more reptile bulb SPDs..
View attachment 4337243

That R-zilla desert Series 50 on the 3rd picture look promising. Almost the same UVB range like the solacures starting with 280nm. But of course not available here in europe.... Nothing else I've expected.

 

[Frank Cannon]

Yes cuzzy, thats what I am planning to do with my 6% T5s in the Vesuvious sinks, as they deteriorate I am thinking I will upgrade to 10% or 14% and just use the 6%ers for veg and change out to the higher rated ones in bloom. ???

 

[oldbeancounter]

Late in flower when I'm backing off the nutes, I alternate epsom and K2SO4 between feedings.
When to add extra sulfur depends on your medium and what you are already feeding them. Many nutrients already have a sufficient amount.

I also grow "semi-organic" outdoors and like to top dress with langbeinite about halfway through flower.

@Chunky Stool
Potassium sulfate(K2SO4)
likely order something like this below

https://www.amazon.com/20-Pounds-Potassium-Sulfate-Organic/dp/B004JLYD9U/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Potassium+sulfate&qid=1558538422&s=gateway&sr=8-2
How much do you add and how?
I grow in ffof soil indoors mixed with promix

 

[oldbeancounter]

That's room temp.
I must get out the ir gun and check the leaf temps.

@Moflow is there that much of a difference?

 

[Chunky Stool]

@Chunky Stool
Potassium sulfate(K2SO4)
likely order something like this below

https://www.amazon.com/20-Pounds-Potassium-Sulfate-Organic/dp/B004JLYD9U/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Potassium+sulfate&qid=1558538422&s=gateway&sr=8-2
How much do you add and how?
I grow in ffof soil indoors mixed with promix

I use 1/4 tsp per gallon.
How often depends on the nutes I'm already running.
There for a while I was running Mills basis A/B, Floralicious plus, and K2SO4. Should have ended up being around 6-4-8 NPK.
Worked great in veg.
Now I'm experimenting with double micros in soilless mediums...

 

[Moflow]

I use 1/4 tsp per gallon.
How often depends on the nutes I'm already running.
There for a while I was running Mills basis A/B, Floralicious plus, and K2SO4. Should have ended up being around 6-4-8 NPK.
Worked great in veg.
Now I'm experimenting with double micros in soilless mediums...

I sprinkle a small pinch of the Epsom salts into base of my pots soil before transplanting.

 

[oldbeancounter]

I use 1/4 tsp per gallon.
How often depends on the nutes I'm already running.
There for a while I was running Mills basis A/B, Floralicious plus, and K2SO4. Should have ended up being around 6-4-8 NPK.
Worked great in veg.
Now I'm experimenting with double micros in soilless mediums...

That sounds interesting, how does one run double mictos in soiless?
What are the benefits and pitfalls(if any)?
I had actually just added magnesium, foilure sprayed about 200 PPM and also tablespoon per gallon between a few plants(not pot) to RO water just before those plants light on.
Will hit the sleeping ladies when they get up with epson salt just at light on.

That R-zilla desert Series 50 on the 3rd picture look promising. Almost the same UVB range like the solacures starting with 280nm. But of course not available here in europe.... Nothing else I've expected.

I see they have the R-zilla desert Serires 50 here in T-8, price though wow
https://www.amazon.ca/Zilla-11943-24-Inch-Fluorescent-17-Watt/dp/B000QFQ55I

 

[Moflow]

@Moflow is there that much of a difference?

I went and checked the hut plants leaves there for ya.
26.9°C...... but, I've added reds, ir in there.
I'll check the white led tent shortly.
Right , checked that tent, the light consists of 5 x 2ft Samsung Hinflux lm301b diodes, no added reds, running at 100 watts. Light is on 24hrs at moment. 400 umols at canopy.
I dunno the tent temperature but the leaf temperature was 19.7°C....... lol
Now some people might baulk at the idea of growing in cold temperatures but I don't have any problems.
I might invest in a few red strips in the tent for winter this time. De tech has them.
I'll try n get a run over to the uv room this week to take temps.

 

[Chunky Stool]

That sounds interesting, how does one run double mictos in soiless?
What are the benefits and pitfalls(if any)?
I had actually just added magnesium, foilure sprayed about 200 PPM and also tablespoon per gallon between a few plants(not pot) to RO water just before those plants light on.
Will hit the sleeping ladies when they get up with epson salt just at light on.

I don't know X 2.
That's why it's an experiment -- I'm figuring it out.
Same idea as lucas formula but I'm using floramicro + seagrow bloom + a little epsom.
I may also play with the Mills A + seagrow & epsom.
Lots of possibilities...

 

[oldbeancounter]

I sprinkle a small pinch of the Epsom salts into base of my pots soil before transplanting.

Actually did that earlier today, but it was not a transplant . I add some mycorrhizae when transplanting as it clearly works.

 

[oldbeancounter]

I went and checked the hut plants leaves there for ya.
26.9°C...... but, I've added reds, ir in there.
I'll check the white led tent shortly.
Right , checked that tent, the light consists of 5 x 2ft Samsung Hinflux lm301b diodes, no added reds, running at 100 watts. Light is on 24hrs at moment. 400 umols at canopy.
I dunno the tent temperature but the leaf temperature was 19.7°C....... lol
Now some people might baulk at the idea of growing in cold temperatures but I don't have any problems.
@Moflow I think I should invest in a few red strips
Where would I buy red strips if I lived in Canada any idea? website for De tech ?
I am not against them at all which strips would you suggest I will look?
Oh thanks for checking the IR , trying to figure out what to build is not easy.

 

[oldbeancounter]

@Moflow
link for De tech ?

 

[Rocket Soul]

Interesting graphic, noting the differences between compact and linear tubes..

Actually these graphics are less helpfull in choosing a UVB light than i thought: have a look how all the linear/lightube lights have much lower output everywhere on the spectrum (and remember, this is absolute values, not relative to max peak as you normally see in datasheets).

The higher values in the bulbs are simply cause their output is more concentrated than the linears.

But at least you can make some decent comparison within each category, bulb and linear/tube.

 

[oldbeancounter]

Interesting graphic, noting the differences between compact and linear tubes..
View attachment 4337239

This site is full of useful data..
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-tests.htm

Solar UVB intensity @ noon measured close to the summer solstice in Whales, UK (doesn't even reach 300nm!)...
View attachment 4337242

Some more reptile bulb SPDs..
View attachment 4337243

@ChiefRunningPhist
Wicked cool graphics
Where would a high attitude land race's UV exposure be vers the summer solstice in Whales, UK ?

 

[mr. childs]

Look at the lower left corner, mate!
You still get 34% UVB after ~2000h. If you use them lets say 5-6h per day they last around a year. But you can still use them in your veg area to harden off the plants before they go into the flowering area. This way you can directly start with up to 6h(or more) to get the thc increasing effect from the beginning.


View attachment 4337486

thats why i still use my 4 year old pure uv bulbs, they cant possibly do that much damage, ...or can they ?