UpstateRecGrower
Well-Known Member
Is there an ideal amount or limit? I seem to remember reading something on here but it may have been about UVA and UVB but I can’t find it now.
How much UVA?
- Thread starter UpstateRecGrower
- Start date
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
No one uses UV LEDs for there reptiles to bask in, because they don't get the proper amount, and will get metabolic bone disease. They all use t-5 and floros.
So why are LED grow light manufacturers trying to push UV as if it is really doing anything to help your plants? My turtle would die, but my plants will grow better with them? I call BS, unless your using good quality t-5s.. Then there is definitely a limit, and you can fry your plants if your not careful.
So why are LED grow light manufacturers trying to push UV as if it is really doing anything to help your plants? My turtle would die, but my plants will grow better with them? I call BS, unless your using good quality t-5s.. Then there is definitely a limit, and you can fry your plants if your not careful.
UpstateRecGrower
Well-Known Member
You’re thinking of UVC
UpstateRecGrower
Well-Known Member
Who’s talking about led? I’m talking about the actual uv intensity regardless of it’s led, t5, t8, ect..
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
Hold the card up to the canopy. Raise the bulbs until it barely starts to fade. Sure a digital UV meter would be nice, but the cards work good enough IMO.
UpstateRecGrower
Well-Known Member
There’s a certain target of uv that is ideal I forget what the measurement was given as (maybe milliwatts?) I used to use uv-a/b bulbs (super b) from solacure but am trying to set up a new smaller grow with just uva
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
I assumed you were asking to know what LED lights to buy or something. It's never good to assume, I should know better...
Sauron
Member
No, that's for pathogens. UV blue is for pest control.
Sauron
Member
Thanks for teaching me something in a round about way. They have used UVC to kill dust mites with great success. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609379/
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
I think the ideal setup, would use the most powerful single t5 tubes, with the fullest UV spectrum you can get, and set them up on tracks to scan across the plant canopy (scrog would be best). Just like a light rail mover, but suspended just over the plants instead. Maybe use your scrog net frames themselves as the tracks, or ropes, or something that won't be too in the way. Just back and forth across the room a few times a day, at full blast. Not sitting long enough to cause harm.
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
As far as just producing UVA only, or filtering out everything but that part of the spectrum, and the optimal amount. I have no idea. I've fried cannabis with UV bulbs though, and know it was too much, and to back off. I was more concerned with just making sure there was UV light there (because the coating in the bulbs degrade over time, and the duration that it was there. I don't really worry about the amount.
Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
I use them , no problems - but yes … dangerous to eyes.
Agromax Pure Uv ( duals ) - switchable single or double. Pure UV puts out 75% uvb and 25% uva each.
Again … pretty intense ( use glasses )
I swap bulb one for a 10000k finisher at last week or two before harvest.
Agromax Pure Uv ( duals ) - switchable single or double. Pure UV puts out 75% uvb and 25% uva each.
Again … pretty intense ( use glasses )
I swap bulb one for a 10000k finisher at last week or two before harvest.
UpstateRecGrower
Well-Known Member
yeah I imagine its easy to cause harm with the UVB, seems like UVB isn't really necessary and the highest benefits come from UVA from what I've read in recent times...
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
How is the inner lining holding up in the tent? Is the fabric area closest to the bulbs starting to degrade yet?
Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
Budzbuddha
Well-Known Member
I don’t run continuously , that would be harmful to myself and plants. I run timed intervals. Over use would degrade bulbs also.
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
I run reptile t-5 bulbs continuously 12+ hours a day, but I think they only put out like 10-15% UVB. 75% is no joke!
firsttime69
Well-Known Member
Some LEDS have UV diodes but very few as they are expensive, are not that efficient and burn out quickly, however, they do some good for plants in small doses, UVa and UVb mostly.