UV-B for a 5x5

I was looking at adding this to my flower tent but it's only rated for a 4x4. Would I be better off getting 2 and running them at a higher height and shorter times or running one in the middle and getting suboptimal coverage.

How big of a tent ya got? I use Solarcure fixtures. But I just run one per tent about 1.5 feet above canopy. I used to run two per, but after a few years of every possible thing a tent can have, now I just use one. Too much of things can be overwhelming to re set up.
I have to ease plants into it. I start with 3-5 mins ata time. I slowly increase over last 4 weeks to 20-25 mins once a day. Can do damage to plants if not careful.

I can’t really speak on cali light works uvb fixture. Never seen one before. Really expensive light I’d say. Research what spectrum it shoots out.
Solarcures are said to be closet to the suns uvb and uva spectrum. I believe IMO plants will use both, not just one. Downside is that they are really powerful and can burn plants if not properly used.

I have a 5x5. The AC Infinity cloudlab. That fixture is rated for a 4x4 tent, I just don't know if a single fixture will be enough for my setup. I also don't want to put 2 in and end up frying everything from too much intensity. Obviously one would work for a majority of my tent, but im wondering how significant would the drop-off be in effectiveness on the outside perimeter, assuming the lamp is centered in the tent.

Well that size would definitely need two. 5x5 too big for just one, even many normal lights cant cover that tent haha.

Uv still kinda up in the air as far as what plants need. Some say uvb, or uva, or both. Cali light is pretty much just uvb. But it’s their design and they obviously have customers and research teams so take my input for what it’s worth….

Site says 3 ft above canopy but I’m sure things will be in the way. So may have to run at lower timeframes, If hanging lower.

IMHO Claifornia Lightworks overrates the amount of Sqft the bulb will cover, and they dont specfiy what the spectrum is.

Solacure makes the most powerful UVB bulb on the market, and the only bulb that goes down to 280nm. A UVB bulb needs to go down to at least 285nm to activate the RVR8 Protien Receptor.
Also the Solacure has a Built In Reflector inside the bulb.

UVB is poorly reflected by a standard reflector. The solacure also uses really expensive glass, specially made to not affect UVB transmission.

Solacure recommends 2 bulbs for a 4 x 4 area, and a 1000w HID, or equivelent light.

Right now the bulbs are 30% off, and are $40USD. You can buy 2 x 32w Solacure bulbs.

The SC bulbs are also overbuilt, and can be run as high as 80w, but wont last as long.
You can also buy the F32 fixture ( Its what I did) and run the lights at 32w, but they are $40USD each. You can also rewire them, so that they power the bulbs at 64w.
2x 32w would be best all around.

Probably i won't be much of help, but i was searching around about UV and many growers used reptile UV light with success. These are some of the brands mentioned, maybe you can find 2 smaller lights that suit your needs.

Arcadia, ReptiSun, ReptiZoo, Agromax, Migro, AgricUltra, GeekBeast, and of course SolaCure and SolarSystem as mentioned. Also HLG has some UV lights i believe. (i'll add more if i remember them)

Also i read in few different places that UV doesn't have to reach the whole plant to trigger more THC production. Apparently even if just one side of the plant had UV, the whole plant would benefit from it.

From AgricUltra website: ''We are finding that complete uniformity is not required to benefit from the effects of UVB. Plants do not use UVB to create chemical energy that can later be released as fuel like it does with PAR during photosynthesis. We think UVB triggers a biological response that is activated throughout the plant.''

Personally i will be rotating my plants every day so each side gets enough UV just in case. My main concern is mold/mildew.

Check out Randomblame's profile, this guy did a lot of testing with UV https://www.rollitup.org/members/randomblame.898472/#about

The Solacure at 280nm, also deters mold. 280nm is on the line of UVB, and UVC. Solacures strongest range is from 280nm-300nm

The Solacure is 40-50 times more powerful in UVB than the Arcadia Desert Replile bulb, and the Arcadia is 54w vs 32w for the Solacure. Solacure is the only one I know of that goes low enough to activate the RVR8 Receptor. 280nm. It takes 285nm to activate the RVR8 receptor.

Lol the best way too add supplemental uvb spectra into your grow room based on my personal experience is by using a 10k metal halide and rock it as a vertical bare bulb for a 5x5 I would rock 400 or 600 watts depending if you can handle the heat generated by the 600 watt also the bulbs I used back in the day were from Solis tek

I see alot of people these days using the special t5 uv bulbs but I have never tried them and I'm not sure how well they work.

Check out the agromax bulbs, no need to overpay for expensive fixtures for these things either, they're just t5 fluoros.

Solis Tek 10K bulb also has Blue, and red added. Solacure is pure UVB that goes down to 280nm, and will blind you if you dont wear eye protection. Its powerful like tanning bulbs. Also why use 600w-1000w when 32w will burn them up?? And 2 of them works for a 4 x 4 area.

I also use the Solacure fromn Seedling-flowering. If you dont break in a plant with these bulbs, you will fry them in short order.

Agromax doesnt got down to under 290nm. It takes 288nm to activate the RVR8 Protien. Solacure goes down to 280nm. Bulb is only $40. Also has a built in reflector in the bulb.

jimihendrix1 said:

Solis Tek 10K bulb also has Blue, and red added. Solacure is pure UVB that goes down to 280nm, and will blind you if you dont wear eye protection. Its powerful like tanning bulbs. Also why use 600w-1000w when 32w will burn them up?? And 2 of them works for a 4 x 4 area.

I also use the Solacure fromn Seedling-flowering. If you dont break in a plant with these bulbs, you will fry them in short order.

Agromax doesnt got down to under 290nm. It takes 288nm to activate the RVR8 Protien. Solacure goes down to 280nm. Bulb is only $40. Also has a built in reflector in the bulb.

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Honestly I contacted Solis tek along time ago and they told me that 30% of the total spectral energy used in a Solis tek 10k metal halide was within the uv spectra and I used a 400watt 10k metal halide for supplemental uv spectra in a 4x4 grow tent with no problems and I also used a 400watt 10k metal halide in a open ended reflector inside of a 2x4x5 grow tent with no problems I actually grew really good weed but only harvested like 5 ounces in the 2x4.
Also along time ago I had a 4x8 grow tent one side had a 1000watt 2k hps light inside of a radiant reflector and the other side had a 1000watt 10kmetal halide in another radiant reflector with no issues the only problem I have ever had with a 10k metal halide was that a 1000watt blew up on me once luckily it was inside of a air cooled reflector.

jimihendrix1 said:

IMHO Claifornia Lightworks overrates the amount of Sqft the bulb will cover, and they dont specfiy what the spectrum is.

Solacure makes the most powerful UVB bulb on the market, and the only bulb that goes down to 280nm. A UVB bulb needs to go down to at least 285nm to activate the RVR8 Protien Receptor.
Also the Solacure has a Built In Reflector inside the bulb.

UVB is poorly reflected by a standard reflector. The solacure also uses really expensive glass, specially made to not affect UVB transmission.

Solacure recommends 2 bulbs for a 4 x 4 area, and a 1000w HID, or equivelent light.

Right now the bulbs are 30% off, and are $40USD. You can buy 2 x 32w Solacure bulbs.

The SC bulbs are also overbuilt, and can be run as high as 80w, but wont last as long.
You can also buy the F32 fixture ( Its what I did) and run the lights at 32w, but they are $40USD each. You can also rewire them, so that they power the bulbs at 64w.
2x 32w would be best all around.

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Thanks this was the kind of info I was looking for.

Honestly, I'm not 100% sold on UV. It doesn't seem to make a difference visually in terms of frost, but then again, I haven't done any side to side grows with testing, so I'm not sure about potency. All I know is that both with and without it, my plants "seemed" equally potent. I'm just curious if any of you other guys using it are equally dubious about its worth? I'm thinking I might not run it this round.

Rurumo said:

Honestly, I'm not 100% sold on UV. It doesn't seem to make a difference visually in terms of frost, but then again, I haven't done any side to side grows with testing, so I'm not sure about potency. All I know is that both with and without it, my plants "seemed" equally potent. I'm just curious if any of you other guys using it are equally dubious about its worth? I'm thinking I might not run it this round.

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Did you notice any increase in terpene production? I was trying to supplement for increased terpenes as a primary goal. Most of my flower goes to extracts.

Rurumo said:

Honestly, I'm not 100% sold on UV. It doesn't seem to make a difference visually in terms of frost, but then again, I haven't done any side to side grows with testing, so I'm not sure about potency. All I know is that both with and without it, my plants "seemed" equally potent. I'm just curious if any of you other guys using it are equally dubious about its worth? I'm thinking I might not run it this round.

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Honestly when I rock 10k metal halides my end quality sky rockets compared too only rocking a 2khps, I have never tried running the t5 ho uv crap so in my opinion rock a 10k metal halide vertical bare bulb man you won't regret it

When the studies here in USA at well known colleges were done on UVA/B, they used the Solacure bulbs. Perdue University being one of them. Perdue is a very highly rated college.

Purdue University is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". Purdue faculty, students, alumni and other affiliates have reached many notable and influential positions in business, media, politics, and science

Purdue is known for its prestigious education. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Purdue is known for its prestigious education. Its agriculture, engineering and technology degrees, among others, are all highly regarded by employers across the world.

One of their Specialties, is Agriculture Research.

this. and be careful with it.

Solar cure > Agromax. All day long.

go big or go home. Agromax 4 x 4ft 10k + UVA and 1 x 4ft Agromax PureUV in my 5x5 has me covered on that end of the spectrum.

Anyone have flower pics of their grow under UV?

I have to agree im not sold on UV supplementation yet. I wont argue that there may be some increase, but from what I have seen, the extra cost associated with UV isnt worth the money yet to me.