lighting for clones

[JimmyBee]

Hi all

Good reading in here but im still a little confused .

Im attempting to convert an old reptile box into an area where i could bring future cuttings and seeds alive.

At the min i have a box which is 3-1.5-1.9 ft small but space is an issue. I have 3 computer fans which im sourcing some correct power suppplys for them at the mo i cut a charger for an old phone but it wasnt strong enough` I also have a heat mat and an old fish tank light but its only 24w what kind of light wattage is needed for rooting clones? and germination ? i attempted seeds last week i got very nice root shoots and placed them in root riot cubes and in a sealed tuuperware tub with a little water in the bottom placed on the heat mat. one of em them shooted upside down and a few more looked good they dropped the shell and had the round leaves all formed but then they just wilted after reading some threads in here i realise it was over water and no vent when lid was shut !

"my heads gone blank so i`ll leave the thread here and update after a joint "

Basically id like to know if fish tank lights are sufficient for good growth ???

Edited March 24, 2010 by JimmyBee

[Naycha]

Those kind of lights are fair enough for rooting clones, sprouting seeds, and keeping them alive, but you won't get great growth out of them.

[JimmyBee]

Thnx for reply

my grow diary

i dont want too big of growth just a nursery box to grow seeds and root clones to healthy root base before moving them into my system.

So for the box with the dimensions i have ,, how much light (watts) would be ideal for what i have in mind ? and have fitted two 3" pc fans to add air ,,, are these adequate for intake ?

Thnx for any advice in advance

JB

[420 HELI]

Your box is 3 foot wide right? Does it take 3 foot fluro tubes/do they fit in there?

 

Whack a couple hooks ontop of the light battens, and a couple on the ceiling of space so you can raise and lower the lights. You'll want at least 2 of em. I'm just running 1x120mm pc fan for exhaust in a similar sized area with 2 x 4 foot fluros, passive intake.

 

That's all you need to know, fluros and exhaust. You could even paint the inside white or line it with panda film or mylar for extra reflection/light penetration.

 

Go forth and propogate.

 

*edit: just read your other post and can see you've already painted white. The lights look like 2 footers? just won't fit as many under them... approx. 12

[JimmyBee]

Thanks Heli that`s what i wanted to hear

So is that just standard Flouro from the aquatic shop ? also can you up the wattage on a fish tank light fitting that at the min has a 15watt or something low in it can i just put a higher watt in "say a 125w or do i need another type of fixture like the wattage on hps need the correct ballast

[Frazz]

just an idea ..

 

 

[Reverend]

If you are going to get fluros from the aquatic shop get the ones for growing plants, I use them in my clone box.

[JimmyBee]

Thnx fraz thats one idea im thinkin of .... but does each light fitting use its own plug(power source)?? and they standard household light fittings ?

And ta Gills i wasnt sure if they were different types !!

i`m unsure yet of the type of bulb to use thinking of elec consumption heat etc and being able to lower them do cfl`s need to be close to clones top ?

[Frazz]

sure they are standard light batterns from bunnings i wired them together, be careful to join each fitting to the same terminals as the others, and just wired in one power cord, dont use near water

they run cool within centimetres of the leaves, each globe consumes 15watt elect but throws equivalent 75watt light