using aquarium lights

fellowjimbo · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 08:46 PM

is it possible to use an aquarium light (a few actually) to grow indoors? the ones i have are for freshwater plants but i dont know if they would have the same effect on regular plants. any help is much appreciated, thanks.

ps. the lights i have are hagen power glo´s

mad4reef · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 10:34 PM

I think you can grow with that light. But, I think you have better options. Based on what I can find, it doesn't appear to be the right spectrum. It really isn't designed to grow plants. Like I said, I think you could but I wouldn't recommend it.

I would go get some CFLs if I were you. They are cheap and readily available.

Good luck.

Gizmoe · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 11:27 PM

CFLs are not too expensive and can be purchased at lowes, home depot, wal mart just about anyware that has a good selection of bulbs...they will work much better than the aquarium flouros....there are many on here who use cfls for small indoor grows just do a little reading...good luck hope this helps

KSimms4200 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 11:34 PM

heh those hagen power sticks are just 2' T5HOs and would probably veg a plant as well if not better than the daylight cfls.

*cheaper than the high wattage cfls as well

fellowjimbo · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2008, 08:16 PM

thanks for the responses. what would be the right spectrum of light then?

i read somewhere that once the plant is flowering its good to use a uv lamp (like a terranium lamp) cos it promotes bud growth, is that true?
thanks again

KSimms4200 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2008, 08:20 PM

ive seen the 6500ks ill try and find a link asap

mad4reef · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2008, 08:34 PM

I found some more info on the light. According to a few sources, the color temperature is 18,000K. This would mean that this bulb is good for vegging, not optimal for flowering. You can certainly use it for flowering, just not sure it is your best option.

BTW, what is the wattage of the bulb?

I see they come in 8,14,15,20,25,30,36 and 40 Watt varieties. The 30 Watt variety is 1660 Lumens. If you want to grow optimally, each plant should have 2,500+ lumens. More for flowering. So I guess my point is that it may take a lot of these bulbs to grow just one plant. Just something to consider.

Good luck.

fellowjimbo · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2008, 11:03 PM

thats awesome, thanks for the info guys. the ones i have are 36w. Ill use them while vegging only then. It really doesnt matter about how many im going to need since my bro works at a fish store, he gets pretty much whatever he needs for free. He actually sent me this link to see if maybe these types of bulbs are better (for flowering that is).

http://www.sera.de/index.php?id=528&L=1

Thanks again

Gizmoe · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-2008, 05:16 AM

6500k are best for veg and 2700k are best for flowering although many use both at the sametime but with a higher ratio of one verses the other depending on the phase IE a 12 bulb set up might contain 8 6500k bulbs and 4 2700k bulbls during the veg stage and just the opposite for the flowering...cause the plants will take what they need

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#1 (permalink) 11-04-2008, 08:46 PM
fellowjimbo Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 12	using aquarium lights is it possible to use an aquarium light (a few actually) to grow indoors? the ones i have are for freshwater plants but i dont know if they would have the same effect on regular plants. any help is much appreciated, thanks. ps. the lights i have are hagen power glo´s

#2 (permalink) 11-04-2008, 10:34 PM
mad4reef Proud Papa Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,815	Re: using aquarium lights I think you can grow with that light. But, I think you have better options. Based on what I can find, it doesn't appear to be the right spectrum. It really isn't designed to grow plants. Like I said, I think you could but I wouldn't recommend it. I would go get some CFLs if I were you. They are cheap and readily available. Good luck.

#3 (permalink) 11-04-2008, 11:27 PM
Gizmoe Self Medicated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Garden of Weeden Posts: 1,203	Re: using aquarium lights CFLs are not too expensive and can be purchased at lowes, home depot, wal mart just about anyware that has a good selection of bulbs...they will work much better than the aquarium flouros....there are many on here who use cfls for small indoor grows just do a little reading...good luck hope this helps

#4 (permalink) 11-04-2008, 11:34 PM
KSimms4200 Growing for Health Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SC Posts: 308	Re: using aquarium lights heh those hagen power sticks are just 2' T5HOs and would probably veg a plant as well if not better than the daylight cfls. cheaper than the high wattage* cfls as well Last edited by KSimms4200; 11-04-2008 at 11:37 PM.

#5 (permalink) 11-05-2008, 08:16 PM
fellowjimbo Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 12	Re: using aquarium lights thanks for the responses. what would be the right spectrum of light then? i read somewhere that once the plant is flowering its good to use a uv lamp (like a terranium lamp) cos it promotes bud growth, is that true? thanks again

#6 (permalink) 11-05-2008, 08:20 PM
KSimms4200 Growing for Health Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SC Posts: 308	Re: using aquarium lights ive seen the 6500ks ill try and find a link asap

#7 (permalink) 11-05-2008, 08:34 PM
mad4reef Proud Papa Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,815	Re: using aquarium lights I found some more info on the light. According to a few sources, the color temperature is 18,000K. This would mean that this bulb is good for vegging, not optimal for flowering. You can certainly use it for flowering, just not sure it is your best option. BTW, what is the wattage of the bulb? I see they come in 8,14,15,20,25,30,36 and 40 Watt varieties. The 30 Watt variety is 1660 Lumens. If you want to grow optimally, each plant should have 2,500+ lumens. More for flowering. So I guess my point is that it may take a lot of these bulbs to grow just one plant. Just something to consider. Good luck.

#8 (permalink) 11-05-2008, 11:03 PM
fellowjimbo Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 12	Re: using aquarium lights thats awesome, thanks for the info guys. the ones i have are 36w. Ill use them while vegging only then. It really doesnt matter about how many im going to need since my bro works at a fish store, he gets pretty much whatever he needs for free. He actually sent me this link to see if maybe these types of bulbs are better (for flowering that is). http://www.sera.de/index.php?id=528&L=1 Thanks again

#9 (permalink) 11-06-2008, 05:16 AM
Gizmoe Self Medicated Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Garden of Weeden Posts: 1,203	Re: using aquarium lights 6500k are best for veg and 2700k are best for flowering although many use both at the sametime but with a higher ratio of one verses the other depending on the phase IE a 12 bulb set up might contain 8 6500k bulbs and 4 2700k bulbls during the veg stage and just the opposite for the flowering...cause the plants will take what they need

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