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  • DIY grow light

    Hi

    Have seen a small fish tank advertised on freecycle, wondered if that could be used - or at least the lid with a diy housing - as a grow light? Would the bulbs be ok for it?! Not sure what make/model etc

    Cheers
    412% of statistics are made up.

  • #2
    Lots of info at http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hts_69290.html

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    • #3
      Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
      Fish tanks often use t5 light so that's a yes. 57 pages is a lot to read
      412% of statistics are made up.

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      • #4
        Pull up a chair, make yourself comfy and someone will come along and read it to you

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        • #5
          Does the tank come with a bulb? I use my aquarium bulb its a T8,it's about 10" from the tank lid so I put a few pots on top of the fish tank lid. The lights cost about £20 if you need to buy one,does it come with housing for an aquarium light or is it just a tank with a lid? Ikea are doing a good range with lights for around £30 & a stand for £4. If the plants are in the tank with lights & a lid covering them they would need ventilation somehow too?
          Location : Essex

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          • #6
            If you get the tank, pick up a Grolux tube. That is what makes Aquarium plants grow.

            Packs of T5 Fluorescent Tubes High Output, High Efficiency, Coloured, UV, GroLux | eBay
            sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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            • #7
              Click image for larger version

Name:	LED 225 14W Grow Panel Red Blue Hydroponic Light Board Grow .jpg
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              LED Panel £9.99 inc Delivery off ebay

              Click image for larger version

Name:	Portable Grow Stations 02.jpg
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              Plastic Box £6.99 each

              Click image for larger version

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              More Info Alans Allotment: Portable LED Grow Stations
              Last edited by Cadalot; 31-03-2017, 12:36 PM.
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              • #8
                fish tank fell through, wasnt meant to be. however i may have found an alternative.
                bearing in mind this is only for bits in the small garden, i dont have an allotment so dont need to plant much. however, it would be nice that the bits i do plant actually grow.

                copied from another website.....

                Lumens per square foot:

                Minimum amount of lighting needed is around 2000 lumens per square foot.
                (Two – 23 watt CFL’s, per square foot*)

                Mid range is around 5000 lumens per square foot.
                (Three – 23 watt CFL’s, per square foot*)

                Optimal is 7000-7500, or higher, lumens per square foot.
                (Five – 23 watt CFL’s, per square foot*)

                *I’m only using CFLs as a reference here, with the assumption they’re kept at a distance of 3 – 5 inches from the plant. It is important to understand that the “penetration” (the farthest measure that quality light reaches down into the plant canopy) will at best be only a few inches deep.

                Watts per square foot (wattage per sq ft WILL vary by light source):

                Minimum wattage per sq ft.: 30w
                Mid Range wattage per sq ft.: 50w
                Optimal Range wattage per sq ft.: 50-80w

                1sq ft 1728 cubic inch (12x12x12)
                container i would like to use 612 cubic inch (8.5h x 9w x 8d)

                which doesnt sound much but will fit 12 seed trays to get started and could grow plants up to around 5-6 inch high.

                if i were to fit 2 of these 23W bulbs @ 1450 lumens each (2900 lumens) in a square foot container it would be low lumens, but with the size of my container almost a 3rd in size it would be almost 8700 lumens of light. is that correct?! sounds a lot...

                anyway, thats the plan if its realistic!
                412% of statistics are made up.

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                • #9
                  Built it
                  412% of statistics are made up.

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                  • #10
                    You should know by now - Photos?

                    New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                    �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                    ― Thomas A. Edison

                    �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                    ― Thomas A. Edison

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                    • #11
                      Of course! So this is a food recycling container. We have a dog which we find more effective. It's a bit rough around the edges (both grow light and dog) but the box will hold either 9 small seed trays or 6 larger ones. It'll hopefully do for the 3 chilli plants and a few watermelon. I've drilled 3 largish holes on a side near the bottom for air, and have lined the sides with masking tape. It looks rough but it should do the job.



                      Last edited by mic; 05-04-2017, 06:57 AM.
                      412% of statistics are made up.

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                      • #12
                        OK a little confused, do you have to take the lights out to get the trays in the bottom and then replace the lights?
                        sigpic
                        . .......Man Vs Slug
                        Click Here for my Diary and Blog
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                        • #13
                          ..........and I can't work out how you can get 6 large seed trays in there - and they need to be close to the lights - not lurking in the bottom of the bin.

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                          • #14
                            Yes remove bulbs to put them in/take out, not a problem when bulbs been off for a few hours.
                            I read light has to be between 3-5 inch from the plants, the bulbs are 4 inch from the soil. Unless that was for growing pot and not veg? But it's not hardship to put something under if they need to be raised.
                            412% of statistics are made up.

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                            • #15
                              It's a bit late in day now mic but I would have put both bulbs on the same panel giving more downward light & easier to put trays in & out, I assume the bin is going to lay on its side as in the pic.
                              sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                              --------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                              -------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                              -----------------------------------------------------------
                              KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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