[RentaPig311]

So I'm looking for a 4 foot long fixture for my racks. I think I've settled on sunblaze but wanted to know what the deal was with the blue light. Its in the 6500 range which is perfect but can I get 6500 in white light? Does the blue light give any advantages? Also do you think the 4 bulb fixture would be ok for a rack of verts. It may be a bit bright but would allow for good penetration. Ideas?

 

[Mitch]

So I'm looking for a 4 foot long fixture for my racks. I think I've settled on sunblaze but wanted to know what the deal was with the blue light. Its in the 6500 range which is perfect but can I get 6500 in white light? Does the blue light give any advantages? Also do you think the 4 bulb fixture would be ok for a rack of verts. It may be a bit bright but would allow for good penetration. Ideas?

What? A blue light can't have a spectrum of 6500K, because then it'd be white. Blue is much higher up... like 14,000K+. 6700K lights (or around there) are all you need in a vivarium, because penetration isn't as big of a deal as it is in the water, like for reefs and such.

 

[RentaPig311]

Maybe they are speaking about a tint on the bulb and not the actual light color spectrum?

Amazon.com: Sun Blaze T5 48 - 4' -8 Lamp - Includes 6500deg K Bulbs (blue): Patio, Lawn & Garden

I was looking at the 4 bulb fixture on a different site but it says the same. The 6400k ones seem to be white

The t-5 HO fixtures all seem to be blue though.

 

[Venutus1]

Yea. 6.5 would (should) be a "crisp" white daylight.
If it looked blue, that would be funky.
I don't know how big your vivs are overall... but if I were using that light, I would see if I couldn't get the bulbs to come on in sequence and then go off at night in sequence.
That way the frogs could get a more natural light intensity curve throughout the day.
It may not be possible though with that fixture...because it looked like all went through one power cord.
Unless you are up for a little modding.
Cheers.

 

[dartfrog2011]

listen to Venutus1 he knows his stuff

Yea. 6.5 would (should) be a "crisp" white daylight.
If it looked blue, that would be funky.
I don't know how big your vivs are overall... but if I were using that light, I would see if I couldn't get the bulbs to come on in sequence and then go off at night in sequence.
That way the frogs could get a more natural light intensity curve throughout the day.
It may not be possible though with that fixture...because it looked like all went through one power cord.
Unless you are up for a little modding.
Cheers.

 

[DartFrogs415]

Venutus1: I own one of these sunblaze 4' t-5 ballasts and am running 3x54w 6500k "blue"(that's what they are called on the box?) bulbs and 1x3000k red bulb over a row of 20Hverts. If i wanted to achieve this more natural light intensity curve, what sort of equipment would i need and what modding would i do to the fixture?

also is the current set up sufficient to color up and grow broms?

thanks!

 

[vespers_]

blue is usually an actinic, but in this case i think it is just 6500k with a blue cast put on the bulb.

 

[PantMan]

Amazon.com: 4 Tube, 4 Foot, T5 Fluorescent Grow Light Fixture w/ bulbs: Patio, Lawn & Garden

The t-5 HO fixtures all seem to be blue though.

I bought this exact fixture at a hydroponics store and the light is definitely not blue. I also bought it for $10 bucks cheaper and didn't have to pay for shipping.