Can I use these lights for orchids???

[Cowboys East]

Hello all,
I stopped by a local pet shop that was going out of business. They had a few aquarium lights for 80% off so I couldn't resist. I got:
one 40w T10 48" Flora-Glo 2,000k bulb 220 lux,
two 40w T10 48" Aqua-Glo 18,000k bulbs 130 lux,
one Coralife 14w T5 24" Colormax Full-Spectrum in 350 to 750 nanometer range,
and one Coralife 14w T5 24" 10,000k Daylight

Is there any pratical use for orchids with any of these lights? The sceince behind lights as it pertains to plant growth baffles me. Too many variables. Can you even use T10 lamps in T12/T8 fixtures? The investment wasn't large but I don't want them to go to waist. Thanks for your help in advance.
neil

[Grandma M]

I don't know if my experience will help.

I am using T10 bulbs. I have an older grow stand from Housermans (their new ones do not have the same bulbs). I found ordering their special bulbs were very expensive and also expensive to ship. Housermans told me I could use regular T12 bulbs. WRONG. The first one I tried blew up when I tried to put it in. My unit needs the high intensity bulbs but there were no T12 high intensity available.

I took my older bulb to a Hydroponics store and he showed it to his bulb salesman. He said I needed T10, which I was unaware even existed. He sold me the high intensity T10 and they work great for me. They give an equal amount of light as Housermann's special bulbs, are available locally, and cost 1/3 the price. I'm happy with them.

I'm not sure if the bulbs you bought will work in a regular T12 unit, or if the high intensity bulb will work in your fixture. It didn't work for me. It blew a large hole in the bulb and really scared me.

Possibly Ross can help you with this. He is our lighting expert on this forum.

Marilyn

[Cowboys East]

Thanks for the good advice Marilyn. It was a shot in the dark when I bought the lights. I didn't know T10 lights existed. In fact when I bought them I thought they were T12. Marilyn you said that your lights are T10 high intensity. Does the 10000k and 18000k make these I have high intensity? Thanks again for the advice Marilyn.
neil