my set-up

[Becca]

Originally Posted by help

okay, i made a mistake! i didnt realize that there were different lights in the fixtures ( someone gave them to me, i didnt pick them out )

the other types of bulbs are
GE residental light
F40Res
40 watt

and

GE
F40SP65
40 watt

and

Philips
F40CW/RS/EW
34 watt
econ-o-wat

and

Philip
F40Spec35/RS/EW-II
34watt
econ-o-wat

sorry for my mistake, and thanks for all your help past and future!

I'm sure all of the bulbs are T12's and I think the bulbs may have a different color temperatures to them. I'm not a light pro, but if you do a general search on what you posted you can get some information on the specifications of the bulbs.

[Call_Me_Bob]

okay, would it be possible to put t8 or t4 lights into the same fixtures i have? if i did that, would the intensity be better?

[Becca]

The link you provided for your light fixture said it could take T8's, but I don't know if those would be any better or not for dendrobiums or cattleyas, I would think the would not be strong enough. I am able to bloom the phal type dendrobiums under my T5's and I have them about a foot below the bulbs. Also I am able to bloom some of my cattleya hybrids under them as well.

[Call_Me_Bob]

would t5s fit in the same fixtures? it was also suggested to me to get a compact flourescent light in a small round fixture ( i think ) you can see exactly what i was told here

The Plant Geek Chronicles: Basic Phalaenopsis Culture

[Call_Me_Bob]

i just read that 4ft t8s put out 2600 lumens while a 4ft t12 puts out 2520

i do not know how many lumes a 4ft t5 puts out. and i cant find it on google. so i dont know how big of a difference it would make

[Becca]

No T5's won't fit in your fixture.

[Call_Me_Bob]

oh, so they are out of the question. what do you think about supplementing with those cfls like sapphire child suggested?

[Becca]

You could give it a try, I don't have any experience with them so I don't really have any input on them. I'm sure I have seen that other members on here use them. You could try a search on the forum for info on them.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Do you know what the technical name for them is? Because I'm pretty sure it's not " cfls in a round fixture " there has to be a more technical name for them, right?

Thanks again for all you help. Maybe I should just break down and get a light meter, that would take alot o confusion out of it!

[Call_Me_Bob]

How sure are you that I need more light or suplement? Would it be safe not to buy any suplemental lights until after I get a light meter, I think I sold myself on one. If I got one though, it would be at or after the OS show. That's the weekend before halloween though. Would it be safe to leave them as is until then? If I bought more lights, it would probably be at or after the show anyways. As long as you think they can survive until then.