Show Your Light Set Up ( Please see details)

[derv88]

Thanks Ray, I do go back and forth on if it's too much or too little light. I read something from you, maybe in another thread, talking about light meters and the fact that the popular inexpensive meters are made for photography and the readings are unstable when you're continually adjusting for distance from plant to light, plant to light, and on.

The dark green leaf color is what is making me suspect too little light. I have a standard 6' x 4' wire rack with two light shelves - top shelf lit by 4 separate 48' t5h0's with attached reflectors, bottom shelf lit by 4 separate older t5h0's without reflectors (phal shelf). Recently added another rack @ 90 degree angle which has my 600w hps/mh setup, dialed down to 50%. Only warm growers under it, dens and a catasetum.

I really would like one of those expensive meters you mentioned that are more accurate for our application, but I also like being married. I am trying my best at having to use qualitative feedback when I really need quantitative feedback until I gain more experience with this hobby that is turning into a study.

The light meter jumps off the chart in the 5 digit range 4" under the hps light, so I have my dens right at the the outside edges of the light projection boundaries where my best measurements are coming in around 2500fcs to 3000fcs, which from what I'm reading on culture sheets, is in their light range.

I really don't know what I am doing though, and I'm totally fine admitting that. There is a lot to learn.

[Ray]

Distance from the lamps is your controlling factor. A 48" T5 on a 4' X 6' should can give you a high light zone in the middle, directly under the lamp, and low light toward the perimeter.

It wasn't me making the lite meter comments, but even without one there are alternatives.

Do you own a camera with manually adjustable aperture and exposure settings? If so, you can use that to measure the light level (check the free info at firstrays.com).

[Nexogen]

I think before you buy a specific product, you need to study a little what and how.
Perhaps use dedicated light for human consumption does not meet the needs of the plant.