Im stumped with lighting.

[Tindomul]

Looks cool, but I don't think I can get a permit from my peeps at home to do this

[Ironwood]

A brief comparison of T5 vs compact fluorescent. A 4foot 54 watt T5 lamp has 5000 lumens per bulb and life expectancy of 20,000 hours while a 55 watt compact fluorescent bulb output is rated at 3500 lumens and 8000 hours. T5s are cheaper and the output is more stable over the life of the bulb. T5s are readily available in range of color temps. from 3000 K to 6500 K even 10,000 K. Only drawback to t5 is initial cost of fixture for startup after that you are saving over other methods.

[Tindomul]

I agree. This is why I ultimately went with the decision of using T5's.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Ironwood

A brief comparison of T5 vs compact fluorescent. A 4foot 54 watt T5 lamp has 5000 lumens per bulb and life expectancy of 20,000 hours while a 55 watt compact fluorescent bulb output is rated at 3500 lumens and 8000 hours. T5s are cheaper and the output is more stable over the life of the bulb. T5s are readily available in range of color temps. from 3000 K to 6500 K even 10,000 K. Only drawback to t5 is initial cost of fixture for startup after that you are saving over other methods.

I agree fully and will probably opt for this solution for my terrarium, however when space is an issue, the CFs are sometimes a more doable solution. I my case with all the hangers for orchids, I had no choice.

[Ironwood]

There are 2 and 3 foot version of the high output T5 fixtures for limited space.

[bodaciousbonsai]

Hey tin! I will give you a little overview on the power compact craze. One of my other hobbies is keeping a 50 gallon coral reef aquarium. I use 2 50/50 10,000k and 420 460 nm blue antenic wich affects cholorphyl a & c wich is also present in plants,orchids etc. The lights are only burning 96 watts of power but boy they through out the full spectrum. I had upgraded my reef tank lighting from floursent to power compact, now I am upgradeing to 175 watt 10,000 k hqi metal halide and 2 96 watt blue antenics. my orchids have done very awsome ever since I used reef aquarium blubs for grwing orchids. try it you,ll love it. heres a picture of my reef tank with the bulbs I am currently using.

[Tindomul]

I don't see any photos. But I have always thought that lights good enough for reefer's have to be good enough for plant terrariums. Thanks for the advice!

[daemondamian]

I bought a 150Watt Metal Halide setup for supplemental light for my little hobby greenhouse when it was inside last winter and the bulb is very blue.

In fact I have two other normal daylight spectrum compact fluroescents in the same GH. When they are on my Cochleanthes aromatica 'Magnifica' has purple on the lip [as it does in any normal daylight or household light] but at night if only the metal halide is on, the purple is gone and instead it is blue!

I believe it is a marine bulb, but the setup was sold for growing plants in freshwater aquariums.

Either way I think it has really helped my orchids and even induced some to bloom that wouldn't have otherwise.