Looking for uv lighting for small tent

Grow Monster

Well-Known Member
Never used uv supplemental lighting b4 except what came with led. Have a 2.8x2.8 tent and wonder if this light is sufficient. Any suggestions or advice I can get will be appreciated. Running 2x 300 watt boards at 50% in there now. Using both just for the light spread.
Or is it even worth getting the uv strips?
 

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secretmicrogrow420

Well-Known Member
the light that you linked is horrible do not purchase that!

Honestly for Small grow tents the easiest light too add in my opinion is ac infinity ionbeam U4 here is link

ac infinity ionbeam u4 this light is UVA it has no UVB.

you say your grow tent is 2.8x2.8? 2.8 what? 2.8 meters? 2.8 feet?

i currently grow in a 2ft x 2ft grow tent and i am using Reptile UV bulbs but reptile bulbs suck lmfao they work for me but they are not good at all lol.

if you want too add UVB you can also check out the Migro 310 UVB lamp here is link

migro 310 uvb this grow light has 75% UVB and 25% UVA.
 

secretmicrogrow420

Well-Known Member
32"x32" or 2ft8in x 2ft8in
Thanks for input. U notice much difference adding it? Which is better for more trichs, Uva or Uvb?
I see a huge difference with UV. my weed smells better and hits harder.

Solacure Flower Power bulb.

Most powerful bulb Ive seen for UVB. Also has UVA. Goes down to 280nm.

The guy that runs it, is very helpful if you have questions.
the solacure in my opinion is one of the best UV bulbs out there the spectrum is off the hook good. the only problem i have with solacure is the cost of shipping, i know its not a big deal but the last time i tried purchasing a solacure 2ft bulb it cost me 30 dollars for shipping(i think it was long time ago).

but if you can afford it buy it! solacure is probably the best UV T5H0 out there.(i say this because natural sunlight has more UVA than UVB and solacure replicates this the other T5H0 UV bulbs have way too much UVB and not enough UVA lmfao)

Here is link
Solacure Website
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
Xtra cold weather brings out my old 250w Philips 4000k CMH and I also run it a couple weeks if I have several finishing about the same time. Mostly growing under Boards most the time.
Perpetual.
 

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
Reptile t-5 UVB is probably the best way to supplement a small tent IMO. You don't want a powerful 75/25% one cooking everything in such a small space. I suggest lower output reptile bulbs that you can run for longer periods of time. They range from 5-16%.
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^ If using the compact screw in type bulbs (10% UVB), make sure you get the bigger straight tube 26 watt version like this. The spiral tube types are highly inefficient, and don't output much after a few inches.
 

secretmicrogrow420

Well-Known Member
Reptile t-5 UVB is probably the best way to supplement a small tent IMO. You don't want a powerful 75/25% one cooking everything in such a small space. I suggest lower output reptile bulbs that you can run for longer periods of time. They range from 5-16%.
View attachment 5368722
View attachment 5368723

View attachment 5368724

^ If using the compact screw in type bulbs (10% UVB), make sure you get the bigger straight tube 26 watt version like this. The spiral tube types are highly inefficient, and don't output much after a few inches.
honestly if hes rolling reptile uv i would suggest using 2 65watt mega compact cfl from zoomed lol they are 30 to 40 bucks each and if you use a dome or reflector which i dont the UVB can penetrate up to 42 inches away from the bulb, i have used the spiral tube types honestly i had amazing results here is picture of me using 2 spiral tube type cfls in a 2x2 grow tent the herb from that grow was amazing! hit so hard and smelled so good! but when using 26watt reptile spiral tube type cfl's i keep the uv lights like 3 or 4 inches away from my tops and i keep them on the full 12 hours a day in the flowering cycle

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it literally says 1.5 hrs "mid day".
it depends what uv lights he buys, with reptile UV bulbs i keep them on the full 12 hours of the flowering cycle.
 

secretmicrogrow420

Well-Known Member
Thanks alot for the responses guys. Will be copn one soon. Now for the follow up question. Lol
Do I just leave it on the whole lights on time or just a few hours a day? I've heard conflicting things. I'll probably get the one @Drop That Sound suggest.
it really depends how strong your UV lights are when i was using 26w spiral tube type reptile uv cfl's i would keep them running the full 12 hours and i would keep them 3 or 4 inches away from my tops!.

honestly i grow in small spaces and i use Reptile UV you want my 2 cents?

if you are going to roll the reptile UV route grab yourself 2 clamp lamps from your local hardware store without the domes and buy 2 mega compact 65watt zoo med cfl's

i looked into the t5/t8 reptile uv

the uvb in a reptisun t5 10.0 54 watt uvb bulb penetrates only 22 inches away from the bulbs surface

if using a dome the 65watt mega compact zoo med cfl's UVB penetrates up to 42 inches from the bulbs surface.

i suggest you buy the 65watt mega compact cfl and do not use a dome. :)

i promise you will grow str8 killer buds indoors with this uv setup, this is coming from someone who has experience with reptile uv cfl's in small spaces. :D
 

secretmicrogrow420

Well-Known Member
Reptile t-5 UVB is probably the best way to supplement a small tent IMO. You don't want a powerful 75/25% one cooking everything in such a small space. I suggest lower output reptile bulbs that you can run for longer periods of time. They range from 5-16%.
View attachment 5368722
View attachment 5368723

View attachment 5368724

^ If using the compact screw in type bulbs (10% UVB), make sure you get the bigger straight tube 26 watt version like this. The spiral tube types are highly inefficient, and don't output much after a few inches.
sorry for spam but you say the spiral tube type cfl's are highly inefficient and dont output much after a few inches. maybe this is true with the lower wattage bulbs......

but

the uvb in a reptisun t5 10.0 54 watt uvb bulb penetrates only 22 inches away from the bulbs surface

if using a dome the 65watt mega compact zoo med cfl's UVB penetrates up to 42 inches from the bulbs surface.

the mega compact cfl penetrates 20 inches deeper than the t5 54watt 10.0...............
 

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
I don't have experience with that 65w mega bulb (never seen it in stores either), but I know for a fact all other spiral tubes are too weak and cause reptiles to become metabolically diseased. The Zoomed company lies and gets away with selling people junk (specifically the lower wattage spiral cfls, which is verified by reptile vets and tests. I've seen the damage they cause to turtles shells after so long by people that trusted the pet shops for selling them. They even sell the little UVB indicator cards that light up, and t-5 is king! The smaller spiral bulbs are so weak they barely even phase the card.

I could see that 65 \w mega working with a dome, but for that price you could go t-5
 

secretmicrogrow420

Well-Known Member
I don't have experience with that 65w mega bulb (never seen it in stores either), but I know for a fact all other spiral tubes are too weak and cause reptiles to become metabolically diseased. The Zoomed company lies and gets away with selling people junk (specifically the lower wattage spiral cfls, which is verified by reptile vets and tests. I've seen the damage they cause to turtles shells after so long by people that trusted the pet shops for selling them. They even sell the little UVB indicator cards that light up, and t-5 is king! The smaller spiral bulbs are so weak they barely even phase the card.

I could see that 65 \w mega working with a dome, but for that price you could go t-5
do you have experience with 26watt spiral cfl's? in small grow spaces? because i do and im telling you they work!

maybe you are talking about 6watt cfl's or 13 watt cfl's.

i used 2 26watt spiral cfl's in a 2ftx2ft grow and it made a huge difference in my end quality, i mean HUGE, just because they dont work for reptiles that live in areas with ultra high UV intensity does not mean that they dont work for cannabis.

but you are right he could roll T5 a t5 uv bulb with fixture in my area runs for like 60 bucks,

the 65watt zoomed compact cfl in my area costs 30-40 and the clamp lamp fixture crap costs around 15 so its like a 60 dollar investment also <3

sorry for spam i just have experience with spiral cfl's in small grow spaces and i know for a fact that they work and are not too weak.
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
Id get the Solacure.

The Reptile Bulb, is mad3e for Replites.

The Solacure, is Plant Specific, and designed to best activate the UVR8 receptor. Solacure goes down to 280nm. This is also the only lant specific bulb, that goes down that far.

If I didnt get the Solacure, Id get the Agromax Pure UV. It goes down to 290nm.

It takes special, and more expensive glass to get to 280nm. Also the Solacure has a built in Reflector, inside the bulb. If you rely on a standard reflector, as is done with other bulbs, you are losing a great deal of UVA/B. UVA/B, doesnt like to reflect, and reflected UVA/B, is useless.

Global web icon
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UVR8

UVR8 - Wikipedia
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
Yeah, but the solar cure bulbs were really made for tanning show hogs..

View attachment 5369299

Not true. They make a bunch of different bulbs.

They also make bulbs, for aging wood.

Many guys buying guitars now days, want guitars, that look old, and companies like Fender, and Gibson sell what they call Reliced Guitars.

They age the wood, and the paint with UVA/, and damage/wear the finish in places where arms ect would have alot of contact. People pay a lot of money extra for this.

But the UVA/B ratios, are different for each application.
 

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
do you have experience with 26watt spiral cfl's? in small grow spaces? because i do and im telling you they work!

maybe you are talking about 6watt cfl's or 13 watt cfl's.

i used 2 26watt spiral cfl's in a 2ftx2ft grow and it made a huge difference in my end quality, i mean HUGE, just because they dont work for reptiles that live in areas with ultra high UV intensity does not mean that they dont work for cannabis.

but you are right he could roll T5 a t5 uv bulb with fixture in my area runs for like 60 bucks,

the 65watt zoomed compact cfl in my area costs 30-40 and the clamp lamp fixture crap costs around 15 so its like a 60 dollar investment also <3

sorry for spam i just have experience with spiral cfl's in small grow spaces and i know for a fact that they work and are not too weak.
I've messed around with pretty much all the smaller reptile bulbs, except for the mega 65w pro you showed, or the newer 9w LED bulb they made. I run them almost 12 hours a day for my reptile, but have since went back to t-5 HO only for optimum health. I know were talking plants though, and a micro grow will for sure benefit even from the smaller spiral cfls. The straight or u-tube type of bulbs will always work better though, simply because the way the glass is designed. The spiral bulbs are flawed because of all the curves in the glass.
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
Arcadia, 54w Dragon, is probably one of, if not the most powerful Reptile Bulb. It goes down to 300nm, but UVA/B is for Reptiles.

The Solacure Flower Power bulbs, are T12.
 

hillbill

Well-Known Member
Putting my 250w 4000k CMH in the flower tent as I have 4 plants that will be chopped within the next couple weeks.
Perpetual grow.
Also running 3 Boards at 115w in there.
2 more in the veg 2x2 running 50 watts each.
 
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