Light
Light
Light is what drives plant growth, a combination of light intensity and light duration. The general recommendation is 24 Watt per gallon per day for T12 low efficiency bulbs or 12 Watt per gallon per day for T5 high efficiency bulbs. It means fixed production rate per day for a setup. Lower light intensity for longer period of time or higher light intensity for shorter period of time.
Low efficiency T12 bulbs:
2.0 Wpg 12 hours, (2.0 x 12 = 24 Wpg per day)
2.2 Wpg 11 hours, (2.2 x 11 = 24 Wpg per day)
2.4 Wpg 10 hours, (2.4 x 10 = 24 Wpg per day)
2.7 Wpg 9 hours, (2.7 x 9 = 24 Wpg per day)
3.0 Wpg 8 hours, (3.0 x 8 = 24 Wpg per day)
3.4 Wpg 7 hours, (3.4 x 7 = 24 Wpg per day)
4.0 Wpg 6 hours, (4.0 x 6 = 24 Wpg per day)
This is only a general recommendation not a rule.
Interesting concept is a combination of two light intensities in one system, 2 Wpg 4 hours, 4 Wpg 2 hours and 2 Wpg 4 hours.
2.0 Wpg 4 hours, (2 x 4 = 8 Wpg per day)
4.0 Wpg 2 hours, (4 x 2 = 8 Wpg per day)
2.0 Wpg 4 hours, (2 x 4 = 8 Wpg per day)
8 + 8 + 8 = 24 Wpg per day total
High efficiency T5 bulbs:
1.0 Wpg 12 hours, (1.0 x 12 = 12 Wpg per day)
1.1 Wpg 11 hours, (1.1 x 11 = 12 Wpg per day)
1.2 Wpg 10 hours, (1.2 x 10 = 12 Wpg per day)
1.3 Wpg 9 hours, (1.3 x 9 = 12 Wpg per day)
1.5 Wpg 8 hours, (1.5 x 8 = 12 Wpg per day)
1.7 Wpg 7 hours, (1.7 x 7 = 12 Wpg per day)
2.0 Wpg 6 hours, (2.0 x 6 = 12 Wpg per day)
This is only a general recommendation not a rule.
Interesting concept is a combination of two light intensities in one system, 1 Wpg 4 hours, 2 Wpg 2 hours and 1 Wpg 4 hours.
1.0 Wpg 4 hours, (1.0 x 4 = 4 Wpg per day)
2.0 Wpg 2 hours, (2.0 x 2 = 4 Wpg per day)
1.0 Wpg 4 hours, (1.0 x 4 = 4 Wpg per day)
4 + 4 + 4 = 12 Wpg per day total