When Do You Replace Bulbs on Growlights?

[Nyboy]

Bay you do a lot of back breaking work, do you ever soak in that great tub?

 

[Jeremy Wilson]

I know what you mean I am growing on a wood tool box in my basement. I have just recently made a new heat mat to start seeds on seems to work pretty good am planning a few modifications to it though thanks for the info.

 

[Nyboy]

I think @Ridgerunner and @majorcatfish both have home made light boxes in their basemeents

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not in a basement, wish I had one of those, but this is in a spare bedroom. I use chains and hooks to adjust the height of the lamp, and hang white paper on the sides to reflect light back on them to reduce them getting long and spindly. For a heat source I made a box out of plywood and lined the bottom and sides with foil. I use old Christmas tree lights inside for heat. For more heat I use more bulbs that are not burned out, for less heat I replace good bulbs with burned out bulbs.

 

[Smart Red]

Those are some happy tomato plants.

 

[catjac1975]

I saw an expert on a gardening show talking about lights. He said the regular fluorescent bulbs were almost as good as grow lights. The added expense was not worth the money. Question for the experts.
I never noticed that my bulbs contain Mercury. I have been smashing them into grain bags to disposed of them. I am sure I have contaminated myself and shed in the process. How do you get rid of a 48 inch bulb?

 

[Smart Red]

Cat, I do exactly as you do. Better question: How should you get rid of a 48 inch bulb?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I saw an expert on a gardening show talking about lights. He said the regular fluorescent bulbs were almost as good as grow lights. The added expense was not worth the money. Question for the experts.
I never noticed that my bulbs contain Mercury. I have been smashing them into grain bags to disposed of them. I am sure I have contaminated myself and shed in the process. How do you get rid of a 48 inch bulb?

I've sort of asked that question to a couple of people involved in recycling here. I do not have any approved way of disposing of a burned out fluorescent bulb in this county or any city in this county.

While of course I would never illegally dispose of anything, much like most people on here I'm sure, I often put stuff that might poke a hole in a regular garbage bag in a chicken feed bag, the plastic ones, then put that inside a garbage bag.

 

[catjac1975]

I put two plastic grain bags, one on top of the other and then smash the bulb. Certainly if I placed it whole inside of any bag it will smash in collection. When I smash it, or the trash men smash it it must release the mercury. One of the most deadly toxins to humans and probably every thing else. There must be a solution.

 

[majorcatfish]

no basement here either, just the junk room.....

it has 2 levels, upper is the main table with a 6 bulb t-5 highbay the lower is has 2 t-12 with new grow lights will use it shortly to start cucumbers and melons