Can I use this light?

[dirtgirl]

I unpacked a couple of boxes at the weekend, and came across a light unit from when we used to have tropical fish. The bulb in it has "Sylvania Gro-Lux F15W/GRO -T8" printed on it, and I was wondering if it would be any good for my seedlings?
Due to the shape of our new house, the only south facing window we have is shaded for part of the day, and is small, so it would be great if I could use this light to enable me to grow more seedlings.
Any advice greatly appreciated

[LittleShamrock]

I don't know much about lights, but at 15W its probably less "bright" than a normal lightbulb. However, after googling it, apparently it is suitable "as a light source for professional plant, greenhouse and aquarium lighting" If they are suitable for use in an aquarium though, I don't know how effective it would be for plants.

I have used "growing bulbs" before, for my extra precious little green babies, but they have cost a fortune to use in electricity, although there are energy saving ones now on the market, they do cost a bit themselves.

It probably won't do any harm to try out the light and see what happens. It would need to be quite close to the actual plants and while they may give little seedlings a boost, they won't have much advantage when the plants are up a bit, but hopefully by then they can go outdoors.

Sorry i tend to ramble a bit

[Potstubsdustbins]

If it still as the big reflector lid from the aquarium then I would give it a go. Placed behind the seedlings it would reflect any sunlight to.

Colin

[dirtgirl]

Thanks Gayle and Colin for your replies.
I can't remember how much electricity it used, but anything to stop my seedlings getting leggy

[Kristen]

400 Watts (almost certainly more than you want) for 9 hours a day (might be more than you need too ) for 2 months is about £35 - £40 of Electricity - so, say, 10p / Watt for the 2 months. Half that (ish!) if you are on Economy-7 and use the lamp at light.

I'm trying it for the first time this year, so can't comment on the benefit yet, but my Veg plants are extremely stocky (compared to earlier years), and getting seedlings under the lamp when they are just starting to break the surface has completely prevented them chucking up a long white stalk under the seed leaves

[dirtgirl]

Lovely, can't wait to see if it makes a difference to my seedlings now, I'm waiting for some tomatoes to show themselves at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how they fare compared to the others I started ahead of them. Though my bulb isn't as strong as yours, but must be better than packing it back in the box

[Kristen]

I'm a Mutt! I wish I had left some on the window ledge to compare against the ones under the light

[dirtgirl]

You could always sow some more seeds
Purely for experimental reasons of course

[poohpouri]

You should be able to use your light for seedlings I use my t5 lights from my old tank, just make sure its not too close as the tubes let out quite a bit of heat

[Kristen]

just make sure its not too close as the tubes let out quite a bit of heat

and not to far as using Tubes they need to be within an inch or two of the plants to have any beneficial effect. (A lamp like Metal Halide can [and needs to] be further away)

[dirtgirl]

You should be able to use your light for seedlings I use my t5 lights from my old tank, just make sure its not too close as the tubes let out quite a bit of heat

and not to far as using Tubes they need to be within an inch or two of the plants to have any beneficial effect.

Thanks guys hope I judge it correctly for my poor little seedlings sake

[LittleShamrock]

Just put your hand under the light at the height of the seedlings - if it feels very warm or hot, then the light is maybe too close! And check often, those little seedlings can grow quickly and you don't want them bumping into the light either!