New Light! Overdriving a T8 32Watt

So, I was watching a YouTube video on how to get the most light for your dollar.

Parts:

2 - $10ea T8 Shop Fixture

2 - $5ea T8 32Watt 6500K Natural Light Bulbs

Basically, you combine both fixtures into one so you have two ballasts in one fixture. Double the light output.

Root Growth

Spinach root growth as of March 30th 2011

Lettuce Growth as of 30th March

Tomatoes and Peppers root Growth

Tomatoes and Peppers leaf growth

Since my grow room is in the basement I am having challenges controlling room temperature it gets cold at night. Lights are on for 18 hrs but then the temp drops more than 15 degs. This can slow plant growth. My nutrient temp is 70 deg. and the Aeroponic sprayers run 3 mins and then are off for 27 mins. My current light system is 1 - 4 bulb 48" T5 6500K florescent fixture and 1 120 watt grow bulb. I am working on building 2 LED grow light panels consisting of 100 each blue and red LEDs.

How to create a perpetual hydroponics food supply!

I am interested in growing food year round creating a perpetual organic personal food supply. I will document my experience so others may learn from my successes and failures.

I started this adventure on March 8th 2011.

So far I...

Built a Aeroponic rooter / cloner:

I used 1/2" PVC, micro sprayers, a 100 GPH pump, aquatic air pump and air stone.

Aeroponic Lettuce & Spinach stand.

5 gal bucket, 3" PVC, 18 - 2" net pots, 16 - 360 deg micro sprinklers, 300 GPH pump, air stone.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

5 gal bucket, 800 GPH pump, air stone, 4" PVC, 36 - 3" net pots.

Bubbleponic Blue Berry Tote

8 gal rubber tote, air stone, 2 - 3" net pots.

I planted from seeds, yellow pear tomatoes, bloody red 2" tomatoes, yellow banana peppers, spinach, lettuce, arugula, swiss chard.

Once things get rocking, I will continue to start new seeds like bell peppers and then try to cut clones from the adult plants prior to flowering. The whole idea is to keep it perpetual...