[QUOTE=jhouse;733480]what temp would be optimal, like 75 degrees or so?

thanks for the fan tip![/QUOTE]

Something like that yes, certainly under 85 - 90 I think

With T 12 you can almost touch the plants.
75 at least in my house would be a pipe dream without some serious airflow.
Mostly because I put reflective sides on the contraption.'
But it really is hard to explain what I or other people do with words.
I went to 100 watt CFL lights spaced in about a 1 foot grid on a homemade frame.
12 of them.
4 in each row of three.
Paper plate reflectors above each bulb.
Total current draw 2.7 amps at 324 watts of actual power consumption.
Which allowed me to put 1,200 watts of energy in a 3x4 space.

Here are a few pictuers of the contraption from the thread here I started some time ago.
[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54849&d=1449373213[/IMG]
Really bright garage lights.
[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54850&d=1449375438[/IMG]
The contraption turned on.
[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54851&d=1449375438[/IMG]
Plants under lights.
[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55219&d=1450753275[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55592&d=1452625606[/IMG]
cheapo containers before plant out.
[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55621&d=1452744725[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=56314&d=1455221530[/IMG]

I also use the sunblaze t5 florecents 4ft single bulb. The hand thing is my way also. The change that I liked was using a LED bloom bulb. After 3 weeks of grow, just change the bulds and wait for fruit.

Wow, thanks all!! Worth1 those are some pics! The plants look awesome, not to mention your container choices give us an interesting insight into your culinary skills.
And thanks Tomzhawaii, it's always nice to hear someone else having success with an item just purchased. I'm setting it up today -- I'll be setting these plants out in the garden late May here in Ohio, so after that the focus changes to the Blight Wars. :)

[B][FONT=Garamond][SIZE=4]jhouse - Are your T5 tubes normal output, high output (noted by the 'HO' designation), or VHO ('Very High Output')?[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

Tomato seedlings
 

They are listed as HO so high output I believe.
They are quite warm, just got them set up today to replace the T5's. I have them about 12" above the highest seedlings, and the temp according to a handheld humidifier readout that also does temp says about 84, so I don't want to get them closer. I have a small fan running, will get an oscillating fan, read somewhere to nor have the fan directly at the seedlings -- these are only about a week old, the jalapenos are just now coming up.

Seems like the light source is a bit far from the babies, but those lights do throw some heat.

[IMG]http://www.tomatoville.com/picture.php?albumid=491&pictureid=3175[/IMG]

Is a cloudy day outside in the spring as good as mediocre grow lights?:?!?:
Pete

[QUOTE=tryno12;733635]Is a cloudy day outside in the spring as good as mediocre grow lights?:?!?:
Pete[/QUOTE]


Maybe even better!

Almost always any outdoor natural light will be better than man made lighting unless you have some sort of crazy bright hings going on.:lol:

Thank you!! I will put them out then!!:)
Pete

I thought about that. . .wonder about outdoor diseases hitting them early? We are mighty, mighty blighty where I live. . .

[QUOTE=Worth1;733659]Almost always any outdoor natural light will be better than man made lighting[/QUOTE]


How true. Yet early sowing needs artificial light as it's too cold outside. If you can keep your seedlings close to a window facing south you may get enough lignt but not under every latitude.
Instead of buying T5/8 tubes I wonder if it wouldn't be more sensible to buy LED lights, they emit practically no heat, you don't need fans and need very little electricity.
Visiting Amazon can be helpful, some lights (110V) designed for lighting a room can fit a tomato nursery perfectly.

I wondered about LEDs -- thought I read somewhere that they weren't as good as flourescents yet, but there are so many opinions on the internet!
In any case I've got the T5s for now -- other than the early germinating variety, the remaining seedlings are getting their true leaves and are not leggy. The seedlings had T12s a few inches away until a few days ago. . .
Not sure how much I should put a gentle fan on them this early, but I like fans to mimic a breeze to strengthen them some of the time. .

I can speak to LED lights. This is my second year starting my own seeds. Pepper and tomatoes. I purchased LED's off Amazon and they worked great for me last year and so far this year my plants are doing very well. I use these lights.

[URL="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CY2HHC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CY2HHC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1[/URL]