Hey! So a lot of people here like to use the T5HO lights (linear). I think that is what would work best for you.

BUT, from what I understand, you already have some sort of lighting system? Are you not happy with those lights?

The distance between the lights and the plants is highly dependent on the succulents. Maybe you do need to acclimate your plants slower... I think most people here can keep the lights around 5-6 inches away from their plants without burning them.

I hope some more experienced people can weigh in.

I dont really have a lighting system :) I just have a really janky table setup in the spare room until I can complete the living room setup.

I'm using both this LED and the following T5 just kinda propped on wire racks. Neither of them seem as if they can get close enough. =/

http://www.feit.com/products/grow-lights/led_grow_lights74302/

T5 HO Grow Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009GU4RYK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_UcHKMNIOFYDXC

I also have this which I'll use to sprout seeds if it's too much for under shelves.

Sunblaster 904296 NanoTech T5 High Output Fixture Reflector Combo, 2-Feet - 2 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F4N5FB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_iCQ6WzpPrSQOX

I have read some amazing old threads on here with a lot of work put into them. I'm certain if I just keep poking around I'll figure it out.

Yes, there are a ton of really insightful threads on lighting. [Here] is a good one, if you haven't already seen it.

Stush, can you link the exact lights you got? Are they red, blue or white spectrum?

Hmm,Stush. I wonder why your LED light source is safe being close, but mine tanned my aloe blizzard and ruined the outside leaves of the pup.

I purchased cheap T-8 shop lights at WalMarts and was happy with the 5000k light I was getting at 32 watts per bulb. Watt is a measurement of actual heat from formula of Watt = amps X voltage. Heat can damage plants as well as going off the light spectrum into Gamma rays. I purchased LED replacement tubes at LightUp.com cheap at $7 a tube. 18 watts and 5000k light. Which is very bright daylite but not as high as 6500k. I would have gotten the higher ones but they didn't sell them that cheap. There is no color spectrum other than white. I did purchase a red/green/blue spectrum LED grow light but never got to use it. Found one on clearance for $12 and was only 18" long. Didn't know it had the colors until I got it home and plugged it in. Too small and costly. The new LED tubes I installed seems to be twice as bright as the old T-8's. I can detect no heat from the bulbs. There should be a small savings on the light bill.

Diana

Succulents need very good light. I do not know anything about LEDs, so can't comment. I use 6500k bulbs. What is the price for one you mentioned? - I don't see it, and link on Amazon shows over US $300...that doesn't seem to be 'very affordable' to me.

Like stush, I bought retrofit led tubes for my shop lights. It takes a little rewiring to not use the ballast but they provide more light on less watts. I've been running them about 4in away from my seedlings because as stated they give off very little heat. On a lower shelf I'm also running a Viparspectra 300w led, which is good but can be intense and has a smaller footprint.

I would just run the lights you already have higher up and gradually lower it until you find the sweet spot.

I was reading about those LEDs. They do cover less area and more of a square if I understand it correctly? Wouldn't 300W be quite expensive to run?

I use a 4 X 10^26 W, 5800K fusion light. More than enough light for any succulent and the cheapest of all to run.

I don't know what is fusion light...?

Why do you need supplemental lights in sunny Spain? - I thought you grow plants outdoors?

Rina, it's equivalent to a 300w hps/mh while drawing around 136w. It covers a 2x2 area efficiently, it's still fairly new to me but so far so good.

Just my little joke, rina. My fusion light IS the sun, LOL.

isde

That is what I was wondering about - covering 2x2' area. Depending on the cost of light and electricity use, it may be OK, or too expensive. Would you have some idea about those cost? at least approx.? Most ppl here are concerned about cost (since we don't get $ back, unlike weed growers, lol).

SF

Thanks for enlightening me...I thought you are seriously talking about supplemental lighting. Unfortunately, many of us do not have so much sun, and can't change that.

Rina, I paid $79 with free shipping for my 300. I run it around 15hrs a day. I didn't really buy it to save costs, I bought it for it's intensity/performance. To save costs I would probably just use the led retrofit tubes. But with the tubes you have to rewire your shop lights and remove the ballast to save on electricity.

isde

Thank you. I do not want to bother with rewiring. I rather buy proper lights from beginning. I am still using lots of CFL bulbs (they are all 6500k) since I have lots of them (got a huge supply free few years ago). When time comes to either replace or add, I am considering T5HO - or whatever will be better at that time. Prices are going down, and there is something new on the market available from time to time. Or I should consider moving to Spain, haha, or similar place where there is plenty of sunshine and warmth year round.

I vote for moving to somewhere warm lol.