Hey all I am looking to grow my cacti and succulents indoors in a desert like atmosphere I am setting up a 12'x16' bedroom with multiple aquariums for the cacti and succulents to grow in I would also like to set up a large planter like box in the middle of the room to have a landscape of cacti and succulents Can I use multiple t8 or t5 style lights mounted to the ceiling or do they have to be directly over the plants? And if not is there such a light that is strong enough to grow the whole room without having every plant sitting directly under the light? Or am I just dreaming!? Please help me out! I'm a dreamer with a big plan

Welcome to NGA, @Joshsz !

I could well be wrong about this, but I tend to think that using aquariums to grow cacti and succulents is not the best idea, due to the fact that they will hold in the humidity. And I'm pretty sure that T8 and/or T5 fluorescent bulbs will not provide enough light for cacti if they are "mounted on the ceiling."

I hope more members will join in here and either confirm or refute my thoughts...

@drdawg seems to know a lot about grow lights maybe he can help.

While i don't know much about cacti, the lights generally have to be within 18-24 inches of the plant when using flourescent lights. Check out a good garden store that sells indoor gardening lights and they should be able to assist you more. Also check out amazon since some of the lighting on the has the info for the bulbs

Josh, I don't really grow succulents or cacti to any extent, but I don't understand you wanting to use aquariums.

T8 light won't give you nearly the lighting you desire without having the fixtures positioned very close to the plants. T5 won't either, though T5 lighting produces more lumens. If you want ceiling fixtures, T5H, aka T5HO is the way to go. These fixtures produce extremely bright light over a wide area. Since these fluorescent tubes can be daylight, 6500K, or softer light, 4500K, you have a range of Kelvin to suit your needs. The 6500K is better suited for plant growth and the 4500K for blooming. You can simply mix the tube's Kelvin to get the best from both spectrums. That's what I do.

I don't plan to seal the aquariums just use them to grow the plants in and make a landscape type setup. If it seems foolish to go with the tanks would it make more sense to build a large planter type box? I'm just bouncing ideas around right now end product I will have a room that is a desert in my house I just need to know the best way to successfully do so! I am a red seal carpenter so building something is totally in the picture for me and is a t5h just the bulb that's different from a t5 or is it the ballist and fixture as well? So if I used multiple t5h lights could I achieve the required light to successfully grow?

Josh, I definitely think some type of planter box would be better than an aquarium... but as for the types of lights, I will defer to the knowledge of others

You cannot use T5H tubes in a regular, T5 fixture. The output and thus the tubes are completely different. If you want maximum light, use the 6 or 8 tube fixtures. Keep in mind, these fixtures generate a pretty good amount of heat, which for a cacti setup, is not necessarily a bad thing.

Ohh !!! The thoughts !!! ( If you build it ! They will come ! ) just picture this !
A room full of aquariums ! Or...
A room full of planter boxes. You design and build yourself !!!!
Ohh !!! The possibilities !
Am i a no brainer ! Or crazy ?
I ain't never seen a cactus terrarium !

Thanks for all the information everyone I really appreciate it!!

Josh, I hope you will come back and show us some photos of whatever you decide to do!

That's for sure, Sandy. This will be a grand experiment and I sure want to see the setup and the results. Be sure to post photos as you progress, @Joshsz.

Yes 🙊🙉🙈. Pictures !!!
Sure to win photo contest #!!!

I wil absolutely post pictures as I progress!! I am on vaycay in Vegas right now so my progress has completely stopped!! Don't worry it may take time but eventually I will have a conservatory in my house 😜👌👍

Well my collection is growing upstairs I will have to get my room going sooner than later!

Nice array of cacti and succulents, Josh.

Excellent ! Excellenta ! Ohh!!! Just had a brain fart ! An L shaped planter box in corner of room. A minature town scene at either end. And a minature electric train set connecting the towns !!!😎
By the way... Did you grow them all inside ?

I have these T5's

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AKKUD3Y/

Lot of light and very little heat, bulb manufacturers claim up to 3 year life but users are changing at about 2 years. There are a lot of choices on these T5HO fixtures, very popular with indoor growers.