I think you have a better understanding of these "basic" terms than I do, Lorn. But to clarify a little more, I'm pretty sure that what you are saying is that this 6500k LED set up is not the same as a 6500k florescent. A 6500k florescent tube produces a lot more in both red and blue wavelengths (more blue than red), and the straight 6500k LED produces no blue or red light.
dellac said:Now, I'm going for something like 'super daylight'? Something around the 6000-6500k mark. If that's brighter than midday sun, how do tender little babies handle it?
Remember the k rating only refers to wavelength, not intensity (brightness). When Lorn said 5000k is roughly midday sun, he is talking about the wavelengths (the quality of the the light), not the intensity (or quantity). Yes, "super daylight" has more plant usable energy per watt, but I don't think that intensity is necessarily translatable in a linear fashion.
Besides, if the light is on when your babies emerge, they will adapt from the beginning. If the light is "too strong", it's likely they will begin poking up, then seemingly sit stagnant while in actuality the are growing a larger root system that is need to sustain them in higher light. Then they will begin above surface growth again.
In florescent tubes, the T sizing is a measure of tube width. Your t110 fitting, Della, doesn't use the same method of measurement/rating. (If it did, then your T110 would be almost ten times the width of a T12 florescent tube!) I didn't want you to use existing refrigerator wiring because you just don't know how things are all connected originally. For instance, how would you know if were or were not powering something else up in the unit? In addition, with florescents and LEDs, there is always some sort of ballast or transformer that is dedicated to a certain type of bulb. Without knowing the specs for the ballast/transformer and the specs of the bulb, you would never know if it is safe to use them together.
I don't know if it would make a difference if you extend the day with lights, or begin the day earlier. If I had to choose, I think I would begin the day with supplemental lighting. My guess is that there would be less water condensation due to a more moderated night temperature. In an earlier thread, I remember Lorn talked about being sure to cut or extend daylight at the beginning of the cycle or the end, but I don't remember now what or if he had anything more to say when I queried him about it.
