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arp180
student of life


Registered: 10/17/08
Posts: 1,449
Loc: Macondo
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"Let there be Light" a quick reference guide to lighting 4
#14871014 - 08/04/11 07:19 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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This post should shed some light on the subject while discrediting some outdated information.
Lighting is an important factor from the time of inoculation all the way till harvest. Mushrooms can grow in total darkness, however this is far from optimal and when compared to a grow done with proper lighting technique the results are indisputable.
It is a false statement that mushrooms only use light for direction of growth. Mushrooms do not need light in order to orientate themselves on whether to grow up or down, gravity tells them this. I'm not saying that mushrooms won't grow towards their light source because they do, as seen in the picture below.

This is because mushrooms use light as a source of energy, but not in the same way as plants. They do not have the capability of photosynthesis and in fact are closer relatives of the animal kingdom than the plant kingdom.
Light during Colonization
Colonization does not need to occur in total darkness, in fact you will find that an ambient light cycle of 12/12 will speed up colonization. This has been confirmed by many people in general and more specifically those who have done side by side tests with isolates in petri dishes. A colonizing jar that receives ambient 12/12 lighting will colonize quicker than a jar that is kept in total darkness.
This same theory follows during the colonization of bulk substrates. Pinning will occur quicker when the substrate has been introduced to light from day one. Lighting is a secondary pinning trigger and there is no need to worry that exposure to light at this stage will cause premature pinning. Your main pinning triggers are 100% colonization followed by FAE and the evaporation of moisture from the substrate.
Light During Fruiting
It is during this stage that proper lighting can be the difference from a flush that is that is just good, to a flush that is amazing.

To help achieve this you want exposure to the brightest light possible without overheating your fruiting chamber. The optimal color temperature is 6500kelvin(daylight). The other number you should pay attention to is Lumens(measure of total amount of visible light emitted). In laymens terms "brightness". I like to find a bulb that is rated 6500K and has over 1500 lumens. The two most popular lights are a CFL bulb(compact fluorescent) or and LED like the ones pictured below. CFL LED 
The advantages of using a CFL bulb or an LED light are that of longevity, a low heat signature, and the small amount of electricity they use. The LED's will be more expensive, but produce less heat.
Placement
You do not want to place your main light source directly centered above the tub. Proper placement is slightly above the tub and angled off to the side. This offers full exposure to stems and caps as they mature and will help to improve yield.

To sum it up
During colonization expose to low level ambient lighting and during fruiting expose to the brightest light possible without overheating your fruiting chamber.
-Thanks to all the people that have helped me along the way and those who took the time to do the research that made this knowledge readily available.
arp180
-------------------- "Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain." William Faulkner "That which exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." -A quote from the Judge in the novel Blood Meridian; or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy "Let there be light" My Quick Reference Guide to Lighting My AutoMono (11oz First Flush) My Monster Mushroom Mono (9.3oz First Flush)
  
Edited by arp180 (10/07/11 01:29 PM)
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Carl Sagan
Time Dilation Analyst


Registered: 04/19/11
Posts: 922
Loc: Myco-tek.org
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: arp180]
#14871027 - 08/04/11 07:23 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Well written
-------------------- “Sacred cows make the best hamburger” Mark Twain Independant Research Foundation
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arp180
student of life


Registered: 10/17/08
Posts: 1,449
Loc: Macondo
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: Carl Sagan]
#14871037 - 08/04/11 07:26 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks Carl. I don't believe I have read any single post that gave a fairly comprehensive overview on lighting. I see questions on the board every day regarding the subject so I thought I would put one together.
If anyone sees information that is incorrect or needs clarification please let me know and I will edit the post. This way it will stay relevant and up to date and hopefully bring a little closure to the subject.
-------------------- "Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain." William Faulkner "That which exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." -A quote from the Judge in the novel Blood Meridian; or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy "Let there be light" My Quick Reference Guide to Lighting My AutoMono (11oz First Flush) My Monster Mushroom Mono (9.3oz First Flush)
  
Edited by arp180 (08/04/11 07:31 AM)
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audiophoenix
Find Peace



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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: arp180]
#14871047 - 08/04/11 07:29 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Nice job, we both saw a lot of confusion with this yesterday, not surprised you felt compelled to write this up.
--------------------
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UnnamedGrower
The AMUiest



Registered: 04/17/11
Posts: 7,146
Loc: I'll be where I'm at
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: arp180]
#14871051 - 08/04/11 07:31 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Great post
RR posted last week that the best light is above and off to the side
Edited by UnnamedGrower (08/04/11 07:40 AM)
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: UnnamedGrower]
#14871073 - 08/04/11 07:40 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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I estimate it will be less than 12 hours until some noob posts, "What kind of light should I get?", without taking the time to even look over the the active headers on the first few pages.
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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UnnamedGrower
The AMUiest



Registered: 04/17/11
Posts: 7,146
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: RogerRabbit]
#14871078 - 08/04/11 07:41 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: I estimate it will be less than 12 hours until some noob posts, "What kind of light should I get?", without taking the time to even look over the the active headers on the first few pages. 
This wouldnt be shroomery if that didnt happen
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arp180
student of life


Registered: 10/17/08
Posts: 1,449
Loc: Macondo
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: UnnamedGrower]
#14871101 - 08/04/11 07:51 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
UnnamedGrower said: Great post
RR posted last week that the best light is above and off to the side
That's in the original post and something I wasn't aware of myself until someone clued me in on it about two weeks ago(RR and Professor Pinhead). I haven't had enough time to see the benefits yet.
-------------------- "Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain." William Faulkner "That which exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." -A quote from the Judge in the novel Blood Meridian; or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy "Let there be light" My Quick Reference Guide to Lighting My AutoMono (11oz First Flush) My Monster Mushroom Mono (9.3oz First Flush)
  
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UnnamedGrower
The AMUiest



Registered: 04/17/11
Posts: 7,146
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: arp180]
#14871128 - 08/04/11 07:57 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Sorry man I must have missed that part.
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arp180
student of life


Registered: 10/17/08
Posts: 1,449
Loc: Macondo
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: RogerRabbit]
#14871138 - 08/04/11 08:00 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: I estimate it will be less than 12 hours until some noob posts, "What kind of light should I get?", without taking the time to even look over the the active headers on the first few pages. 
I know, but hopefully it will be useful to some. I have benefited and saved countless hours of research from the likes of posts similar to this in the past, not to mention the wealth of information in some of the journals.
-------------------- "Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain." William Faulkner "That which exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." -A quote from the Judge in the novel Blood Meridian; or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy "Let there be light" My Quick Reference Guide to Lighting My AutoMono (11oz First Flush) My Monster Mushroom Mono (9.3oz First Flush)
  
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tripdawg420
low life with no life



Registered: 02/02/09
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: arp180]
#14871187 - 08/04/11 08:19 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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MegaGoomba
1UPer



Registered: 07/24/10
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: tripdawg420]
#14871261 - 08/04/11 08:50 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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awesome
-------------------- You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you. Chuck Palahniuk My First Grow My Strain List
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Liquid Color
Smoker


Registered: 07/12/11
Posts: 70
Last seen: 8 years, 8 months
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: UnnamedGrower]
#14871296 - 08/04/11 09:02 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
UnnamedGrower said:
Quote:
RogerRabbit said: I estimate it will be less than 12 hours until some noob posts, "What kind of light should I get?", without taking the time to even look over the the active headers on the first few pages. 
This wouldnt be shroomery if that didnt happen
Thank you.
-------------------- Impatience leads to shortcuts, shortcuts leads to failure!
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Liquid Color
Smoker


Registered: 07/12/11
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: Liquid Color]
#14871309 - 08/04/11 09:09 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks for the info man. Ive done searches and came up with so much unreliable information on this topic. Yes i am a noob; belittle me if you must RR, on my English language use or lighting techniques. Really though man, thanks for the info. Going to change the setup today.
-------------------- Impatience leads to shortcuts, shortcuts leads to failure!
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arp180
student of life


Registered: 10/17/08
Posts: 1,449
Loc: Macondo
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: Liquid Color]
#14872208 - 08/04/11 12:50 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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No problem. That's one of the great things about this hobby. It's constantly evolving. Half of it is science and the other half is art.
-------------------- "Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain." William Faulkner "That which exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." -A quote from the Judge in the novel Blood Meridian; or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy "Let there be light" My Quick Reference Guide to Lighting My AutoMono (11oz First Flush) My Monster Mushroom Mono (9.3oz First Flush)
  
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dbcooper
Stranger

Registered: 08/04/11
Posts: 38
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: arp180]
#14872238 - 08/04/11 12:56 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
arp180 said: This is because mushrooms use light as a source of energy, but not in the same way as plants. They do not have the capability of photosynthesis and in fact are closer relatives of the animal kingdom than the plant kingdom. arp180
I think this is a big part of the problem. Connecting mushrooms with the plant world has probably ruined more batches than anything.
Excellent post. Knowledge is the removal of ignorance. Thanks for shedding "light" on the issue.
-------------------- I love the smell of rye in the morning.
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Hakim0777
aka RACKBONE!!!




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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: dbcooper]
#14872544 - 08/04/11 02:07 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Very Awesome. Im stubborn as hell and even though Ive been told many times its OK for light durring colonization, I still havent given it a go.
Thats the biggest thing about this hobby. You cant be stubborn. You gotta be open to change to get anywhere.
--------------------
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UnnamedGrower
The AMUiest



Registered: 04/17/11
Posts: 7,146
Loc: I'll be where I'm at
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: Hakim0777]
#14872558 - 08/04/11 02:09 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hakim0777 said: Very Awesome. Im stubborn as hell and even though Ive been told many times its OK for light durring colonization, I still havent given it a go.
Thats the biggest thing about this hobby. You cant be stubborn. You gotta be open to change to get anywhere. 
For the first 8 months that I grew I incubated in the dark with no form of GE Now im all about the most updated ideas on growing
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tripdawg420
low life with no life



Registered: 02/02/09
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: Hakim0777]
#14872562 - 08/04/11 02:10 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hakim0777 said: Very Awesome. Im stubborn as hell and even though Ive been told many times its OK for light durring colonization, I still havent given it a go.
Thats the biggest thing about this hobby. You cant be stubborn. You gotta be open to change to get anywhere. 
lol me either
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arp180
student of life


Registered: 10/17/08
Posts: 1,449
Loc: Macondo
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Re: "Let there be Light" a quick reference quide to lighting [Re: Hakim0777]
#14872608 - 08/04/11 02:19 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hakim0777 said: Very Awesome. Im stubborn as hell and even though Ive been told many times its OK for light durring colonization, I still havent given it a go.
Thats the biggest thing about this hobby. You cant be stubborn. You gotta be open to change to get anywhere. 
Same here, I tend to over complicate things. I know there is no reason for it, I just can't help it. As in automated grows and what not. I'm trying to force myself to simplify things.
-------------------- "Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain." William Faulkner "That which exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." -A quote from the Judge in the novel Blood Meridian; or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy "Let there be light" My Quick Reference Guide to Lighting My AutoMono (11oz First Flush) My Monster Mushroom Mono (9.3oz First Flush)
  
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