For Clones/Seedlings and Vegetative Growth, Aussieponics recommends using an 18 hours on/6 hours off lighting schedule. In order to induce your plants to flower we recommend subjecting your plants to a 12 hours on/12 hours off lighting schedule.

There are two primary types of lighting used to grow plants. High Intensity Discharge (HID) is by far the most common, and includes Metal Halide (MH), which is used primarily for the vegetative stage of growth, and High Pressure Sodium (HPS), which is used during the flowering or fruiting stage.

Another popular type of plant lighting is Fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is used primarily for starting seedlings and cuttings, but T-5 fluorescent bulbs are strong enough to grow short plants from start to finish. It is important to note that not all fluorescent lighting is the same and only certain types should be used for growing plants. Most (if not all) standard fluorescent tubes are fine for illuminating a garage or office, but usually lack the spectrum and intensity needed to sustain plant growth. It should also be noted that if you are growing houseplants that require very little light to sustain growth, you can probably get away with some of the inferior types of fluorescent lights. But, if you are growing plants that need plenty of natural sunlight in order to thrive (such as vegetables and flowers), you will be extremely unhappy with the results you get from these bulbs.

The most common fluorescent bulb for plant growth: Compact Fluorescents
Compact Fluorescents These bulbs are available in a variety of wattages ranging from 95W up to 200W. They produce a higher lumen output than regular fluorescents. Unlike regular fluorescents, compact fluorescents do not require a fixture, since the ballast is built in to the base of the bulb. They require a socket (the same type of socket you would use for an HID bulb) and a power cord, and can be used with or without a reflector. Using a reflector, however, will direct more of the light down onto the plants. Another common use for compact fluorescents is to hang them vertically, usually without a reflector, in between large plants to provide supplemental side lighting. Compact Fluorescents can be used for growing houseplants, orchids, or for starting seedlings or cuttings. For plants that do not require full sunlight, or for varieties that tend not to stretch under weaker light, these bulbs can be used for the entire vegetative stage, and in some cases flowering as well.

To understand which size carbon filter is appropriate, first you need to calculate the volume of your grow room using the following formula:
Grow room Width x Depth x Height = Volume, for example:
Grow room 1.2m Wide x 1.2m Deep x 1.8m High = 2.59 cubic metres (2.59m3)
Now that you have calculated your grow room's volume, you now need to find out the recommended amount of air that needs to be renewed based on its volume. To do this use the following formula:
Grow Room Volume x Air exchanges = Recommended volume of air exchanges per hour, for example:
Grow room volume of 2.59m3 x 30 air exchanges per hour (air is renewed every 2 minutes) = 77.7 cubic metres per hour (77.7m3/hr), meaning that the carbon filter cannot be less than 78m3/hr for this size room.

pH stands for “Potential of Hydrogen” and is the symbol for the hydrogen ion (H+) in liquids. pH has a range from 0 (acidic) -14 (alkaline), with 7 being neutral. For hydroponics we are aiming for a pH between 5.5 to 6.2 (slightly acidic); this is suitable for most hydroponic crops. For soil, we want the pH a little higher but still slightly acidic; around 6.0 to 6.5. Ensuring that the pH remains within this range will help maintain good plant health. Keeping the pH in this range ensures that nutrients are readily available to the plant. Once the grower goes above or below this optimal range certain nutrients start becoming unavailable to the plant (e.g. iron deficiencies will appear at a pH of 6.5 and above).
All hydroponic growers need to test the pH of their nutrient solution for successful growing. The pH of a solution can be tested using a standard pH test kit (sample vial with drops of indicator solution), litmus test strips, or a digital pH meter. Litmus paper and standard test kits are cheap and easy to use; however, the degree of accuracy isn't very high. Digital pH meters, although more expensive than the alternatives, are easy to use and very accurate.

We recommends that HPS bulbs should be replaced at least every 12 months (8 months or less is ideal). MH bulbs should be replaced every 9 months (6 months or less is ideal) for maximum efficiency. The use of a light meter would be the best and most accurate way in which to measure your bulbs output as well as to help with bulb replacement timing.