Full Spectrum Lighting Indoors???

[SilverLining]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has experience with full spectrum lighting indoors? Like what brand bulbs are good and which ones are just over glorified reptile bulbs?

I know I am after the UV but I also want a full spectrum lighting. Not too much blue (6500-10000k) but not red/deep red either (2700-4000k). I am familiar with kelvin and the different rates of photo-synthesis for plants....but am clueless to lighting and birds. Would something in the 5000k~ish spectrum be ok? It seems to mimic natural light best, no? Is having more red or blue or any combination have any beneficial or negative effect?

I know not a lot of people are light hobbyist...but I find these things a bit interesting and would to learn more from other peoples experiences.

I am trying to setup a lighting system for my grey and his cage. What have you used and liked or disliked about it? I am particularly interested in the bulb design and efficiency and not so much the fixtures.

Can someone shed some light? I want a strong bulb and most efficient setup without wasting money on useless products that do little or nothing.

I have been looking and so far I like the tube light offered by Avitec because it seems it will penetrate better than those CFL type bulbs while also providing better light coverage, thoughts?

Thanks for your time in advance.

 

[SailBoat]

This subject has come-up at least four or five times in the last twelve months.

As you know, Full Spectrum Lighting provides no measurable health benefits for either Humans or Parrots alike. The only benefit is that when compared with 'normal' or maybe better 'common' light bulbs the color register is closer to that of 'natural' light i.e. Sun Light. Therefore, the 'color' we enjoy outside, comes inside.

Historically speaking, the most common has been the 4' tube set into any number of standard 'industrial' fixtures. Shorter thinner tubes have appeared and of late are becoming ever more difficult to find. The most recent is the 'twist' tubes, which have been activity pushed by government and are being soundly rejected by home owners and business alike. The Full Spectrum LED light bulb is quickly winning acceptance and is where manufacturers are placing their attention as seen by their falling cost to purchase.

The color spectrum, which is your real goal, is fully a personnel choice. I prefer a natural register closest to Sun Light. As stated, its your choice.

 

[SilverLining]

This subject has come-up at least four or five times in the last twelve months.

As you know, Full Spectrum Lighting provides no measurable health benefits for either Humans or Parrots alike. The only benefit is that when compared with 'normal' or maybe better 'common' light bulbs the color register is closer to that of 'natural' light i.e. Sun Light. Therefore, the 'color' we enjoy outside, comes inside.

Historically speaking, the most common has been the 4' tube set into any number of standard 'industrial' fixtures. Shorter thinner tubes have appeared and of late are becoming ever more difficult to find. The most recent is the 'twist' tubes, which have been activity pushed by government and are being soundly rejected by home owners and business alike. The Full Spectrum LED light bulb is quickly winning acceptance and is where manufacturers are placing their attention as seen by their falling cost to purchase.

The color spectrum, which is your real goal, is fully a personnel choice. I prefer a natural register closest to Sun Light. As stated, its your choice.

Hi,

Sorry if this is a beaten subject. I am just trying to understand how I can provide an environment for my CAG that is close to its native habitat.

So from what you are saying, I may have misunderstood some things...It seems like you are saying that full spectrum lighting is not helpful for my birds or maybe I am not understanding correctly. I have always read that UV is good for them and that full spectrum lighting in the 5000k range replicated equatorial noon. Which is what I am going for...

I would love to take him outdoors but unfortunately, it is not an option at the moment...Right now, my little guy is living in a 1 window bird room with no where else to go. Even though it is well lit, no UV make it in due to glass, right? So I am trying to add some lights to help him out with his vitamin D3 creation/absorption.

So I had an idea...I wanted to get some small miniature African Red Palm plants (if i can find them) in pots and put them in his birdroom with the lights and a humidifier...if the plants live and thrive it must me a similar environment for my grey Charlie, no?

I kinda wanted to start this small project for my little guy and for a hobby for myself...but no point in doing it if it won't serve any purpose...

Am I going about this the wrong way???

 

[SailBoat]

You are working two very different subjects into one.

Creating Vit. D3:
Although, great marketing has created a belief that a household 'light bulb' can create Vit -D3. It just is not supportable using this light source. Now, if you want to use the amount of UV that has proven effect on Human 'skin,' like a tanning bed, now you have the needed dosage rate to have some kind of effect. However, there has not been any studies that have looked at that possible link. And, to do so, would be foolhardy.

WARNING: Tanning Beds have been linked to Skin Cancer in Humans.

Full Spectrum Lighting:
There are a few studies that indicates that Human 'Seasonal' Depression believed to be caused by the lack of Sun Light can be reduced when the subject is exposed to Full Spectrum Light similar to that of natural Sun Light. Sun light as measured; Equatorial Noon, has been the standard for international colour comparison and as part of the above studies.

So, if you are a believer in the benefits of Equatorial Noon Lighting, which I am, you may feel better using it. After all, plants seem to like it, why not Humans and Parrots.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

This subject has come-up at least four or five times in the last twelve months.

As you know, Full Spectrum Lighting provides no measurable health benefits for either Humans or Parrots alike. The only benefit is that when compared with 'normal' or maybe better 'common' light bulbs the color register is closer to that of 'natural' light i.e. Sun Light. Therefore, the 'color' we enjoy outside, comes inside.

Historically speaking, the most common has been the 4' tube set into any number of standard 'industrial' fixtures. Shorter thinner tubes have appeared and of late are becoming ever more difficult to find. The most recent is the 'twist' tubes, which have been activity pushed by government and are being soundly rejected by home owners and business alike. The Full Spectrum LED light bulb is quickly winning acceptance and is where manufacturers are placing their attention as seen by their falling cost to purchase.

The color spectrum, which is your real goal, is fully a personnel choice. I prefer a natural register closest to Sun Light. As stated, its your choice.

Sorry, but as someone with two mood disorders that are affected by light and seasons, I have to strongly disagree with your statements that FS lighting has no measurable benefit. Please study your facts before you post them.

 

[SailBoat]

That is not what I said! I also suffer the same and find that Full Spectrum Lighting 'helps.' But a Sunny Day in early February, helps even more!

Household 'light bulbs' do not have the dosage rate to develop Vit. -D3!

Clearly, you missed my second Post, yes?

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Apparently I did. My apologies. Sorry, if I came across as crass. I'm a bit on edge lately.

 

[chris-md]

Silverlining, I would hypothesis at least a minor benefit mirroring that of plants, pertaining to physiological stress.

As you may be aware, red light and blue light affect plants differently: red light stimulating vegetative growth, blue light stimulating and supporting flowering. You need to whole spectrum as a means of regulating the circadian rhythms of the plant in order to optimize photosynthesis. A lamp skewed more in on direction than the other (think mercury vapor vs sodium halide) could have a detrimental effect on growth. Not fatal by any means but not optimal.

It's the changing light over the course of a day and broadly over the coarse of the year (in conjunction with temperature of course) that maintains the internal circadian rhythms dictating physiological processes such as senescence, reproduction, hormone production dictating cell division and elongation, even simply the opening and closing of the stomata. you name it.

Same thing goes for animals. For optimal health we need representation of all wavelengths to maintain proper biological function. That is what I posit here is the benefit: maximum physiological function. An overly red light (light in the morning) might overstimulate the eyes and make it harder to get to sleep at night. Conversely, too much blue light may have an excessive calming/sedative effect sapping some modicum of energy throughout the day. See discussion above about the effect of light on mood.

Lacking the diversity may not have dramatic effects, just subtle ones. Animals are more complex than plants so the effects on plants is likely to be much more noticeable than with something like a parrot. It's all about doing the best we can mimicking the natural environment as much as possible.