400watt hps vs 4' 8 bulb t-5's

old yeller

Active Member
T5's put out the same amount of heat as HID, just spread out a bit more - you still need the same venting & odor control you would use with an HPS/HM system. A 4' 8 bulb T5 will rock for flowering - check out some of the T5 grows on ICMag. A 4' 8 bulb fixture will be around $300+ so they are pricer than a 400W HPS, but the bulbs last forever with very little light degrading, the fixtures are flat when height is an issue, and they are easier on electrical current draw when starting. I've noticed that I don't get quite as much skunk smell under T5's vs HPS, so they are better for stealth situations. The perfect apartment grow light.
 

Abnjm

Well-Known Member
I don't think some of you have been around T5 ligthing, 8 four foot 54 watt HO tubes are really really bright. 4 should be plenty to veg, 6 would be borderline too much and 8 of them in a closet type grow would be overkill. How big is the space you are growing in ? I couldn't find it.
I tried to shoehorn a 8 x T-5 unit in my Homebox XL. Lots of light, and lots of heat. I couldn't get the lights closer than 12", and couldn't get the heat out with my 6" 270 cfm fan. I returned it and got a 600w MH conversion bulb for my LumaTek digital ballast. I'm still playing with it, but the heat seems more manageable.

Just a noob's $0.02 worth......
 

converseking

Well-Known Member
i guess the only thing to do is test out each light and see witch is best for you and your set up. as for me i still plan on using t5's bt only to veg. i'll use a 2' 4 or 8 bulb t5 light with both 6500k and 3000k bulbs running at the same time. witch do you think would be better for veging in a 2'8''x2'8'' room? the 2' 4 bulb with a mix of (2) 6500k bulbs and (2) 3000k bulbs or the 2' 8 bulb system with a mix of (4) 6500k bulbs and (4) 3000k bulbs?
 

sirbudmaster

Well-Known Member
i recently flowered and vegged with t-5's and liked the results for first grow. I have a 4-foot 4-bulb that used 4-6500k bulbs, then switched to two 6700k and two 3000K with some CFL supplement lighting. One plant and yielded 4oz dry...i think its a good set up for a simple small grow......BUT hps is yielding higher with same number of plants in same enviroment.


Peace
 

converseking

Well-Known Member
what size did u veg that one plant to b4 flowering to get 4oz dry off one plant? and how come you didnt just make it dual spectrum for the whole grow instead of just the flowering part? ( just asking) and hw many lummes did you have total? and what size space did you use? thanks
 

converseking

Well-Known Member
hw well do you think i can do in a 2'8''x2'8'' DR with a 2' 4bulb dual spectrum t5 using (2) 6500k and (2) 3000k bulbs? growing 1-2 plants with 5gal DWC buckets?
 

converseking

Well-Known Member
yea but using t5's for your first and mayb sec grow to get your feet wet b4 going with hps might nt be a bad idea thats what i think i might wanna do. thats y im askin about t5's for the full grow
 

crippledguy

Well-Known Member
well i mean either way you can produce buds. but for vegging the spectrum of the t5 is so legit for the roots and veg. the hps just roasts them in seedling stages! but i mean do a grow underneath both and figure out the differences. the new august high times has a whole article of some guy growing a producing like 5 ounces off of 12 t5's check it out!
 

converseking

Well-Known Member
would you say that a dual spectrum t5 with 6500k and 3000k bulbs would be best for veging or just 6500k all the way? just want your thoughts
 

converseking

Well-Known Member
i recently flowered and vegged with t-5's and liked the results for first grow. I have a 4-foot 4-bulb that used 4-6500k bulbs, then switched to two 6700k and two 3000K with some CFL supplement lighting. One plant and yielded 4oz dry...i think its a good set up for a simple small grow......BUT hps is yielding higher with same number of plants in same enviroment.


Peace
hw well do you think i can do in a 2'8''x2'8'' DR with a 2' 4bulb dual spectrum t5 using (2) 6500k and (2) 3000k bulbs? growing 1-2 plants with 5gal DWC buckets?
 

crippledguy

Well-Known Member
i have one t8 light with 2 bulbs and one is a grow and show light with a more colorful spectrum and then the other light in cool white or sunlight. have 12 babys 3 weeks old and i've never seen thyem grow this fast!


sagga sagga!
 

la9

Well-Known Member
Do you think the full spectrum makes a difference ?

I usually just go with the normal Cool White for example because I think that the full spectrum bulbs aren't usually as bright and even though they aren't full spectrum the extra brightness of the cool white even's it all out and you get the same results.
 

Mystery101

Well-Known Member
Ok guys, I just purchased a 400watt hps..On the way;-)

For veg I have 4 26watt cfl 6500k.. Is that enough for 3 plants?

I know the hps is enough but i do not want them to stretch..I have a cool tube btw.

Thanks guys..Appreciate the help
:peace:
 
Ok guys, I just purchased a 400watt hps..On the way;-)

For veg I have 4 26watt cfl 6500k.. Is that enough for 3 plants?

I know the hps is enough but i do not want them to stretch..I have a cool tube btw.

Thanks guys..Appreciate the help
:peace:
4 26 watts are not enuff you need at least 2 bulbs on each plant...cooltube and hps great choice...
 
Do you think the full spectrum makes a difference ?

I usually just go with the normal Cool White for example because I think that the full spectrum bulbs aren't usually as bright and even though they aren't full spectrum the extra brightness of the cool white even's it all out and you get the same results.
full spectrum is better than just cool white..grow a plant under the sun which is full spectrum and grow under a 1000 watt(both 150,000 lumens sq ft)you will get better buds with the same strain outdoors than indoors under the same conditions.why do you think people use full spectrum in the bloom room.
 
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