How big can you veg plant w Fluoro's?

[chuckb]

I have a couple 1ks that i am gonna use for flowering.

I was thinking that i'd either get a 600w for veg or use some Fluoro's

My question is how big can you grow plants in veg with Fluoro's? I was thinking that i'd get 6 T8 bulbs (3 ballasts,3 reflectors) and run them over a table.

How big will they effectively grow? How fast?

Thanks for any replies!

 

[GoldenGanja13]

I use t-5s And I went from 3 600 watt mh to 5 4' 4 bulb t-5s and wow they really took off they where like 24 inches before I could make room in flower room.
Now I am useing 4 foot 8 bulb for veg.

 

[chuckb]

That sounds sweet. You must be saving a lot of coin going from 3 600's to fluoro's!

Did you need to move them at 2' or could the T5's continue to veg them for another foot or so?

Where do you get t5's? Home depot doesn't carry them do they?

Thanks!

 

[chuckb]

I found a lumen chart. Do you use T5 HO's?

T5: 2900 lumens, 28W
T5HO: 5,000 lumens, 54W
T8: 2950 lumens, 32W

 

[GoldenGanja13]

I found a lumen chart. Do you use T5 HO's?

T5: 2900 lumens, 28W
T5HO: 5,000 lumens, 54W
T8: 2950 lumens, 32W

T5HO blue bulbs for veg 8 bulb 4 foot. I have them between 20-24" away and my plants love it they really open up and no streching. They just open there leaves up and say thank you.

 

[chuckb]

T5HO blue bulbs for veg 8 bulb 4 foot. I have them between 20-24" away and my plants love it they really open up and no streching. They just open there leaves up and say thank you.

Thanks for the replies!

Where do you go about buying these things? I called the local elec supply place and the 2 bulb 4' fixtures they sell go for $110!! then $10 a bulb!

You can buy a T8 fixture at walmart for $15!

The T8 output is 92.19 lumens per watt
The T5HO is 92.59 lumens per watt

So what's the benefit of the T5HO if the T8 is just as efficient and you can buy plenty of T5's to make up the difference in lumens????

Thanks again!

 

[GoldenGanja13]

Thanks for the replies!

Where do you go about buying these things? I called the local elec supply place and the 2 bulb 4' fixtures they sell go for $110!! then $10 a bulb!

You can buy a T8 fixture at walmart for $15!

The T8 output is 92.19 lumens per watt
The T5HO is 92.59 lumens per watt

So what's the benefit of the T5HO if the T8 is just as efficient and you can buy plenty of T5's to make up the difference in lumens????

Thanks again!

T5HO is 5000 lumens per bulb
T8 is 2950
MH 400 is 36,000 and 1,000 is 11,000 Lumens
You can put the t8s inches away from plant. T5HO are only sold in hydro stores and fish stores, online etc.

 

[chuckb]

T5HO is 5000 lumens per bulb
T8 is 2950
MH 400 is 36,000 and 1,000 is 11,000 Lumens
You can put the t8s inches away from plant. T5HO are only sold in hydro stores and fish stores, online etc.

Thanks for the reply again GG!

I know that the T5HO's put out more lumens. But the lumen:watt ratio is nearly identical. So i figured i'd just get T8's and make up for the less lumens with more bulbs, the fixtures are cheaper and the power consumption is nearly identical.

I went to the Home depot and got some T8 fixtures. 4 fixtures, 2 bulbs a piece.

Fixtures: $20 a piece
10 bulbs: $30 for the package

I cut off the reflectors off most of them so i could mount them right close to each other. So the bulbs are packed in pretty tight.

How big do you think i could veg to? a few feet or no?

Thanks again!!

 

[somebody041]

T5HO blue bulbs for veg 8 bulb 4 foot. I have them between 20-24" away and my plants love it they really open up and no streching. They just open there leaves up and say thank you.

hey man, any reason why you have those bulbs so far away?

i thought that with flouros you wanted the plant as close to the light as possible... like a couple inches instead of feet.

 

[chuckb]

I'm assuming because the T5HO run hotter than the normal fluoro's

On second look i think i could use a couple more fixtures. I would have gotten more but they only had 4 of the ones i wanted.

How big of a plant do you guys think 12 T8's could sustain?

2950x12=35,400 lumens

thanks!

 

[RandyRocket]

i go to 18"

A t-12 set up is cheap and works.

I have this set up I use from time to time.



My set up is (4) 24" T-12's 20 watts each at 6500k it's a light blanket.

I also have some 2600ish k's (don't use but may add to my hps room for some side lights).
These thing may be old school but you can not f--- it up.

 

[GoldenGanja13]

How big do you think i could veg to? a few feet or no?

Thanks again!!

I have seen people veg up to 15" easy with t8s. I suggest you learn to fim and use that method for a even canopy of tops.

 

[GoldenGanja13]

hey man, any reason why you have those bulbs so far away?

i thought that with flouros you wanted the plant as close to the light as possible... like a couple inches instead of feet.

HO T5 put out some heat.
When I gave the lights closer than 22-24" the plants slow down growth. When I have the lights up high like 22-24" the leafs respond within minutes. They open up faster and are nice and green.

 

[somebody041]

HO T5 put out some heat.
When I gave the lights closer than 22-24" the plants slow down growth. When I have the lights up high like 22-24" the leafs respond within minutes. They open up faster and are nice and green.

right on man, thanks for the informative response

 

[GoldenGanja13]

right on man, thanks for the informative response

Your welcome.

 

[Cheese101]

Ive Used All But House Lights And I Tell T5HO Are Good For Seedlings Clones For A Few Weeks But For Veg You Really Need Some Power So What If It Cost Abit More To Run You Cant Beat A HPS With A Grolux For Veg Perfect And They Preflower Much Faster Bigger Stronger Stalks And Used Rite You Can Get Very Nice Bush's Big Harvests Floro Really Are For Places Wher You Cant Fit AnyThink Else Cus Ov Heat Tried And Tested Over And Over Again Cant Be Beaten HPS + Grolux

 

[GoldenGanja13]

These where veged for 11 weeks under T5HO. Last day of 24/0

16 days of 12/12

 

[stonedloner]

this is my mother, those are 4' t8 fixtures, 2' wide & 4' long. There are 2-6500k&1-4100k bulbs in each. (one on each side, standing on end, and one on top,2x4x4....She fills it up nicely eh!)
note the date on the pot, that was transplant date into the 2gal pot as an 8'' clone. 18/6, 1/2 strength grow nutes about every 3-4 waterings.
Dig my albums, I use hid for flower only. (1600watts hps!)
s.loner.

 

[cefiro]

T5's are great for veg, i use a 2x 2ft in a 3x3x8 space.

 

[GoldenGanja13]

I guess you could flower with them if you trained your plants (fim) short and lots of tops. Small buds but extra coated.