Best T5 fixtures for the price

Grampa

Active Member
Im looking for another T5 fixture but I cant keep up with all the brands and I cant trust the reviews im seeing. Can you all post what brands you like and about what price you found them for? Im looking for best cost:quality. This is for a 2' 4 bulb T5.
 

DO3SHA

Well-Known Member
hydrofarm designers are good quality super sturdy fixtures at a good price, amazon and hydroponics shops are about the same price
 

Grampa

Active Member

cemchris

Well-Known Member
Home depot. Sell 2 bulb 4 ft fixtures for about 20 bucks each. Just buy new bulbs.

Edit: the 2 ft and 3 ft are even cheaper.
 

Bluntcuts

Active Member
I run a Sunblaze 4ft. 4 bulb T5. Great designs and quality. Paid $170 at hydro shop. The 2ft 4 bulb is $125 - $150
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Flourogrow.....made in America (Fla) great ballasts (forlam racehorse) and great pricing.....their coming out with a 24 inch wide! four bulb fixture soon!
And all aluminum(light weight), wish I knew about them before I bought my panel:-( ...
 

DO3SHA

Well-Known Member
homedepot fixtures arent t5ho just regualr t5 unless you order the one online but then again it will be cheaper for one meant for growing
 

DO3SHA

Well-Known Member

grampa pay the extra to get the designer, its not much more than the commercial you are looking at but the designer has individual reflector pockets per bulb

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-4-Tube-Designer-System-Bulbs/dp/B002KN6L5I

that is the same prce you would pay in a hydro shop, remember you get what you pay for but if you cant afford it that commercial you are looking at will do the job just fine, hydrofarm hasnt let me down yet but there are also other good companies out there but more companies specialize in the 4ft not 2ft , i could throw my fixture against a brick wall and it would jut scratch it not dent or anything, alot of he others ive seen first hand feel alot flimsy compared to hydrofarm and sunblaze
 

Grampa

Active Member
Great responses everyone. just what i was looking for.

grampa pay the extra to get the designer, its not much more than the commercial you are looking at but the designer has individual reflector pockets per bulb

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-4-Tube-Designer-System-Bulbs/dp/B002KN6L5I

that is the same prce you would pay in a hydro shop, remember you get what you pay for but if you cant afford it that commercial you are looking at will do the job just fine, hydrofarm hasnt let me down yet but there are also other good companies out there but more companies specialize in the 4ft not 2ft , i could throw my fixture against a brick wall and it would jut scratch it not dent or anything, alot of he others ive seen first hand feel alot flimsy compared to hydrofarm and sunblaze
Thanks again, Do3sha. Ill be getting this light for my T5 room. I think it will go well with my other one. Thanks a ton! Do you find that 2' foot grow plants just as well at the 4'?
 

DO3SHA

Well-Known Member
the 4' will awalys push more luens and coverage, for example the 4' 8 bulb is 40,000 lumens, yet the 2' 8 bulb is 16,000 lumens there is a difference, if ou could fit a 4' i would go with the 4' bulbs are just as cheap as the 2' but yet you get more lumens and coverage. also with the 4' you are able to buy the quantum t5 bulbs which i have hear dalot of great things about, too bad they dont make them for 2' its all about what your specific needs are, i think you could grow 2 plants in 3 gallon buckets scrog sttyle or even just one plant scrog and get a decent yield
 
I just picked up (2) 4'ft T5 fixtures from HTG supply. they came with bulbs. $49.99 each. it was $128 with shipping. they also have 2'ft fixtures aswell. they work great. great mirrored relector that comes with it. they are nice fixtures clean. however, no on off switch. once you plug it in, the light comes on.

Edit: They are two bulb fixtures. 5000 lums per bulb.
 

lagarrettBLUNT

Active Member
idk how well they work but i saw some cheap-o T8 fixtures at a walmart in ohio lol. they were like 10 bucks per fixture [CRAZY CHEAP] your probably gonna get what you pay for but idk if they are even kind of decent cant beat that price lol
 

leadhed

Member
I have to agree w/DO3SHA about the 4' bulbs. much better bang for the buck in the long run for lumuen output, and $ per lumen. the 4' bulbs are almost as cheap as the 2', and more readily avail.... If you currently have a 2' system you could always unload that on C'list to buy a 4' or keep the 2' around foer a rainy day. If your stuck with only being able to get a 2' system, there are plenty of dif options on the big auction site that will throw in some free bulbs and keep it under 100 bux.
 

Grampa

Active Member
the 4' will awalys push more luens and coverage, for example the 4' 8 bulb is 40,000 lumens, yet the 2' 8 bulb is 16,000 lumens there is a difference, if ou could fit a 4' i would go with the 4' bulbs are just as cheap as the 2' but yet you get more lumens and coverage. also with the 4' you are able to buy the quantum t5 bulbs which i have hear dalot of great things about, too bad they dont make them for 2' its all about what your specific needs are, i think you could grow 2 plants in 3 gallon buckets scrog sttyle or even just one plant scrog and get a decent yield
Do3sha, That is exactly how my t5 grow is looking. two 5 gallon hempy style buckets scrog style.
 

DO3SHA

Well-Known Member
ok if you only have the space for the 2' sir,, but make sure your screen is only as big as the light dimensions, because anyhting that grows outsid of the screen will need to me accompanied with some cfls,

but what price are you looking to spend and what is your space maximum you can go
 

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
I'm surprised nobody mentioned the Quantum Badboy. If you're seeking to light an area, their 8x4ft. and 16x4ft. are the ones to beat imo. Inexpensive and they use good ballasts. cn
 

DO3SHA

Well-Known Member
mentioned their bulbs but not their ballast^^^^^ to me those ballast are good ballast but the fxture itself just feels flimsy to me
 

socbutter

Member
mentioned their bulbs but not their ballast^^^^^ to me those ballast are good ballast but the fxture itself just feels flimsy to me
I have ordered two from an ebay seller for $200 and the BADBoys are flimsy. easily damaged in shipping and the parts dont align like parts should. But once its up and working whos cares. If the third arrives not working I am gonna give get something else a try.
 
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