Cloning trays - T5's or T8's?

After reading a bunch on RIU about cloning, I've learned that a simple shop light with T8's will do just fine for cuttings. I visited Home Depot this morning and decided to take a look at their shop lights, and found a whole bunch of options, including T5's and T8's. I saw a 3' 2 bulb T5 fixture with 21 watt bulbs in it for under 30 bucks. I liked the low wattage use, but am a bit concerned because the T5's I purchased at the Hydro Store are 54W. I couldn't find the color temperature on them. Replacement bulbs from Depot are about 8-9 bucks per 3' T5.

I then saw a two bulb 4' T8 fixture which had 2 32 watt bulbs on it. I liked this fixture because it had 12" wings that would (in my opinion) help distribute the light across the surface area of my clones (humidity dome). Replacement bulbs depending on the color temp I want (I want 3500k correct?) ranges from $20 a 10 pack to $35 a 10 pack. The fixture itself is about 40 bucks.

Now, I know I'm comparing a 3' T5 to a 4' T8, but the T8 right now sounds a bit more economical, especially with bulb prices. The T5 sounds attractive due to its low watt usage. The bulbs are a bit more expensive though, almost three times as much.

Based on personal experience, which of the two would you go with? I know clones don't need a lot of light, but if I'm making 50 clones per dome, and want the light to support two domes, what would you go with?

I'm planning on getting those plastic shelving units from Home Depot as well and placing the domes on the shelves, with the lights directly above them. There will be 3-5 inches of space between the domes and the lights. Is this where the T5's come in handy?

I would like my clones to root within 7-10 days max. From what I've read it seems like that is a moot point when comparing the T5's to the T8's and vice versa.

Thanks in advance.

In my experience I believe that for 50 clones you will need more than just a few t5 or 8s I would use a t48 which is expensive but ways does the job also this fixture could power up to six or eight plants in late veg. this fixture produces 40,000 lumens

i fully support using t5HO's, they are worth it for the light output and there are some good kits out there, but this is assuming your doing a small op. with 50 clones i would look into some hps lighting, your just gunna need it i think.

mjh0817 said:

In my experience I believe that for 50 clones you will need more than just a few t5 or 8s I would use a t48 which is expensive but ways does the job also this fixture could power up to six or eight plants in late veg. this fixture produces 40,000 lumens

Click to expand...

Uhh got a link to "this fixture"?

Thanks for the responses. Maybe I should elaborate a bit more on what I'm trying to achieve. I'm looking for lighting that will only root these cuttings, nothing else. I will be moving the clones to HID lighting in their veg and flowering cycles.

If you are only planning on rooting them under these lights and not vegging them at all than I would suggest you use the t-8's

I'm not sure where the link is to find some t-48s but I'm sure u can search this on google it cost me 260 dollars with tax at the local hydroponics shop. But since u won't need longer uses I would agree a few t-8s will be more than enough.

I just rooted 90 little ladies under 2 4ft T12's.

2 40 watt HO bulbs.

2 lights at Home Depot $50

A case of bulbs(12) $15

mjh0817 said:

I'm not sure where the link is to find some t-48s but I'm sure u can search this on google it cost me 260 dollars with tax at the local hydroponics shop. But since u won't need longer uses I would agree a few t-8s will be more than enough.

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There is no such thing as a t-48 light, your hydro store lied to you or you misunderstood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp

The reason you can't find a link is because they don't exist as far as I can tell

Take a picture of the writing on the bulb and post it here, I would love to see a t-48 bulb
A pic similar to this maybe:

lol t-48's. i was hoping for his sake it was a typo, but it was on 2 posts =/

any floro will do fine for cloning. i just got 2 of the 2' t5 from the depot a couple weeks ago and they love it. t8 and t 12 work to.