LED Without LEDs -My First T5 Grow

AltarNation - Thanks for the info.

I agree. I need to stay on topic. T5s all the way. Can't wait for these new bulbs so my 4 girls can grow big.
 
Hey Guys, BK-1 continues to fatten up (new pics Tuesday).

AlterN: Even having grown for 3 consecutive years (this time), I sometimes think they are not growing, especially since I am a stay at home dad. Now, they do 'rest', but more likely something is wrong when they aren't growing/fattening up over the course of a day. Typically, this begins to happen ~ 6 days into nutes (which are recirculating, so no way to tell how much macro/micro is being used up), so now I automatically dump and replace every 7 days. Also, since I am growing in lava rock, I will flush with H2O2 every 4th replacement, just so salt doesn't build up in all the air pockets.

As I mentioned early on, this seed was gifted and I am not able to get any info other than it's a Sat: Tell me something I don't know! Anyway, the brother of the original grower saw it 2 days ago, and was really impressed.
 
Lucius Vorenus said:
Altar- looks great!!

Can you list your bulb setup and how is the heat?
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I'm using a cheap Bad Boy knockoff from HTGsupply... get a real one so there's no gap in the middle tho'...

Veg line up:

2 fiji purps
2 Wavepoint coral waves
1 UV 454
1 UV 75.25
1 super actinic blue
...and... uh. One more. I forget. I think it's another blue. haha.

Flower line up is:

2 UV Red Sun/Lifes (they renamed it)
1 Super Actinic blue
1 75.25
2 coral wave
2 fiji purps

So I basically just swap out two blues for two reds and the rest stay the same.

The heat is very manageable overall. It will still require some ventilation in a closed space though.
 
After reading and studying this thread I have my bulbs and fixture on the way for my first grow! I will be doing an 8 bulb setup in one tent and a 600 watt HPS in another and do a side by side comparison. Should be good fun!
 
Calrt said:
After reading and studying this thread I have my bulbs and fixture on the way for my first grow! I will be doing an 8 bulb setup in one tent and a 600 watt HPS in another and do a side by side comparison. Should be good fun!
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Definitely looking forward to seeing what kind of results you get from that comarison. Keep in mind when comparing those results that an 8 bulb setup is just 432 watts.
 
AltarNation said:
Definitely looking forward to seeing what kind of results you get from that comarison. Keep in mind when comparing those results that an 8 bulb setup is just 432 watts.
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If the T5s can outperform the HPS then that is what I will be going for my new room set up. I will be getting some fully vegged plants from a buddy in about 2 weeks so this will be testing just the flowering stage of the grow which could be interesting. I dont remember what the strain is but he has been growing for awhile and I will be able to compare quality and yield to his....
 
Calrt said:
After reading and studying this thread I have my bulbs and fixture on the way for my first grow! I will be doing an 8 bulb setup in one tent and a 600 watt HPS in another and do a side by side comparison. Should be good fun!
Click to expand...

Thinking out loud: I am looking forward to this comparison. I would be surprised if the 600 wins out. Why? The energy is concentrated in a much smaller area (~ 18") As I understand bulb light distribution, it reduces considerably over distance (inverse sq law?). Keep in mind HO T5s run cooler and have a much larger footprint (4ft v 18"). So while the 600 might be 'better' directly underneath:

1. You have to raise the 600 higher to avoid burning

2. The plant tops further away probably won't get half the stated lumens.
 
Lucius Vorenus, Really? That statement makes you the only honest LED owner out there. I have never heard the LED people say there results are under par in any way.
Calrt , I hope you do this comparison. It would be the talk of the town.


Good luck , and good growing.
 
falcon223 said:
Lucius Vorenus, Really? That statement makes you the only honest LED owner out there. I have never heard the LED people say there results are under par in any way.
Calrt , I hope you do this comparison. It would be the talk of the town.


Good luck , and good growing.
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ye ill take pics of my current Blackstar grow soon
 
Would like to see what kind of results you're getting from LED if you say it doesn't do as well as this... what kind of wattage are you totaling?
 
Obviously does not understand that the full spectrum bulbs include alot of wasted color temps that are not used during photosynthesis. In stoner terms, these specific colored tubes provide the exact light plants need. They may not seem very bright to us as humans because we're most sensitive to green light, plants are LEAST sensitive to green. So while the light may look dim to us, it's all usable energy to the plants with no wasted frequencies. The bulbs are more efficient in return. You would need several "full spectrum" bulbs to equal the specific red OR blue spectral output of one of these purpose made tubes. Look at a few coral/saltwater tank forums, they get fanatical about the light freq's they use.
 
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