Shopping Around for 4-Foot T5 High Output Tubes

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piratezepplin

Member
So I'm gearing up for my first serious grow and have decided to go with T5s. I don't like the output profile of HID lamps, I don't want to build my own LED panels, and restrike on CFLs is a stupid loss to take when I can afford to just go for real T5s. I found an awesome deal on fixtures but the bulbs seem pretty high priced. The best price I can find locally is like $12 per tube, and that's buying in cases. It looks like I'm going to have to mail-order the tubes. There was a guy on eBay that had some cases up for a better price, but I guess he sold out, because that listing isn't there any more.
There are some tempting deals at 1000bulbs.com, but I'm not so sure about the brands. At 25% the price I'm seeing everywhere else, I'm a little suspicious of the quality.
Is there anyone out there using T5s? I'd much appreciate it if someone could point me to some good deals. Even better if you have some experience with the bargain brands offered at 1000bulbs.com. (EiKo, Halco, Plusrite, etc.) Thanks.
 
laserbrn

laserbrn

Well-Known Member
piratezepplin said:
So I'm gearing up for my first serious grow and have decided to go with T5s. I don't like the output profile of HID lamps, I don't want to build my own LED panels, and restrike on CFLs is a stupid loss to take when I can afford to just go for real T5s. I found an awesome deal on fixtures but the bulbs seem pretty high priced. The best price I can find locally is like $12 per tube, and that's buying in cases. It looks like I'm going to have to mail-order the tubes. There was a guy on eBay that had some cases up for a better price, but I guess he sold out, because that listing isn't there any more.
There are some tempting deals at 1000bulbs.com, but I'm not so sure about the brands. At 25% the price I'm seeing everywhere else, I'm a little suspicious of the quality.
Is there anyone out there using T5s? I'd much appreciate it if someone could point me to some good deals. Even better if you have some experience with the bargain brands offered at 1000bulbs.com. (EiKo, Halco, Plusrite, etc.) Thanks.
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I hope you are talking about just for veg. For veg these lights are AMAZING and work so freakin' well. But for flower, you might be a bit dissapointed. As far as WHERE to get the bulbs, I've never seen anything better than about that $12.00 you are talking about, but I've never been down to buy a case of bulbs. I think I ended up spending like closer to $20/bulb to replace them when someone broke two of the bulbs during a move. That's the only replacments I've had.
 
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piratezepplin

Member
Already have the fixtures - just looking for the tubes themselves. Also, if you ever find yourself wanting to go over to T5s, buy from a wholesaler. My fixtures cost me less than half of what they're asking at the box stores I've checked, and they have far better reflectors than anything I've found retail, even at the local hydro shops.
Thanks for your concern, laserbrn. If your avatar pic there is any indication you seem to know what you're doing. However, I really don't think that HID is an appropriate choice at my scale - at most I'll have just a little more than one hundred square feet to expand into. For one, by my understanding from talking with coral and orchid growers, HID and T5s are more or less tied for watt-to-lumen output these days. (I think VHO fluoros even beat HID outright.) But lumens are only vaguely applicable for growing plants; the real measurement that counts is photosynthetically active radiation, and according to my research T5s take the lead in this respect because fluorescents allow for more precise control of color temperature. (I intend to test this with a spectral photometer when my buddy does his next grow - he does it all old-school with dirt and HIDs.) Even if they were even in all respects of efficiency and output, it would still cost me more to setup an HID system once I factor in the additional heat output and equipment to handle it, not to mention lowering my expected payout due to the increased risk of critical equipment failure. In the event something were to fail, I'd rather be using five independent fluorescent fixtures than just one or two HIDs; if it's a light that goes, I'm only down 20% of my overall light output, and if a fan or thermostat goes, the heat from fluorescents won't be a serious risk for frying my plants. Besides which, without having to buy special hoods and fans just to cool my lights, I can afford to keep two or three backup fixtures on hand to swap out if one goes bad. No waiting for warrantee replacement.
 
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Stuski

Well-Known Member
I am an aquarium store owner, so fortunitly i get cost on all my hydro equipment as we use the same distributor for our aquarium lights. But I use Giessemann (sp?) for my 8bulb 24" t-5ho sunlight system, and cost they are a $12 bulb and retails for 18-20. They are awesome bulbs thou 6700K 56w a pop i believe. You definitly get what you pay for imho.Hope that helps
 
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piratezepplin

Member
Interesting - 56 watts on a two-footer? Are they VHOs? Presently, those are slightly beyond my budget, but I can dream... :)
I've heard good things about the German bulbs too. I don't know where to find them reliably though - my best source of info told me to just stake out eBay and snipe them whenever they come up. Apparently a case once went for $1 and shipping! No one else made a bid and the seller didn't set a reserve!
 
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Stuski

Well-Known Member
piratezepplin said:
Interesting - 56 watts on a two-footer? Are they VHOs? Presently, those are slightly beyond my budget, but I can dream... :)
I've heard good things about the German bulbs too. I don't know where to find them reliably though - my best source of info told me to just stake out eBay and snipe them whenever they come up. Apparently a case once went for $1 and shipping! No one else made a bid and the seller didn't set a reserve!
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56w? maybe 24w bahhh..i cant remember. i think the 48" are 56. one sec lemme go look....ahh they are 24 my mistake:wall:
 
Dr.RR

Dr.RR

Active Member
I'd try 1000bulbs.com - they seem to have the best prices & are pretty a popular online store. I just recently picked up a T5 fixture that holds 8 4-foot 54w tubes. I'm using Westinghouse 5000k bulbs because they came with it; but so far so good! I'm only a week in but the growth is pretty comparable to my 400W MH, and I'm only using 4 bulbs at the moment. I think it's due to the fact that this time around, the veg lights are much closer than the MH was.

Anyway, I second the guy saying T-5's for veg, HPS for flowering. I'd recommend to get 6500k bulbs though if you're gonna order some. :leaf:
 
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