t-5 gifted too me have a question

I was given a 4ft t-5 with 6 54W, T5 PENTRON high output (HO) fluorescent lamp, 4100K color temperature, rare earth phosphor, 82 CRI, ECOLOGIC bulbs.

Can i use this to veg seedlings properly? Does it have the proper sprectrum? I know its probably not the best spectrum, I thinks its considered cool white and probably not high enough.

They have been under there for over a week but I cant decide if I want to keep them there or put them under a 1000w hps(at a great distance). The growth seems really slow but that could be the strain. It would be nice to keep them there for power reasons but I am more interested in them growing.

Thanks

It is the cool white spectrum and you should be fine with it. That is what everyone used in the old days, Cool white garage lights, except they were 40 watters.

Just grow them like that and move them under the HPS when you switch to flower and it will all be good.

T5's are plenty bright enough to veg.

so u think it will be just as good as the 1000. i read they are very similiar in veg but i thought that may depend on the spectrum.

It won't be just as good because the HPS is a lot brighter.

It is a toss up because the HPS is not the best to veg with and the T5 isn't as bright as the HPS.

You said it would be nice to save on the power for awhile.

So what it boils down to is that I don't believe you'll give up enough yield in the end to make any difference by going with the t5's to veg and then switching to the HPS to flower. 6 t5's are really bright as I'm sure you know and are the better spectrum for Veg'ing.

If it was me I'd veg with the T5 and flower with the HPS.

thanks buddy thats what i kind of thought. these seeedlings are real slow I think its the strain. I just wanted to make sure that spectrum was good enough and not causing the problem.

Glad I could help, you have no worries and good luck wih your grow.

these lights are actually used to light warehouses.

I know and if you want to gift some my way I'll happily accept..............

actually lucky enough too have a great connection. I can get a few more for free if i want them. i have not figured out the power and light coverage logistics of what i want to do and wheather its easier to get more coverage another way. this is my first time from seed in a while so it i thought they would be easier than my 15 watt 12 inch bulbs.

plus i really do not plan on keeping them under that for too long. just long enough to let them get going good. i thought it would be easier on them this early.

My grandma grew with normal light bulbs

T5's can be used for the entire grow - lotsa people flower with them & produce great buds. 4100K is a bit warm so I'd get some 6500K bulbs to keep the stretching down. I always use 3 blue (6500K) & 1 red (3000K) during veg & the opposite for flower. I have a 2' 4 bulb T5 right next to my 400W HPS in my flower chamber & they work fine together & allow me to add 2 or 3 extra plants to the space.

how far do you put the high output fluorescent during all stages of veg ?