T5 Light setup Question

I'm about to setup a grow tent for the first time and will be working with an area 4x4 and will eventually expand to 4x7. I'm looking to pick up a T5 light setup but not sure how many bulbs I should get it the fixture. I'm going to go with a a 48" length but should I do 4, 6, or 8 bulbs. I don't want to over kill but I don't want to be lacking light either...

What are your thoughts? If you can point me to a thread regarding T5 light coverage that would also be helpful!

Thanks

4 feet by 4 feet? just get the 4ft 8 tube u can grow 3 or 4 , or more in sog.

I may try s.o.g...So 4ft by 8 bulbs wont be overkill?

You'll get around 5,000 lumins per bulb. Why have 20,000 when you can have 40,000? My 2'x2' 4 bulb T5 HOFL put out 8,000 lumins but now I have a 400w HPS putting out 55,000 lumins for a 5'x5'x4.5' space. Go with the eight bulbs. It will not be over kill!

im not sure but the 48 is about 400 watts, which saves electricity. it runs mildly warm unlike hps which is hot. u can grow some really good shit under t5 bulbs cause they are made for growing. u probably dont even need a fan or shit, just let fresh air in everyday. u got any pictures of your tent that would help.

I got a 4 bulb with 5 females going. Do it again I would get an 8. May go HPS next grow but T5's are pretty cool.

T5s still put out heat but not near as much as HIDs.

No pics yet...still in the planning stage. T5's will be strictly for vegging. I plan to start out in a 4x4 space, get some clones, mother them then start pulling clones. Once I have a complete grow and get the everything dialed in I will expand the tent to 4x8 with a 600watt HPS per 4x4 area, but of course I'm gonna start out with one 600w HPS to get the kinks out. Once I get everything dialed I hope to have a perpetual harvest. Clone > Veg > Flower.

The only thing I'm still not sure about is whether or not I'm gonna try out SCOG. I have been reading a few SCOG grows and one guy (integra) yielded nearly 500 grams with 4 plants in the same space I am working with and in 9 weeks if flowering, and they were flowered at what looked to be 12"-18". I wonder what I might yield if I did a normal grow with 6 to 8 plants in a 4x4 area? I am working with a height of roughly 6 ft but once the light and vent tubes are in place I will probably end up with about 48" of height as to not have any heat issues on the plants.

What do you all think....to SCOG or not to SCOG

I use a 2ft 8 bulb, next to no heat. If you have room for 4ft I say go 8 bulb you won't be sorry. These do not yeild like HPS as many will tell you. The quality was great and they take maybe an extra week to flower. I'd top if I were you due to lack of penetration with the t5.