hps or t-5 which is better?

Trichopathic1

Trichopathic1

Well-Known Member
Im torn between buying hps or t-5 lighting.at my local hydro store,I can get a complete brand new 600 watt hps system with a good digital ballast for 500.for the same price I can get 2 of the 6 bulb 48" t-5 setups.the 54 watt bulbs put out 500 lumens each.Its not as much as a 600 hps but the coverage will be better,with less heat issues.the t-5's will use squat for power also.
Any one with advice or experience with either?? which way would you go???
 
smoke and coke

smoke and coke

Well-Known Member
Trichopathic1 said:
Im torn between buying hps or t-5 lighting.at my local hydro store,I can get a complete brand new 600 watt hps system with a good digital ballast for 500.for the same price I can get 2 of the 6 bulb 48" t-5 setups.the 54 watt bulbs put out 500 lumens each.Its not as much as a 600 hps but the coverage will be better,with less heat issues.the t-5's will use squat for power also.
Any one with advice or experience with either?? which way would you go???
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i have never used t-5's so i dont know.

i know you may be looking at a 600w but there is a 400w HPS industrial fixture on e-bay that you can get for under 50 bucks including shipping. there is a link in my sig. on how to rewire and make remote for this exact fixture. take a look, its a mag. ballast but brand new and multi tap.
search for CRESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE or item # 200319488863.
on thursday morning the light ends and if there are any left, another will be listed at buy it now for $20.00.
 
9

9inch bigbud

Well-Known Member
if you can get away with using a HID then get one. the T5 although you can get the bulbs with in inches of the plants they still do not have the penetration that HIDs have just look around and see what T5 grows look like and what HID grows look like should tell you what light to go for.
 
Twistyman

Twistyman

Well-Known Member
I'm using both... The T5's gave a better veg than expected.. and the 1st 1/2 of flower was MUCH better than I thought it would be.. the buds weren't fluffy like I was warned by some.. but that may have been strain specific....

I'm using a 430 HPS also now... it (HID) will give better results IMO, but comes with heat problem potential...

these were vegged and 4 weeks flower just T5 + 12's.. sorry about crap pics...

 

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ufcd1000

ufcd1000

Active Member
2 - 6 bulb t5 fixtures will add up to 648 watts. i get a good amount of heat from my 4' 4 bulb fixt. i keep them 4-6" off the tops.
 
Bugscreen

Bugscreen

Well-Known Member
I say get both. that is what I did. I use a 400w hps with a 4 lamp t5 at 4 feet together with great results. You get the best of both and it adds up to 616 watts.
 
HerbalRemedies

HerbalRemedies

Active Member
If you're looking for a one light solution to your grow, the HID will outperform the T5 and will produce bigger, denser buds.

If you're only looking to veg under the new light, go with the T5's. I veg my 2 5' mothers and clones under 1 4' 4bulb T5 fixture with no problems.
 
smoke and coke

smoke and coke

Well-Known Member
F

Feroce

Well-Known Member
Another vote for both. Use the T5's for seedlings/clones and veg period. Gives nice short internodes and a solid structure to the plant before it hits the HPS for flowering.
 
Trichopathic1

Trichopathic1

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the input guys! I am going for the 600 hps with exhausted reflector. I may grab a t-5 for veg down the road.for now im useing cfl's for veg. I found out they dont come with bloom bulbs only veg.then bloom would have to be bought seperate.I would like to try useing t-5 for side lighting during bloom. on ebay I can get 600 hps for around $220-275 depending what bulb and reflector.
 
stoned1

stoned1

Well-Known Member
yeah i would get the hps.I got 1 from htg a 600 watt digital hps for $220 and it is well worth the money.So thats what i would go with but what ever you have the funds for.
 
Trichopathic1

Trichopathic1

Well-Known Member
Yeah htg is where the ones I looked at were from.one was digital with three power settings.I want to cool it for sure,so that will add some $$.
 
ufcd1000

ufcd1000

Active Member
i say go for the best possible equipment you can afford. the digital ballasts are definitely worth the money. no noise & not much heat. i have a lumatek & love it. super quick startup too.
 
Brick Top

Brick Top

New Member
Buy a HPS and a MH conversion bulb and you have the best of both worlds, MH for vegging and HPS for flowering and you do not have to buy multiple lights and change them out for each growing cycle or move plants from one location for vegging to another for flowering. Its just that simple.
 
smoke and coke

smoke and coke

Well-Known Member
Brick Top said:
Buy a HPS and a MH conversion bulb and you have the best of both worlds, MH for vegging and HPS for flowering and you do not have to buy multiple lights and change them out for each growing cycle or move plants from one location for vegging to another for flowering. Its just that simple.
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yes i agree. i got my MH ballasts from a demo job so were free. and i got 4 -400w HPS fixtures brand new, each were cheaper than a conversion bulb. the most i paid for one of the HPS lights was 38 bucks which included shipping so i couldnt pass them up. i have them rigged up so its just unplug the reflector change the bulb and plug into other ballast.
its not the most modern setup and they are mag ballasts, but it beats fluoros. so im not going to complain.
 
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