xtsho
Well-Known Member
100% improvement over what? What were you using before? I'll take a high output T5 fixture over any of the cheap LED's. What kind of improvement are you seeing? Any pictures?
Led vs T5 flourescent....
- Thread starter Kingrow1
- Start date
Moldy
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure about the age of my t5 bulbs, that may be one factor that's missing. I use T5s more for a shop light now. They are 54W HO. At one foot from the T5 bulb my light meter says 220 (scale goes to 2000) and one foot from the LED reads 2000. If I put the meter touching the T5 bulb it goes to 2000. I go down to 4 ft (LED) and the meter is at 300. First time trying LED as an experiment for veg since I live in a desert and it is hard to cool a room with an open hooded AC-DE light unless it's winter time.
I've got a lot to learn about LEDs but I'm impressed so far. Best I get new T5 bulbs for a proper test but don't want to spend the money now lol.
Moldy
Well-Known Member
I did use 4 bulb X 4' w/ 54W HO T5s. Used them for over 10 years but always had to have the lights so close. I stopped using them last few grows and went to my DE light for veg but it's so fucking hot my air conditioner won't keep up so I bought the cheapo Ugrow light from Amazon. They said it was 300 watts but I didn't know how they calculated that but bought it anyway, 84 bucks. See pix on prior post. Not trying to sell anything, just works great for me. Never had a plant do so well in 3 weeks. Usually they are half the size with a lot less foliage.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Not the t5 I ran. The bulbs were double stacked. 8 bulbs in the same space most 4 bulb t5 use.
If it was closer than 15 inches it would burn my plants.
Age of bulbs plays a role.
All I know is when I first got the light I listened and tried to run it close and friend my plants.
I have a 40+ page thread on t5 and always ran the t5 at 15+ inches over the canopy. I couldn't run it closer.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
I've posted this pic. They are in 15 inch wide pots for size reference.
The bigger two are almost 3 foot. 18 inch rock hard colas.
I would trust it to grow bigger plants.
The bigger two are almost 3 foot. 18 inch rock hard colas.
I would trust it to grow bigger plants.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
Furthermore I would like to say that the type of light does play a role but I think it's more the grower.
If you can't grow for shit then that's all you will have.
When you get your skills dialed in then moving to more efficient lights will up your game.
Also with any light you can make up for the short comings. If it lacks penetration then grow screen of green so you dont need deep penetration.
If you can't grow for shit then that's all you will have.
When you get your skills dialed in then moving to more efficient lights will up your game.
Also with any light you can make up for the short comings. If it lacks penetration then grow screen of green so you dont need deep penetration.
Moldy
Well-Known Member
Thanks! I must have some shitty old bulbs and/or a poorly designed fixture. Even with new bulbs I could put the plants within an 1" without a problem, I'll check out your thread on t5s.
Moldy
Well-Known Member
Just thought I'd come back and thank you for you info on t-5s. I bought new bulbs and the difference amazed me. Now I got that cheapo LED light as a shop light (haha) and using my t-5s again for vegging. Not to mention that auto I was growing gave me false feedback since autos apparently grow much faster than normal plants. Sometimes you gotta get out of your own way.
Moldy
Well-Known Member
Just thought I'd come back and thank you for you info on t-5s. I bought new bulbs and the difference amazed me. Now I got that cheapo LED light as a shop light (haha) and using my t-5s again for vegging. Not to mention that auto I was growing gave me false feedback since autos apparently grow much faster than normal plants. Sometimes you gotta get out of your own way.