Lighting Question: T5 High Output Light

Im about to pick up 2 or 3 clones from my friend and I have a T5 High Output (HO) Fluorescent light. Light was originally for a coral saltwater tank but got rid of the tank. It has 2x 22" 24w fluorescent tubes (6700K and 10K spectrum I think)

What are your guys opinions on this light for growing? It has low wattage but it produces a TON of light in the blue/white spectrum.
thanks.

edit:
Heres the light

http://www.aquacave.com/hagen-24-glo-dual-t5br-ho-2-x-24w-lightingbr-system-2010.html

Imo it will keep em alive while young.. but as for producing anything worth while.. u would need more.

alotaball said:

Imo it will keep em alive while young.. but as for producing anything worth while.. u would need more.

Click to expand...

How much more wattage do you think Id need? Im going to keep the plants small, probably start flowering one they get to be about 1' or 1.5'.

you could prolly veg em to like 1 foot lol, be some really stretchy little girls, atlast get yourself some 42 wat cfls, in order to grow a decent plant you should have atleast 50 watts of light per plant i believe is the standand for a decent looking plants, and i dought it would produce much in flowering :/

Thinking of picking up a 150w HPS fixture for flowering. Itd be 3 clones at max, maybe only 2 though.

For the veg state Id use that T5HO light plus some CFLs and put into flowering after about 1-2 weeks of vegging.

That would work turbo! Just get the correct spectrum for your CFL's to reduce stretch... then give the HPS for the Sticky Icky 12/12.

What spectrum should I get for the CFLs and should I use them only for vegging? I feel like a 100w-150w hps will be enough for flowering.

6500k Spectrum is good for veg.. when you buy them make sure you buy the largest actual wattage bulbs.. not the Equivalent like it says on the outside of the box. Most of the time you can find 40-55 watt actual wattage cfl's at walmart or a hardware store.. they should be 100-200 watt equivalents. I would use 2 on each plant .. with the T5 light you have during veg.. then depending on the size of the plants when you go to flower... add your 150hps and leave the cfl's for supplemental lighting. With that much light you should get some quality smoke and density. Be careful of heat... and make sure to get the cfl's withing inches of the plant.. the closer the better.. because cfl's and t5's are not very intense and lose strength very fast over a few inches. Good luck!

Just for refrence .. this is a 55 ACTUAL WATT (250watt equivalent).. next to a 13 ACTUAL WATT (60 watt Equivalent).. you have to look for actual watts.. because if you go home with 4 60 watters from the box.. your really only using 52 ACTUAL watts. The good cfl's are much larger then your standard lamp cfl.

Thanks man. So these would work? 3x 42w CFL (150w equivalent)
http://www.amazon.com/Lights-America-Equivalent-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B004TSNW72

Those wattage would work but I cant tell the spectrum

So I just got rid of the T5. Found a 250w MH set up with 2 bulbs for $60 so I just got that

Even better.. just watch your temps!

I got it to 80 with a temp ventilation system. But how close should I keep the light to the tops? Its about 6" away now I feel like its a little close though. Also is it alright the fan is blowing the plants just a tiny bit?

put your hand in between the tops of your plants and the light, if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for the lights. 6" seems close. And you want the fan to move the plants a bit. Aim the fan or a fan across the tops of the plants, helps dissipate the heat from the light too.

Its not too hot by the tops. thats the area where my temp reading is coming from which is 80.8.
ll raise the light a bit in the morning I think