jtmyzery2008
Well-Known Member
wondering what peoples opinions are like what is the best brand of t-5 to use to grow in a 5ft by 5 ft by 3 ft grow box
looking into getting a t-5 fluorescent light
- Thread starter jtmyzery2008
- Start date
BlessAmerica
Well-Known Member
Hey JT,
Welcome to RIU.. Now for your q. If you are wanting to stick with flouro technology for whatever reason T5 HO (High Output) lights are by far the way to go! I saw a chart that depicted the efficiency in lumens and light penetration of different lights. 1 MH = ~6 T5s, 1 T5 = ~8 CFLs, 1 CFL = ~5 T8s. Also, I just posted in a guys thread (he didn't want to listen to people saying get more light) how his plants at two weeks look like mine at 5 days. All I have is two T5s two T8s. In may I harvested 78g from my set up (but I also had 4 CFLs on top of the T5s and T8s).
T5s are pricey. I think the name of mine was SunBlaze or SunGlo something like that (there is an aquarium light w/ a similar name, its not that). One strip (bulb installed on aluminum ballast, very sleek design!) was $25. I would look into it.
If heat and space is not a problem, then I have HEARD (not seen) people buying he 100W MH security lamps from Home Depot for $80.
Good Luck.
Welcome to RIU.. Now for your q. If you are wanting to stick with flouro technology for whatever reason T5 HO (High Output) lights are by far the way to go! I saw a chart that depicted the efficiency in lumens and light penetration of different lights. 1 MH = ~6 T5s, 1 T5 = ~8 CFLs, 1 CFL = ~5 T8s. Also, I just posted in a guys thread (he didn't want to listen to people saying get more light) how his plants at two weeks look like mine at 5 days. All I have is two T5s two T8s. In may I harvested 78g from my set up (but I also had 4 CFLs on top of the T5s and T8s).
T5s are pricey. I think the name of mine was SunBlaze or SunGlo something like that (there is an aquarium light w/ a similar name, its not that). One strip (bulb installed on aluminum ballast, very sleek design!) was $25. I would look into it.
If heat and space is not a problem, then I have HEARD (not seen) people buying he 100W MH security lamps from Home Depot for $80.
Good Luck.
jtmyzery2008
Well-Known Member
ok i want to do like 5 or so plants so do you think a 4 bulb t5 ballast be ok for that many plants
jtmyzery2008
Well-Known Member
also what is the difference between t5 and t8
nabokovchronic
Active Member
t8 is VERY inneficient compared to t5
t5 is best
htgsupply has a 4 foot 4 bulb t5 lamp that i ordered ( 130 , cheapest i found )
t5 is best
htgsupply has a 4 foot 4 bulb t5 lamp that i ordered ( 130 , cheapest i found )
OregonMeds
Well-Known Member
$130 would buy a 1000w HID though complete, that's the rub.
Are you really unable to run any HID at all? Not even those bargain $20 150w HPS's because two of those would be half the cost and the same lumens if not more. What is the combined wattage on the t5 ballast(s) if it's around 300w also then the heat will be similar to 300w of hid, as in you really aren't saving anyting or gaining lower running temperatures or costs. HID will do way more lumens at half the initial cost and with lower long term operating costs. (those t5 bulbs aren't cheap and still they give less lumens per watt than HPS or Halides)
The only benefit I really see with the flouro's is the tubes last longer than hid bulbs before they drop off too much, but they're more expensive and you're replacing more of them so that edge is probably moot also.
Are you really unable to run any HID at all? Not even those bargain $20 150w HPS's because two of those would be half the cost and the same lumens if not more. What is the combined wattage on the t5 ballast(s) if it's around 300w also then the heat will be similar to 300w of hid, as in you really aren't saving anyting or gaining lower running temperatures or costs. HID will do way more lumens at half the initial cost and with lower long term operating costs. (those t5 bulbs aren't cheap and still they give less lumens per watt than HPS or Halides)
The only benefit I really see with the flouro's is the tubes last longer than hid bulbs before they drop off too much, but they're more expensive and you're replacing more of them so that edge is probably moot also.