T5 or MH

Hey there, I have a 4x4 tent I want to use strictly for flowering. I have a space I want to use for veg, but Im not exactly sure what kind of light to buy. I am very happy with my MH, but was thinking about going with a nice T5 HO. I dont know the ins and outs of lights, what do you guys think?

1.Whats the difference between a MH and a T5?

Kind Sir said:

Hey there, I have a 4x4 tent I want to use strictly for flowering. I have a space I want to use for veg, but Im not exactly sure what kind of light to buy. I am very happy with my MH, but was thinking about going with a nice T5 HO. I dont know the ins and outs of lights, what do you guys think?

1.Whats the difference between a MH and a T5?

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If your doing multiple clones and flowering immediately like a SOG method, you may want the metal halid for veg to make a strong mother plant for clones.
If your doing like a scrog where the plants will be supported by net mesh or something you could probably go with t5 for veg as the stems won't be quite as sturdy as the metal halide. My opinion is I think it depends on what your grow goals are.
For me I just boxes up the t5 fixtures I had bought and ordered a 600 watt metal halide/hps for my mothers since I am doing 36 clones flowered immediately in a 3x3 flood tray. Need the stems to be very strong since there will be no more support for my plants besides their stem

Beezcheeze said:

If your doing multiple clones and flowering immediately like a SOG method, you may want the metal halid for veg to make a strong mother plant for clones.
If your doing like a scrog where the plants will be supported by net mesh or something you could probably go with t5 for veg as the stems won't be quite as sturdy as the metal halide. My opinion is I think it depends on what your grow goals are.
For me I just boxes up the t5 fixtures I had bought and ordered a 600 watt metal halide/hps for my mothers since I am doing 36 clones flowered immediately in a 3x3 flood tray. Need the stems to be very strong since there will be no more support for my plants besides their stem

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i don't see how mh would produce stronger stems. t5 allows you to place the light very close to your plants resulting in tighter node spacing and a stronger stem. a 432watt 8bulb t5 light would not be weaker than an mh for veg as even if you used a 1000w mh it would have to be jacked way up in the air. it is a very strong light and more than adequate for vegging plants, and you're using all of the power due to you being able to place it so close without causing heat stress. not to mention you can change the spectrum by adding http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/fluorescent-grow-lights/tubes/t5-ho/quantum-badboy-t5-grow-lamp-2900k.html - those in the mix.

for veg? t5 all the way. i would never veg with an mh. led over mh.

CCCmints said:

i don't see how mh would produce stronger stems. t5 allows you to place the light very close to your plants resulting in tighter node spacing and a stronger stem. a 432watt 8bulb t5 light would not be weaker than an mh for veg as even if you used a 1000w mh it would have to be jacked way up in the air. it is a very strong light and more than adequate for vegging plants, and you're using all of the power due to you being able to place it so close without causing heat stress. not to mention you can change the spectrum by adding http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/fluorescent-grow-lights/tubes/t5-ho/quantum-badboy-t5-grow-lamp-2900k.html - those in the mix.

for veg? t5 all the way. i would never veg with an mh. led over mh.

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T5 light does not penetrate a canopy the way mh or hps does. If your growing larger mothers that need to produce a high number of clones on the regular, then t5 just won't cut it. With a cool tube or air cooled tube you can get a mh pretty darn close unless it's a 1000. But none needs that much light for mums. A 400 or 600 watt mh is much better than t5 for growing moms that are Sturdy and strong top to bottom

The differnce between t5/florescent and MH is the gases used in the bulb to produce the visable light we see. A quick google search or a search here on the diffences in lighting will yield a lot of good info and will answer all your quesions. As for which is use or which is better thats a harder question to answer since it will be different for each person and grow setup. I use t5 for veg and for flower for now due to the space i had to grow and heat issues so its what i have atm. Mh imo will grow plants faster and beefier with less watts but more heat. T5ho grows and flowers plants very well but you need more watts compared to hid lamps, penetration is not as good as hid, a good reflector is a must. On the plus side t5ho do put out a good amount of lumens for the watts and they produce and much less heat, more of the energy/power used is light and not wasted heat.

T5 is great, especially for a tent. Unless you have a good ventilation system the MH will be too hot; you don't have to worry about that with T5's.

I use 400 MH to vegg and 600 watt hps to flower I have stems on my mothers the size of my thumb .... They been in vegg for 6 weeks ..

Kind Sir said:

Hey there, I have a 4x4 tent I want to use strictly for flowering. I have a space I want to use for veg, but Im not exactly sure what kind of light to buy. I am very happy with my MH, but was thinking about going with a nice T5 HO. I dont know the ins and outs of lights, what do you guys think?

1.Whats the difference between a MH and a T5?

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The T5 runs cooler, you will change that MH bulb 4-5 times before ya change T5 tubes.

T5 if seedlings and cloning, MH if you are going to actually veg for a bit.... 400-600 more than fine.

I use both, a 4bar 2' T5HO for seedling n cloning, a few 125w CFL flourowing grow lights, and a MH (250/400 depending on lighting needs in flower room... )

Kind Sir said:

Hey there, I have a 4x4 tent I want to use strictly for flowering. I have a space I want to use for veg, but Im not exactly sure what kind of light to buy. I am very happy with my MH, but was thinking about going with a nice T5 HO. I dont know the ins and outs of lights, what do you guys think?

1.Whats the difference between a MH and a T5?

Click to expand...

T-5s with a half Hortilux Power Veg and half 2700k bulbs do wonderful from start too finish.

Ive used a T5 for veg and in my opinion, they are really only good for early veg. up to 2-3 weeks.
After 2 weeks your much better vegging with an mh. It produces more robust stem growth where as fluors more spinely branching growth.

I used all CFL for veg then hps for frowering. The biggest issue I realized is that you constantly have to keep moving the cfls to get them close to the plants and in the most optimal position. This time I am going Mh just because it's easier

if you want grow lots of short bushy plants 6" high in veg t5' are best

If you want to grow a few larger plants 6-18" high, mh are best

Cuttings, seedling are best grown under a few t5's as this saves power, space and reduces heat for a few weeks

I would say if you already have the MH stick with it, why spend more $?