What's up with the T5's?

Hi. I've heard T5 lighting is much more efficient in terms of lumen/watt. This is a good enough reason to go for it.
I've also heard that T5 lights are more effective than other types of CFL's when it comes to coverage distance.
I've heard something about a squared ratio of distance/intensity when using T3 for example.
That sounds like an exaggaration because it would mean 8" away is 1/4 as strong as 4" away. (That's true to a lot of things, but why particularly 1 type of light over another?). I know there's a difference between different spectrums of light, but not a notable difference between the visible spectrum, which is quite a small niche already.
Can anyone approve those claims or refute them please?

Also, I've just begun to see spiral T5 CFL's sold. Why is that? Is it because the technology is very recent and thus they have just begun to manufacture those lights?

Thank you for your answers!

Whats a t3? I thought that was a type of tylenol? I know t5s are good for veg or massive lst small grows but i think you need to fact check the data your quoting because it sounds ass backwards to me. As for the spectrum difference weve all seen it. Blue lights keep plants shorter, red makes them stretch to a notable degree but still not substantial enough for sog ers to use blue at all most of the time. Light works.

Alienwidow said:

Whats a t3? I thought that was a type of tylenol? I know t5s are good for veg or massive lst small grows but i think you need to fact check the data your quoting because it sounds ass backwards to me. As for the spectrum difference weve all seen it. Blue lights keep plants shorter, red makes them stretch to a notable degree but still not substantial enough for sog ers to use blue at all most of the time. Light works.

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yeah if i had such spreadsheet i would've just referred to it that's why i'm asking anyone who knows this shit to approve. Personally, I don't think the difference as THAT big. in terms of watt/lumen it exists, but it's not as if you couldn't replace a 40w T5 with a 50W T8.

The 12-8-5-3 is the size of the glass envelope containing the gasses. In 1/8" increment. So a t3 is a 3/8 inch glass tube(most of your cfl"s are this size) t5 Is a tube diameter is 5/8", t8"s are 1" and t12's are a 1 1/2 inch tube.

I used a 12 bulb quantum with 8 6500k and 4 2700k and was impressed with the results, for my first grow. i have since swapped out the bulbs for a combination of actinic and other aquarium plant and coral bulbs (i learned a great deal of info here - https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/358190-led-without-leds-my-first.html). be warned it will take a while to sift through the B.S. but i think it was worth it in the end.

I get the whole t3 thing as far as sizing down like 12-8 or new 5s but i thought as far as floro tubes went t5s are all that hydro shops carried. Maybe i missed somthing last year, i was really high

THRE4T2S0CIETY said:

I used a 12 bulb quantum with 8 6500k and 4 2700k and was impressed with the results, for my first grow. i have since swapped out the bulbs for a combination of actinic and other aquarium plant and coral bulbs (i learned a great deal of info here - https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/358190-led-without-leds-my-first.html). be warned it will take a while to sift through the B.S. but i think it was worth it in the end.

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I use blue aquarium bulbs in my t8s with whites for veg. I like em.

I have done T5 for almost 6 years. Four ft, four light bulbs, 4x 5 gallon pots per light. I grow for personal use. I am happy with the bud that I get, but I am concentrating on my soil type and fert to increase bud size and yield and type of pot seed. I have never used the HPS lights due to heat indoors. I never heard of a T3. I use the Grow lights and then switch to the Bloom lights when I switch to 12/12. (Blue light during veg and red light in bloom). the Light dealers usuallly have the light packages to sell with the lights. If you are investigating light types you might check out LED for low heat and light coverage and life of the bulb. Expensive, yet worth it from what I have read.

t5 cfl's have been around for a good while. ge 55 watt cfl's are t5's and they get hot, i know that for a fact. you will get a better light coverage from the tubes then the t5 cfl because of how big they are on the butt end. i have mine butt to butt and had a dark spot in the middle where i used 2 23 watters to fill in. if i had it all to do over i would go with t5 ho's all the way. but my next move will be led.

LOL, I am one of Prof's early converts. I went deep down that Rabbit Hole, but have come back to my spectral senses.

I have used blue actinics, UVL; Aquasuns, Red Lifes/Red Suns, and 660: Wave Point Coral Wave and ZooMed Florasuns

This grow, throughout veg under my BB 8 bulb, I have been alternating 6500 with 2900. No complaints with clones from the mother that I grew from seed.

I have lots of pistils, but no bud sites yet. Today, I replaced 2 @ 6500 with 2 ZooMed Florasuns.

In another ~ 2 weeks, I will replace 2 @ 2900 with 2 Coral Waves, but only because I own them.

I question whether the few extra gms from extreme tube mixing offsets the expense

PLUS, today you can buy an A-51 led that covers 2 x3 area for ~$550, and never replace a bulb again, or at least 5 years. Several excellent grow threads on RIU

PS: I recently paid $11.99 each for 2 ZooMed FSs. FYI: they also have a Tropic Wave (~ 5000K) that would replace the 6500s, which are great for bushes, but not so much for sat dom strains

THRE4T2S0CIETY said:

I used a 12 bulb quantum with 8 6500k and 4 2700k and was impressed with the results, for my first grow. i have since swapped out the bulbs for a combination of actinic and other aquarium plant and coral bulbs (i learned a great deal of info here - https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/358190-led-without-leds-my-first.html). be warned it will take a while to sift through the B.S. but i think it was worth it in the end.

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Pet, where's all the T5 chatter? Club T5 seems dead too?
be easy,
Dr.J

Oh yeah, i just picked up 5 florasuns for 10.99 from drs. f&s --great to stock up!