well I was thinking maybe the t5 would work better for me. I was thinking of scrogging the 2 plants.
I've never scrogged. If you don't need a lot of penetration (intensity for distance), T5HO will work for you. It's a useful backup light for when you have a more expensive light (which will eventually need service and you'll need something to at least keep the plants alive).
HID makes me nervous because it's like a small ball of controlled fire.
There are reports of those things bursting and a molten chunk of (whatever) starting a fire. Also reports of the ballasts causing interference, leading your local ham-radio operators sniffing you out and reporting you.
DIY COB wouldn't be too expensive or difficult. bcit could guide you on that.
It's also not hard to create your own "fixture" using Cree PAR38 spots/floods from Home Depot. Just some 1x4" planks of wood and outdoor PAR38 sockets. You'd need 12 over a 2x4' space for 25w/sq ft, and then a couple Cree 9.5w "lightbulbs" per plant for side lighting to bring it up closer to 30w/sq ft. (But, you're scrog and sidelight may not make sense. Might want an additional PAR38 over each plant.). That would cost about $300. Cree bulbs have 10 year warranty. Easy to replace. More of a long-term investment for relatively efficient LED. Not as much DIY as wiring drivers and drilling heatsinks (although that wouldn't be too difficult). Something that could be disassembled and configured in a variety of ways, used as supplemental light. I.e., more flexible than a solid flouro panel. I
flowered under 22w/sq ft and it did well.
