T5 vs. Hps

[Vonkins]

I have 2 2*4 t5 flourescent fixtures. Each fixture contains 8 54 Watt ho bulbs emitting 5000 lumens per bulb. These lights together cover a minimum area of 4*4. I believe a 600 Watt hpS only covers 3.5*3.5. My fixtures will produce 80000 lumens spread evenly in this area. A 600 hps produces 90000 lumens only in a certain area and from a certain distance. My t5 fixture can be placed one inch from plants a 600 hps more likely to be placed 8 to 24 inches above plants. That lead me to believe my fixture is delivering more lumens to the plants because I can keep my fixtures so close compared to a 600hps. Also I believe my fixtures supply lumens more evenly throughout my garden instead of in a localized area. Basically I believe my 2 fixtures together are just as good, if not better than any 600 hps. I'm not a pro by no means. I have just done some simple math with different lumen output charts. Will someone please comment on this thread and give me your opinion.

 

[trophy1]

I haven't used a T-5 but just using your numbers the T-5 is giving 5000 lumens per sq ft, the 600 hps comes in at 7200 per sq ft. Also you can find bulbs for the 600 that will give you 95000 lumens pushing that number up to 7500 per sq ft. With an air cooled hood you can get pretty close with an hps. My air cooled 1000 is sometimes as close as 8 - 10 inches.

 

[grow space]

with hps u get more dense and bigger nuggets, with fluos you get lesser, but with more thc production..
Combaine these 2 and BOOOOM!!!

 

[Little Tommy]

I have been using T-5s for a couple years now with the HO bulbs and have nothing but good things to say about it. I use them for cloning and they are great to get things started. For my vegging I use MH and for flowering HPS. I mostly buy used stuff and fix it up so you have to work with what you have.

 

[DrFever]

i use T5's for cloneing thats bout it ) and have these bulbs approx 8 to 12" above my girls wondering how many T5's you would need to compare ) http://www.eyehortilux.com/superblue.html

 

[Vonkins]

I'm getting 5000 lumens per square foot at 1 inch away from my plants. Of course your getting 7500 lumens per square foot at an inch away but you can't keep this bulb an inch away from your plants. So do the math, at 8 inches to a foot that 600's lumen output changes. I'm just saying I believe that at one inch away my t5 is just as good as any 600 at 8 to 12 inches away. Plus I feel my t5 fixtures spread light output more evenly over my canopy instead of concentrating stronger outputs in localized areas namely directly under the bulb. Someone please give more info on this subject

 

[GodSlave]

I use T5's for all stages of my grow, with great success, but I have a small grow area of 2x2. I have one light bank that hold 4 T5's @ 2000 lumens each, and 2 105 watt CFL's that have 6200 lumens each, and then I have various CFL and T5's for clones and mama's. I don't really care what anyone says, fluro's can be used for all stages of life and harvest just as nice bud as an HPS. I used to have a 600w HPS in my larger (4x4) grow area, but I like what I am doing now much better. I guess the down side is you have to have more lights when going with fluro's, BUT, and this is a BIG BUT(lol), you can get your lights within 2" of your canopy! This is a HUGE advantage over HPS. The other HUGE advantage of fluro vs HPS is the heat. I have NO heat problems, no need to constantly vent, etc, etc. This one thing alone has allowed me to go with CO2 injection, because of not needing to vent all that air out. And believe me, CO2 injection is the BOMB!

Growing scrog, with T5's has yielded me just as much as an HPS because with scrog you do not have to worry so much about light penetration. Light penetration is the major downfall to fluro, and if you are growing a 4ft plant, only your tops will be really developed. I think that is why there is so much misunderstanding about fluro's. Some people attempt to use them, and don't do so well with a larger plant, and then write it off as no good. With scrog and an even canopy, you get PLENTY of light penetration. I think with fluro's, it's all about growing with the right method, Scrog or Sog is well suited for fluro's.

So...my opinion, with everything considered, fluro is the best option for me, a small room grower. For larger growers, HPS is the only way to go because of the amount of light needed. Even with your 4x4 area, with enough lights, and the correct growing method, you too can grow big bud, I promise!
Feel free to PM me if you would like specific info about my setup.

GS

 

[GodSlave]

I'm getting 5000 lumens per square foot at 1 inch away from my plants. Of course your getting 7500 lumens per square foot at an inch away but you can't keep this bulb an inch away from your plants. So do the math, at 8 inches to a foot that 600's lumen output changes. I'm just saying I believe that at one inch away my t5 is just as good as any 600 at 8 to 12 inches away. Plus I feel my t5 fixtures spread light output more evenly over my canopy instead of concentrating stronger outputs in localized areas namely directly under the bulb. Someone please give more info on this subject

YES! You are right on track with what I am saying!

 

[cowboylogic]

I have 2 2*4 t5 flourescent fixtures. Each fixture contains 8 54 Watt ho bulbs emitting 5000 lumens per bulb. These lights together cover a minimum area of 4*4. I believe a 600 Watt hpS only covers 3.5*3.5. My fixtures will produce 80000 lumens spread evenly in this area. A 600 hps produces 90000 lumens only in a certain area and from a certain distance. My t5 fixture can be placed one inch from plants a 600 hps more likely to be placed 8 to 24 inches above plants. That lead me to believe my fixture is delivering more lumens to the plants because I can keep my fixtures so close compared to a 600hps. Also I believe my fixtures supply lumens more evenly throughout my garden instead of in a localized area. Basically I believe my 2 fixtures together are just as good, if not better than any 600 hps. I'm not a pro by no means. I have just done some simple math with different lumen output charts. Will someone please comment on this thread and give me your opinion.

Sorry but your fixture is only putting out 5000 lumens, and thats right at the bulb. 4 inches away and probaly cut in half. A 600 HPS will be 5000 lumens at about 30 inches. The coverage and penetration of the 600 blows the T-5s out of the water. Dont get me wrong, T-5s are good for small plants(under 12 inches)but once they are much bigger HID(metal halide or high pressure sodium)are much better choices.
EDIT: I cover a 4x4 very effectively with a 600 watt HPS. It would take 4 of your 2x2 T-5s. And you would still not get the growth or penetration of the HPS. And would probaly be using near as many watts.......

 

[Vonkins]

I have 2 fixtures that hold a total of 16 bulbs rated at 5000 lumens a piece. Do the math that's 80000 lumens in a 4*4 area

 

[cowboylogic]

I have 2 fixtures that hold a total of 16 bulbs rated at 5000 lumens a piece. Do the math that's 80000 lumens in a 4*4 area

No math too do. Lumens do not add upon one another from bulb too bulb. 5000 is all the fixture puts out...........

 

[Ronjohn7779]

T-5s have their benefits as you've pointed out. However they have a much more limited spectrum of light thus making less dense buds and with lower potency. I got nothing against T-5s they work adequately and they produce dank. They just don't produce as dank of weed as HPS bulbs. Also if you air cool an HPS setup you get a lot of the benefits of T-5 in terms of temperature and how close you can place them to plants. It mostly comes down to the fact of if you want to buy a fan and waste money on powering it.

Also HPS setups just cost a lot more in terms of sunk costs. The ballasts, bulbs, and hoods are pricey. You need to do a judgement call on if you want to spend that kind of money. Also the additional accessories are pricey (i.e. fans and duct work ect).

 

[cowboylogic]

T-5s have their benefits as you've pointed out. However they have a much more limited spectrum of light thus making less dense buds and with lower potency. I got nothing against T-5s they work adequately and they produce dank. They just don't produce as dank of weed as HPS bulbs. Also if you air cool an HPS setup you get a lot of the benefits of T-5 in terms of temperature and how close you can place them to plants. It mostly comes down to the fact of if you want to buy a fan and waste money on powering it.

Also HPS setups just cost a lot more in terms of sunk costs. The ballasts, bulbs, and hoods are pricey. You need to do a judgement call on if you want to spend that kind of money. Also the additional accessories are pricey (i.e. fans and duct work ect).

Initial costs are something to consider. With initial costs aside. The average grower will use fewer kilowatts per gram produced using HID over Fluorescents.

 

[GodSlave]

...And you would still not get the growth or penetration of the HPS.

I beg to differ, growth will be the same. Penetration, yes, you have a point, and I agree, that is what I was getting at in my post.
GS

 

[cowboylogic]

I beg to differ, growth will be the same. Penetration, yes, you have a point, and I agree, that is what I was getting at in my post.
GS

Not even growth rate. I can get more than 5000 to the plants. More lumens equal more growth. Average sunny day in the summer plants are getting 7000-8000 lumens per sq. ft. The side by side has been done many times. HID can give you faster growth rates.

 

[GodSlave]

However they have a much more limited spectrum of light thus making less dense buds and with lower potency.

They just don't produce as dank of weed as HPS bulbs.

Not trying to be a jerk, but those are wrong statements, very wrong.
GS

 

[cowboylogic]

Not trying to be a jerk, but those are wrong statements, very wrong.
GS

There are many factors envolved in end potency, light being one. All other factors being the same, HID will probaly be stickier and more potent. Again more light means more energy for the plant too use...........

 

[GodSlave]

I agree, there are many factors involved. But I can tell you from experience, with the correct amount of light and other conditions, your bud will be just as potent with T5's. I'm not looking to start an argument, I'm only speaking from experience. You even said, "probably will be stickier and more potent", have you grown with T5's or CFL?
GS

 

[Harrekin]

I use T5's for all stages of my grow, with great success, but I have a small grow area of 2x2. I have one light bank that hold 4 T5's @ 2000 lumens each, and 2 105 watt CFL's that have 6200 lumens each, and then I have various CFL and T5's for clones and mama's. I don't really care what anyone says, fluro's can be used for all stages of life and harvest just as nice bud as an HPS. I used to have a 600w HPS in my larger (4x4) grow area, but I like what I am doing now much better. I guess the down side is you have to have more lights when going with fluro's, BUT, and this is a BIG BUT(lol), you can get your lights within 2" of your canopy! This is a HUGE advantage over HPS. The other HUGE advantage of fluro vs HPS is the heat. I have NO heat problems, no need to constantly vent, etc, etc. This one thing alone has allowed me to go with CO2 injection, because of not needing to vent all that air out. And believe me, CO2 injection is the BOMB!

Growing scrog, with T5's has yielded me just as much as an HPS because with scrog you do not have to worry so much about light penetration. Light penetration is the major downfall to fluro, and if you are growing a 4ft plant, only your tops will be really developed. I think that is why there is so much misunderstanding about fluro's. Some people attempt to use them, and don't do so well with a larger plant, and then write it off as no good. With scrog and an even canopy, you get PLENTY of light penetration. I think with fluro's, it's all about growing with the right method, Scrog or Sog is well suited for fluro's.

So...my opinion, with everything considered, fluro is the best option for me, a small room grower. For larger growers, HPS is the only way to go because of the amount of light needed. Even with your 4x4 area, with enough lights, and the correct growing method, you too can grow big bud, I promise!
Feel free to PM me if you would like specific info about my setup.

GS

Without the extra heat your CO2 injection is COMPLETLY pointless, they need to be like 28C to use extra CO2 in any noticable way.

 

[cowboylogic]

I agree, there are many factors involved. But I can tell you from experience, with the correct amount of light and other conditions, your bud will be just as potent with T5's. I'm not looking to start an argument, I'm only speaking from experience. You even said, "probably will be stickier and more potent", have you grown with T5's or CFL?
GS

I know your starting anything. Nor am I. Dialog is how we share and learn. And yes I have grwon with CFLs and flouescents. Still begin veg and cone with them. But the comparisons have been done concerning potency related to light source. And HID won. Its been sometime since I have saw the study but will do my best to find and post it. I have nothing against fluorescent lights. But there are differences and in the end HID will outgrow fluorescents.