Thinking about getting this T5 Light 4 my 1st grow. Thoughts?

[StonedTony]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-HO-4ft-8-Lamp-Fluorescent-Light-Fixture-Bulbs-Grow-or-Bloom-4-ft-4-8-bulb/121192742102?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid=111000&algo=REC.CURRENT&ao=1&asc=27&meid=2482139581272065500&pid=100033&prg=1011&rk=3&rkt=4&sd=321172651214&

Ive decided its probably best to get one with a 5yr warranty. I should also say that its going in a 48" x 24" x 60" grow tent, and Im going to use the SCROG method. I currently have them in my closet under a CFL in Veg. Ive been trying to work out my PH and other issues before I put it into bloom. Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[StonedTony]

The more I think about it the more I think I should go with a 6 Bulb. I just dont want to wish Id gone bigger. 4' 6bulb HO should work better in the tent Im getting. Anyone know solid T5 6Bulb fixtures?

 

[Ammastor]

For the price you could get yourself a 600watt hps/mh. Unless your worries about venting. Which you will have to do anyways. Just don't want you too get a light and then later want a hps/mh. People like to use the t5s for veg and how for bloom. Even though they do work.

If your growing in a tent. I would get the 600 personally.

If you are worried about electrical costs. 600 watts really isn't that much and may only run Yahoo 40 a month. T5s will properly run you half that but your yields will be lower.

Just saying man. T5s do work but same price and more bud might make getting the hps more appealing.
Just my thoughts.

Let me know what u end up with
Sent from my LG-P769 using Rollitup mobile app

 

[authentic196]

Shit that price you can get a dimmable 1000w

 

[VTMi'kmaq]

First of all t-5's will grow ANYTHING a hid/hps will grow. Plenty of threads here with t-5 grows that prove that. Shit tony for that price your putting 50ish watts per t-5 bulb x 8 =400ish watts of excellent par spectrum from those t-5's in either the 6000k blues or the 3000 k reds they both work and work well. I NEVER skimp or cut corners when it comes to lighting, or anything that carries electrical current. Use the t-5's till the wheels fall off tony imho, then if you grow bored or feel a hps is your next step then by all means jump in but above EVERYTHING enjoy what your doing mang!! If you need any advice in regards to t-5's or 600 watt hps kooltubes I have several years experience with both and would be happy to help In any way I can!

 

[VTMi'kmaq]

The more I think about it the more I think I should go with a 6 Bulb. I just dont want to wish Id gone bigger. 4' 6bulb HO should work better in the tent Im getting. Anyone know solid T5 6Bulb fixtures?

Solid? hydrofarm t-5's are imho the best t-5's available.

 

[JohnDee]

Hi Stoned Tony,
I actually think that's a decent price for an 8 bulb T5HO with shipping included. They are brightm but less penetration...but didn't you say scrog? Then penetration isn't such an issue.

And if you're at all handy, it's very easy to wire in a couple switches shutting off banks of two. Hell. you could make it so you could run 2, 4, 6 or 8 depending on your need at the time. Cheers,
JD

 

[StonedTony]

Thx JohnDee, I have a friend that is an electrician that could help with wiring. Im just trying to grow for me and my friends and its my first grow so Im not trying to have 12 plants, nor do I have the room for that in my apt. Right now I have 2 that I planted and got lucky they are both fems. Gonna clone em soon. Looking to have about 3 or 4 plants. When I get decent enough at growing I will invest in a 600W. But for now T5s will be best. The whole website is 10% off till the 18th if anyone needs anything. Ill get some pics up of my plants when I get the light over em. http://growershouse.com

 

[JohnnySocko]

all T5's fixtures aren't created equal...if you wanna know which ones are the best; go to any of the Reef forums...
1) ATI Powermodule
2) ATI Sunpower
3) Sunlight Supply TEK
4) Any other aquarium branded fixture
5) Hydroponics fixtures

...all of this has to do with how the ballast drives the bulbs, blah blah blah.....and trust me, corals are even more touchy and expensive than weed plants so the assorted aquarium geeks have tested and tested and tested...

personally I'm not buying a $400 6x54 T5 for a plant light....my cheapo 4x54 $99 Hydrofarm unit does pretty good....recommend

Bulbs? you want GE 6500K's followed by Phillips (or so they say)

 

[StonedTony]

True JohnnySocko its all about the ballast. However in my hunt for a good T5 I found that allot of the time they dont say what brand ballast they are using and most of those that dont only come with a 1yr warranty. Thats why I figured the ones that do say what brand ballast and or come with a 5yr warranty are the way to go.

 

[jondamon]

True JohnnySocko its all about the ballast. However in my hunt for a good T5 I found that allot of the time they dont say what brand ballast they are using and most of those that dont only come with a 1yr warranty. Thats why I figured the ones that do say what brand ballast and or come with a 5yr warranty are the way to go.

Believe it or not the way to go is to just say fuck it and use hps.

That T5 fixture is probably gonna run you around 400w.

Might aswell just get a 400hps.

That way you can grow 4x2ft tall plants without the ballaches of SCROG as a first timer.

2oz easy per plant with a 400w hps.



J

 

[NorthofEngland]

Believe it or not the way to go is to just say fuck it and use hps.

That T5 fixture is probably gonna run you around 400w.

Might aswell just get a 400hps.

That way you can grow 4x2ft tall plants without the ballaches of SCROG as a first timer.

2oz easy per plant with a 400w hps.



J

Ballaches (ball aches...pain in the balls????)

Or is 'ballaches' a technical term?

 

[jondamon]

Ballaches (ball aches...pain in the balls????)

Or is 'ballaches' a technical term?

Bloody predictive text on the iPhone lol.

Ball Ache. A pain in the balls.



J

 

[NorthofEngland]

At first I misread it as 'ballast's' but it made no sense.
It was only after googling 'ballaches' returned only Scots Gaelic web pages that I suddenly saw the possibility of 'Ball ache'.

 

[itsgrowinglikeaweed]

I pull 3 to 4 oz per plant in the same size tent 2x4x5. 400W HPS with between 1 and 2 hundred watts of supplemental CFL's. I'll have 3 -5 plants in there. I grow perpetual style. 2 oz per plant or less is not efficient enough IMO if your running over 400w. A T5 scrog is a very efficient way to grow, but it's a little more work. With an hps managing the canopy is easier because the 'sweet spot' is larger. Get a T5 & use it. Then when you want to up the stakes use the T5 for vegging get and HPS for flower. Grow as you grow.

 

[trippyhills]

If your gonnna go T5 here are a few things to consider: (gains and losses)
-T5 and scrog are soulmates
-T5's are cheap bro. not 160. i got both of my T5's for 50 total off of craigslist. youd be surprised how many growers buy expensive ass gear only to quit mid way and sell their equipment.
-venting wont be as much of a problem
-yes you will in no doubt have less yield with a t5 over hps/mh
-more training/time will be spent with t5 to ensure light travels further

i decided to go with T5's mainly because of venting and temps, which i now have at 75-77 during the day and 66-68 at night with an active exhaust and passive intake. the hps would cause a lot of troubles in my space, so i couldnt get it even though i wanted to.

good luck bro!

-Trippy

 

[trippyhills]

Grow as you grow.

very good sir.

-Trippy

 

[itsgrowinglikeaweed]

You will not neccessarily have less yield using T5. Yield is not just how many grams, it's grams per watt. If done correctly your grams per watt yield using a T5 scrog will probably beat out the grams per watt that the average person gets with HPS. The average person is yielding crap from what I've seen. Keep those tubes CLOSE bro. You'll see. There are plenty of sweet ass T5 scrogs on Utube.