4 foot fluorescent bulbs for growing????
- Thread starter agap015
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DeeTee
Well-Known Member
It depends on what size lamps, T12's, T8's, your best bet is T5's they provide the best spectrum for your plants, 6500K bulbs for veg, 3000K or 2700K for bloom, I've been using 2ft-4bulbs T5's for some time and get decent grows with them, personally I feel T5's are better than cfl's, just my opinion.
roseypeach
Well-Known Member
I've been using a T5HO setup with only one tube and a CFL due to monetary restrictions at the time. Sorry setup for sure but I managed a couple of good plants off of it.
I shine the CFL on the sides. T5 setups only provide top lighting so a couple of CFL lamps for the sides of the plants is a good idea.
Short answer: yes
good luck!
I shine the CFL on the sides. T5 setups only provide top lighting so a couple of CFL lamps for the sides of the plants is a good idea.
Short answer: yes
good luck!
RockyMtnMan
Well-Known Member
[video=youtube_share;WJncJmkQPtM]http://youtu.be/WJncJmkQPtM[/video]
You should see what this guy does with T8s. I have been using these in my veg tent for two years now
You should see what this guy does with T8s. I have been using these in my veg tent for two years now
Nuikala
Well-Known Member
Flourescent works good, especially for veg. I use 2xt-8's and 21x23watt CFL's in my 4x3 room. Works good, a PAIN to constantly be adjusting and moving the CFLs around tho. Ideally i would like to use t-5 fixtures (4 foot 8 bulb) for veg and 400w HPS for flowering with CFL for side lights. Thats not till after this harvest tho. Check out ebay for HID kits when you have about 250 bones to spend. U can get a 400 watt dimmable digi ballast, MH bulb, HPS bulb, hood reflector, timer, and hanger for that price including shipping. an 8 bulb 4 foot t-5 including bulbs is about 200 bones.
Im saving to get mine in about 2 months.
peace
Im saving to get mine in about 2 months.
peace
Nutes and Nugs
Well-Known Member
How long do the bulbs last? 1/2 life?
Looks pretty bright though, sorta supercharging the electrons.
420Rx
Member
I started with just a 4' 2 bulb fixture with 6500k bulbs
Needed more light as they grew so added 1 more 4' fixture
By the time I was ready to flower I added 2 more plus "hyper-chargered" doubling the ballasts for 1.7% more output.
Getting ready to harvest my first crop with great results!
I have decided to go with 4x the ballasts after harvest bringing my watts up to 128 per x8 bulbs... That's 1024 watts! Considering the 1000's of hrs the bulb are rated for, who cares if it cuts the life down. I have not burned out one bulb yet.
Now I am vegging under a T5 and keeping the hyper-charged just for flower. These girls are almost ready for flower.
I am sold on the hyper T8s. Lots of quality light for very little out of pocket with no real impact on the power bill and no heat!!!
Peace
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Cthulhu's Hand
New Member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyG_SfvHCHE Watch the Vid It will answer your question within the first 2 seconds. From my research T5HO (Make sure its a High Output HO system) will produce some awesome buds you just have to make sure you use a good size system like 6/8/12 bulb. More light is always better 
carl.burnette
Well-Known Member
Subscribed. Looks promising
RockyMtnMan
Well-Known Member
I changed them after a year. They were still burning bright, but there was dark discoloration on the bulb ends. The cool thing is, even if they only last six months, they cost around $3.50 a bulb for four footers. I wouldn't flower with them, but I do have two, 4' T8 fixtures hanging vertically as side lights in my flower room.
RockyMtnMan
Well-Known Member
I have a few pics of these in my veg tent. They are in some of my pics in my journals. You can build one for around $26.00 and that includes buying a couple bulbs. Nothing replaces T5s, or MH, HPS but it is cost effective and the vegging plants seem to love it. I mix every other bulb,
3500k and 5000k or 6500k. Yellow and blue. I used to have a four foot, 4 bulb HO T5 in the tent and there is no difference in vegging with these. They don't run hotter than a T5 and like I said, the bulb cost is way cheaper!
RockyMtnMan
Well-Known Member
I agree, once you do it, you will ask yourself why you never did before. Best DIY project I ever did!I started with just a 4' 2 bulb fixture with 6500k bulbs
View attachment 2750343
Needed more light as they grew so added 1 more 4' fixture
View attachment 2750345
By the time I was ready to flower I added 2 more plus "hyper-chargered" doubling the ballasts for 1.7% more output.
View attachment 2750349
Getting ready to harvest my first crop with great results!
View attachment 2750364View attachment 2750365View attachment 2750367View attachment 2750369
I have decided to go with 4x the ballasts after harvest bringing my watts up to 128 per x8 bulbs... That's 1024 watts! Considering the 1000's of hrs the bulb are rated for, who cares if it cuts the life down. I have not burned out one bulb yet.
Now I am vegging under a T5 and keeping the hyper-charged just for flower. These girls are almost ready for flower.
View attachment 2750379
I am sold on the hyper T8s. Lots of quality light for very little out of pocket with no real impact on the power bill and no heat!!!
Peace