Club T5
- Thread starter C.Indica
- Start date
mauricem00
Well-Known Member
check out post # 12 on the first page of this thread. and that was done with just 6500k bulbs start to finishAwesome info. Thanks. You learn something new here every day.
Morriston55
Well-Known Member
Hey guys, Im reading some interesting things on color spectrums and best vs worse light options. I have a general question about what lighting to use after I transfer my plants from my starting/veg box into the grow tent for flower. The starter cabinet is 18X18X20" and I will be using 6 - 6500k 23w cfls for starting clones and seeds in this box. (probably only 2-3 plants at a time) Because the starter box isnt huge the plants can only get so big in here even with some LST.
When the plants outgrow the starter box, I plan to transfer them to my tent which is 2x4x5. I was lucky enough through work to get T5 fluorescent fixtures for free. I will be running (14) 36" T5 bulbs. I was able to take home all our remaining stock of bulbs for these fixtures. 2 types of bulbs
3000k 21watt
4100k 39 watt
I have about 35 of each bulb. My real question is do I need to buy 6500k bulbs for these T5 fixtures, or will the bulbs I have be adequate. My concern is once I transfer from the starter cabinet into my tent, the plants will still be small and I will need to veg them another few weeks to fill out the SCROG and tent size for max yield in my space. Will the 4100k bulbs be fine for this? And then when its time to flower change the bulbs to the 3000k?
A good read on this 4100k debate here-
https://forum.grasscity.com/threads/4400k-bulbs-beat-2700k-for-flower.510135/
The wattage difference in the 2 bulbs I currently have is quite large to, which makes me think leaving some 4100 39watt bulbs in even for flower may be beneficial as I can get alot more watts on the plants with 39w vs 21w. Power consumption isnt a huge issue with me, but this is only for personal smoke for me and wifey.
Am I overthinking it? Having to buy 6500k T5's 36" long will cost about $150 for 14 of them, seems a little wasteful when I have these free options at disposal and the plants will already have a good start in the cabinet under 6500k cfls. Im just not positive how big they will be when I transfer and how much bigger I will want them in the tent before I flip to flower if this all makes sence to anyone.
First time grower just trying to be prepared and make the most of what I got, appreciate all criticism, looking forward to this season!
When the plants outgrow the starter box, I plan to transfer them to my tent which is 2x4x5. I was lucky enough through work to get T5 fluorescent fixtures for free. I will be running (14) 36" T5 bulbs. I was able to take home all our remaining stock of bulbs for these fixtures. 2 types of bulbs
3000k 21watt
4100k 39 watt
I have about 35 of each bulb. My real question is do I need to buy 6500k bulbs for these T5 fixtures, or will the bulbs I have be adequate. My concern is once I transfer from the starter cabinet into my tent, the plants will still be small and I will need to veg them another few weeks to fill out the SCROG and tent size for max yield in my space. Will the 4100k bulbs be fine for this? And then when its time to flower change the bulbs to the 3000k?
A good read on this 4100k debate here-
https://forum.grasscity.com/threads/4400k-bulbs-beat-2700k-for-flower.510135/
The wattage difference in the 2 bulbs I currently have is quite large to, which makes me think leaving some 4100 39watt bulbs in even for flower may be beneficial as I can get alot more watts on the plants with 39w vs 21w. Power consumption isnt a huge issue with me, but this is only for personal smoke for me and wifey.
Am I overthinking it? Having to buy 6500k T5's 36" long will cost about $150 for 14 of them, seems a little wasteful when I have these free options at disposal and the plants will already have a good start in the cabinet under 6500k cfls. Im just not positive how big they will be when I transfer and how much bigger I will want them in the tent before I flip to flower if this all makes sence to anyone.
First time grower just trying to be prepared and make the most of what I got, appreciate all criticism, looking forward to this season!
RM3
Well-Known Member
Yes, the GE 4100K bulbs are the best I have found for yield
Morriston55
Well-Known Member
Do you recommend them be used for veg only or also for flower?
RM3
Well-Known Member
I have done both, feel free to follow my sig links
Colo MMJ
Well-Known Member
That is crazy. All at 6500 K. Amazing. I cannot believe that. A beast and in 63 days?
On your poor man's t5 - do you cut about a 4x4 piece of the 3/16 ply wood. Add our wood trim strips along the edges.
Glue down the aluminum foil.
Screw in the bulb ceramic or plastic terminal connectors at the correct distance.
Mount the ballast on top and drill holes for the wires.
Wire up the terminal connectors.
Attach hanging hooks and wires.
Install the bulbs, plug em in and you are ready to go.
I am as intrigued as the COB DIY builds.
Morriston55
Well-Known Member
Just read all 34 pages of your Pot of Gold thread, very impressive, post # 220 had me in awe a few minutes
Im still unsure what selection of bulbs I should test out for my very first grow though, the 4100 seems appeailing for both veg and flower after I move it from the cabinet to the grow tent, 3000 seems like an obvious choice for flower only, but after reading some discussion on PAR I feel even more lost on what bulbs to run and when
RM3
Well-Known Member
4100K for yield, High Blue 10,000K (or better) for tric production, Actinics for potency
Morriston55
Well-Known Member
Thank you, since I have them in possession already and this is my first grow to test and learn the ropes, I will veg with the 6500 and try the 4100's in the tent for a few weeks of prolonged veg before flipping to 12/12 flower also running 4100k
Should be a little over 500watts in my small space unless I use a few of the 3000k's for a little red light
The 10k+ bulbs are definetely on the expensive side when I factor currency exchance to the US dollar right now, next grow perhaps
Should be a little over 500watts in my small space unless I use a few of the 3000k's for a little red light
The 10k+ bulbs are definetely on the expensive side when I factor currency exchance to the US dollar right now, next grow perhaps
RM3
Well-Known Member
Yeah the ATI bulbs are $32 each here but well worth it IMO
mauricem00
Well-Known Member
I cut an 11 inch by 48 inch piece and add the 2by 1 inch rails and end pieces to hold the wings. use carpenters wood glue and small nails to assemble use small would screws and carpenter wood glue to hold the sockets and drill holes thru the wood for the wires glue and 18 by 2 1/2 inch "doubler" at the center of the top plate for a ballast. using long wood screws and 3/4 inch aluminum stand offs to hold the ballast ans allow air circulation around the ballast. I use 1/8 inch foam board for the wings and attach aluminum foil with white glue for the reflector use a small metal plate bolted to one of the rails to hold 2 switches. this is a 2 channel ballast so I can run 2 or 4 lights
mauricem00
Well-Known Member
the author of that article is a little confused about the difference between "black body" color temperature and fluorescent bulb color temperature. except for specialty bulbs like P@A bulbs all fluorescent bulb use the same three phosphors (blue, green and orange red) the color temperature is determined by the ratio of these three colors 4100K will give you about the same color ratio as running 1 6500k with 2 3000k bulbs they all produce only a small amount of 660nm light regardless of the color temperatureHey guys, Im reading some interesting things on color spectrums and best vs worse light options. I have a general question about what lighting to use after I transfer my plants from my starting/veg box into the grow tent for flower. The starter cabinet is 18X18X20" and I will be using 6 - 6500k 23w cfls for starting clones and seeds in this box. (probably only 2-3 plants at a time) Because the starter box isnt huge the plants can only get so big in here even with some LST.
When the plants outgrow the starter box, I plan to transfer them to my tent which is 2x4x5. I was lucky enough through work to get T5 fluorescent fixtures for free. I will be running (14) 36" T5 bulbs. I was able to take home all our remaining stock of bulbs for these fixtures. 2 types of bulbs
3000k 21watt
4100k 39 watt
I have about 35 of each bulb. My real question is do I need to buy 6500k bulbs for these T5 fixtures, or will the bulbs I have be adequate. My concern is once I transfer from the starter cabinet into my tent, the plants will still be small and I will need to veg them another few weeks to fill out the SCROG and tent size for max yield in my space. Will the 4100k bulbs be fine for this? And then when its time to flower change the bulbs to the 3000k?
A good read on this 4100k debate here-
https://forum.grasscity.com/threads/4400k-bulbs-beat-2700k-for-flower.510135/
The wattage difference in the 2 bulbs I currently have is quite large to, which makes me think leaving some 4100 39watt bulbs in even for flower may be beneficial as I can get alot more watts on the plants with 39w vs 21w. Power consumption isnt a huge issue with me, but this is only for personal smoke for me and wifey.
Am I overthinking it? Having to buy 6500k T5's 36" long will cost about $150 for 14 of them, seems a little wasteful when I have these free options at disposal and the plants will already have a good start in the cabinet under 6500k cfls. Im just not positive how big they will be when I transfer and how much bigger I will want them in the tent before I flip to flower if this all makes sence to anyone.
First time grower just trying to be prepared and make the most of what I got, appreciate all criticism, looking forward to this season!
Morriston55
Well-Known Member
Would I gain any measureable ammount of yield or quality by having a few of the 3000k 21w bulbs mixed in with the 4100k bulbs during flower? Or even as much as 50/50
cuddlesthesheep
Well-Known Member
I'd keep it 20"ish and adjust from there.
Sneex
Well-Known Member
I'm gonna be beginning my first grow with this grade of equipmwnt I have only used CFLs in PC towers and I have done a few small cabinet grows which you can see on these forums.. I have two rooms one for veg one for flower gonna be using t5s veg an clones as for flower hps.. have carbon filter aswell as CO2 installed as well I'll be posting pics after disinfecting tonight!!
kroc
Well-Known Member
Just made the switch to a t5 in my veg room. Was having a hard time keeping higher temps with my leds. I read somewhere they like 80's due to the high intensity light, and my room runs kinda cool so its a battle keeping it at those warm temps. It stays more in the 74-78 range. The couple moms are praying after 12 hrs or so. Safe to say theyre liking it.
Last edited:
