Does anyone use T8's (or any fluoro's) for vegging?

I'm making a veg box right now and I want to put fluoro's in it.

I was wondering if like 2x T8 2800 lumen 4ft lights would be enough for the clone rooting stage, and if 6-8x T8 tubes would do for the veg process..

I can get 4ft 2tube T8 fixtures for like 10 bucks at walmart, and even @ 4 fixtures for 8 lights it's only 40 bucks, compared to a similar T5 setup which would cost me about $200 =P

Does anyone use these for veg? If so can you tell me what type you use?

Any other info is very much appreciated as well.

Thanks,
CreQ

T8's will work great for clones & veg and you can have them very close as not much heat

So even though they put out only 2800 lumens for the 4ft bulbs I can still use them for decent veg (if I keep them close enough) ?
I saw the T5's have 5k for the same sized bulb, twice as much, but the price diff is also huuuuge..

I'm planning on using HPS for flowering, but I don't want to stack another MH HID in my closet (unless anyone thinks you can get away with a 70-100w MH (like self-rigged security light from home depot/lowes) and that maybe it's better?

I'm trying to decide between the three right now (t5 4ft, T8 4ft, 70-150w MH).
The T8 4ft is what I'm hoping to be able to go for heat issues as well as lighter costs..

If anyone has had good experience vegging under T8's I'd really like to know about it..
or if someone can tell me I'll be a lot happier with the growth during veg with T5 or the MH and that it's worth it that's cool too =P

(also, bulbs for vegging? I'm thinking 2x2700k + 4x6500k?..)

Any info appreciated lots... I'm building this in the next week..

I keep my mothers under t5s and veg under them also..Its a little slow but sometimes thats a good thing...peace

T8s have a lot more heat than t5s.

I use a two ft.shop fluro on my clones

Mr.Therapy Man said:

I keep my mothers under t5s and veg under them also..Its a little slow but sometimes thats a good thing...peace

Click to expand...

I'm using 4x 4-foot T-5's for veg and they work amazing. I don't know about the T-8's though. How many plants do you plan on vegging under it?

I have two walmart floros...paid less than 12 bucks I think...there for aquariums...they work great!! Didnt think the would but they do.....

Vegging is slower with t5s compared to MH thats all Im saying.Hes compareing the two..peace

creq2 said:

So even though they put out only 2800 lumens for the 4ft bulbs I can still use them for decent veg (if I keep them close enough) ?
I saw the T5's have 5k for the same sized bulb, twice as much, but the price diff is also huuuuge..

I'm planning on using HPS for flowering, but I don't want to stack another MH HID in my closet (unless anyone thinks you can get away with a 70-100w MH (like self-rigged security light from home depot/lowes) and that maybe it's better?

I'm trying to decide between the three right now (t5 4ft, T8 4ft, 70-150w MH).
The T8 4ft is what I'm hoping to be able to go for heat issues as well as lighter costs..

If anyone has had good experience vegging under T8's I'd really like to know about it..
or if someone can tell me I'll be a lot happier with the growth during veg with T5 or the MH and that it's worth it that's cool too =P

(also, bulbs for vegging? I'm thinking 2x2700k + 4x6500k?..)

Any info appreciated lots... I'm building this in the next week..

Click to expand...

I clone and veg under T8 lamps with 5000K lamp.
The one thing I have noticed is my my plants stay very low when growing new branch systems. I think this is do to less heat build up so I can have the light with in 3" from the tops.

I don't worry about not getting tall enough at this stage, when I move them over to the flower they stretch the fist couple of weeks.

i use a 3x3 mylared closet with 3 wall-mart 2 bulb 48" t8 fixtures (6 48"inch bulbs alltogether). and one wal-mart 24" "plant" light. i am currently vegging with that. 6500k all the way baby. super tight noddage on the babies. i keep the babies tops AS CLOSE as humanly possible to the lights.I like the TP method because at the lowest point you can place your lil sprouts, but towards the wall you can keep your bigger ones. i am thinking about buying 2 more of those fixtures just to get a even light throughout the whole 3x3 area. i too have wondered how well they do under cheap t8's for veg opposed to mh for veg, cant find too much litterature about it though. i can tell you that they do veg out under them just fine though, i just think that they grow a lot faster if you do it under mh. I had a 600mh for veg but i soon figured i should throw that into the flower chamber to accompany the 600hps alrdy in there so i can get a fuller spectrum as well as bigger footprint. when i get the extra chedda ill get another hps for flower though and prolly do away with the mh. who knows. i am new, and just feeling it out as a lot of you are as well. .... all i can say is, thank you wal-mart for outsourcing practically everything that is on your shelves to give the american people cheap shit, such as veg lights. thank you <--hint of sarcasm p.s. the lil light is 4100k cuz i couldnt find 6500k, but 6500k i hear is best for vegging.

I recently changed to a 6 bulb, t-8 fixture (from t-5 4 bulb) I purchased at Home Depot. Total cost for fixture/cord/10 pack of 6500k bulbs = $105. Works great for clones. Top is vented so heat is no problem.

I have the exact same setup for vegging. 6 bulb T8 6500K. Mine have only been under the T8 for a few days so I wont know for a while if its worth it or not.

T8's are really nice because they are efficient and run EXTREMELY cool. Good for vegging if you have an 8 or 10 bulb setup. I run 4 6500K Zoo Med bulbs, 2 5000K Flora Sun Zoo Med bulbs, and 2 10,000K Ocean Sun Zoo Med bulbs. Real nice, really really really nice

I use a 4ft two bulb T8 for clones until they out grow the shelf then they go in the 4x4 tent under a 400 watt untill they go to the flower room.

I use a T5 2' 8 bulb setup. I think you'd be fine on a T8 if you just find the right kind of bulbs.

I've been experimenting with about 15 different kinds of flouro's. The absolute BEST ones I have found that work are a 50/50 mix of 5000k and 6500k. Pink/White/Blue

EvasiveGrower said:

I have the exact same setup for vegging. 6 bulb T8 6500K. Mine have only been under the T8 for a few days so I wont know for a while if its worth it or not.

Click to expand...

I use one of these for my mothers and one for veg area, they work great.

Thats cool, all my fixtures are only 2 footers, so space is limited to a 2 foot space.