Fluorescent lighting question

I just picked up a couple of 4ft fluorescent light fixtures for real cheap and I was wondering what type of bulbs to put it them. I'm going to be using them for clones mainly in a dwc system. Would something like this work:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category/f28t5-fluorescent-tubes-5000k/

also any thoughts on this light, seems like a good deal

http://www.amazon.com/Watt-Electronic-Ballast-Reflector-GYO2009/dp/B004HNPGKA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1302578444&sr=8-3

I bought my 4' GE 32w tubes at Walmart for $6-8 a pair. That's where I got the fixtures too for about $12.

yep.i use 6500k & in t12s for seedlings &clones.i also leave them in the cab during flowering. should be fine.

I've upgraded to a 600w HPS, but still use my 4' lights for veg, clone, and sidelighting during flower.

Kottonmouth king15 said:

yep.i use 6500k & in t12s for seedlings &clones.i also leave them in the cab during flowering. should be fine.

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I thought t5's were better, does it not matter that much?

all t5's do is use less power also the bulb is smaller. but if u go hand and hand the fixtures cost more for the t5's than say the t8's. I got a 4' 2 bulb t8 fixture and bulbs for 20 bucks at wally world

T5's are better efficiency and lumen wise. But they are more expensive too. But not as expensive as HPS. Kind of a get what you pay for deal. But t12's WILL work. You're just not going to have as heavy a yield with them in most cases.

Now that you mention it joe, I was mistaken. I AM running the t8's instead of the 12's. I think there was $4-5 difference in price for 30% more lumens.

I am using a T5 setup with a 6400k grow spectrum, 5,000 lumen's per bulb, BULB TYPE IS "PLL55" , 55 watt Compact High Output T5 , these are about $15-20 a peice, I got through HTGsupply very nice it was one of the better ones i could find of the T5's, they say this is awesome for the veg stage and great for the rest of the process. i got he hole lamp with 2x bulbs for $70, My hole "closet setup" is about $700 "closet setup $700, LOL", I start as soon as my little ladies arrive " Darkstar, Jack Herer, Armageddon, and Super Lemon haze, 6x Plants, If interested let me know, I will let you know how it goes, I have been researching for months I feel very confident about this grow. So if you want to know how my T5 bulbs works I can upload some pics during veg. stage and so on to this thread let me know if that will help?

HPS light generate a lot of heat and can even start fire, also are detectable on F.L.I R varying on how the grow room is built or how it ventalated, look up F.L.I.R or download a Barry Cooper never get busted Vol. 2 it tells you all about that "this is a good thing to know and be informed on" it also known as "Forward Looking Infa Red", HPS generat a lot of heat F.L.I.R detects the heat from the lights becuse their hotter then the average light and heat up the room to a high level but florescent light generate zero to almost no heat, you have got to ask your self is jail worth the quality of the bud, if yes then go with HPS but do your research their are precautions you can take to decrease the odds of getting caught, If no then go with florescent T5 or whatever you can afford, florescent lights can still grow some very good bud, if your new to growing this will give you some thing to think about when choosing your lights, also if you order online use a visa gift card, do not ship to grow address, and use a public computer. Hope this help you out in the long run