Surround with T5 or MH?

I'm currently growing in my basement which is usually around 50-55° and RH: 25-35% (which I need to get higher). My veg tent is 48"x24"x60" and I was curious what you guys thought of my question in the title. Should I surround my plants in T5's, one fixture above and one on the side, or just a 400w MH? I'm sure the MH will be better later in veg but my current clones were under the 600w in my other tent but I couldn't get my temps up above 65°. I moved the clones closer to the light so they wouldn't be as cold but they also were curling at the tips and looked terrible. I took them upstairs into and let the sit in a box with a T5 2ft 4 lamp fixture above and they have sprung right back to life. Since winter won't be here (in MA) forever, I'm debating whether or not I should get another T5 or go with just the MH. Curious what your thoughts are. Thanks

400 MH. surprised it doesn't warm the tent up more than that though. add a small heater until temps get higher.

Thanks man! Ii had the clones 12" from the 600 without my inline fan on and it got to 70° only once haha. I saw a 200W heater at Home Depot for $16. Guess I should pick it up. I'd love to hear others' feedback too

Depends. you will have more development with the metal halide and a higher electric bill. t-5's will make your bottom nuggs slightly bigger while not rapping you electric bill.

Sirgreggins said:

Thanks man! Ii had the clones 12" from the 600 without my inline fan on and it got to 70° only once haha. I saw a 200W heater at Home Depot for $16. Guess I should pick it up. I'd love to hear others' feedback too

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yeah, i have one of those ceramic heaters with a built in thermostat. set it at whatever temp you want and it will shut off on its' own.

Pot doesn't need high temps for optimum growth. Anywhere from 60- 85 F is great, and the low humidity is fine also, as that helps to prevent mold. Personally if your temps are that low year round I would go for a 600w dimmable electronic ballast that you will be able to run both mh and hps. Consider yourself lucky with the environment you have.

I have a dimmable 600w now and i had the clones under that but again, they looked terrible under it. A couple days under the fluoro upstairs and the leaves are point up, and they look healthy. I checked my basement today and it was 45 down there. I always wanted room like this so i could have my plants nice and close to the light but it hurt it in this case. I think they were just too young to be under that intensity of light at that distance at least. Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Does anyone have an opinion about the difference in spectrums? T5's are 6500k but MH is 4200k. (not a Hortilux bulb). MH definitely makes it more difficult to determine how green the plants are