t12 vs CFL

BirdTooth said:

I did some serious research. That PUR/PAR rating does seem quite ideal. Unfortunately, it isn't a very widely displayed measurement, and takes a bit of math and info to figure out on your own while shopping.
Fortunately, though not being an ideal measurement, number of lumens, coupled with color temperature, can give you a pretty good idea on how your plants are going to react to the light, since color temperature refers to the area of the spectrum emcompassed by your light, and thus can be used to select lights that will provide in the high and low temperatures of visible light that plants require.

I would agree that T12's aren't very useful for much except for growing minor herbs.

T5 fixtures, on the other hand, can be pretty impressive. If you are attentive about moving the light as your plants grow, never moving it too far away, you can experience some very satisfying veg growth. I don't share Kali's reluctance on using them as your main veg method, especially if you are worried about space and heat.

It's true that you wouldn't have to beat yourself up to vent a small HID light, but if you are in the kind of aparment that you sound like you are in, even that might be too hot. I don't think Kali quite understands the blazing central apartment heat issue you sometimes encounter up there, but he lives in a different region so it is understandable.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/78632-par-vs-pur-measurement-light-efficency.html

http://www.aquabotanic.com/lightcompare.htm

All good if you can wade through the esoteric stuff.

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