T5 CFL or HIDs ? I REALLY need help with a decision.

I have two spaces in a VERY small closet. Each space is 4 1/2 long x 1 ft wide. I was going to buy a couple of Feliz 250 w CFLs w/ reflectors to replace the 2 4' 4 bulb T5s I have on my veg stage and supplement them with one of these lights mounted to the wall. Also I have one section that is 4' tall and one that is 5' tall. Or i can arrange two 5' tall chambers if needed.
On this forum a LOT of people tell me to get 400 w HIDs. I fear this may be too hot for my space.

this is what it looks like now w/ one set of lights off in the first pic for the sake of the photo.

Should I stick with the flat fixtures, go for the combo of the 2 CFLs w/ reflector and the fixture or go HID?

Any opinions!

Stick with the T5's and add more when needed, they run cooler than the 400W at the same wattage and produce about the same amount of lumens. If you switch to CFL's you'll need a lot more wattage to get the same lumen output because they're not nearly as efficient bulbs. I have a 4' 8 bulb 432 Watt T5 fixture in a closet that runs fairly cool.

ripburger said:

Stick with the T5's and add more when needed, they run cooler than the 400W at the same wattage and produce about the same amount of lumens. If you switch to CFL's you'll need a lot more wattage to get the same lumen output because they're not nearly as efficient bulbs. I have a 4' 8 bulb 432 Watt T5 fixture in a closet that runs fairly cool.

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With the space i have that two 4 bulb set up is the best I got. If i stick with T5 for flowers the best i could do is like a 4'-6bulb fixture with like two 2'-8 bulb fixtures mounted to the wall behind the plants. Or i can Go CFLs with the 4' -4 bulb fixtures behind each to supplement light and rotate the plants from place to place.

These are my 3 choices given my budget and space. What do you think ? T% or a combo? I'm not sure.....

Stick with the tubes, you'll get a better light spread and more lumens. Also get some 3000k flower bulbs if you don't have some already, they do make a little bit of a better bud yield. Put a homeade CO2 yeast bottle (for 3 bucks) in there and you'll end up with some nice tight nugs.

One more thing I forgot to mention, if you're on a budget the T5's save you a lot of money in the long run because the last about 2-3 times as long as those 250W CFL's (which are pretty expensive). And you can get the T5's online at some places less than $3 a bulb if you buy quantity, don't ever pay the extortionist prices they charge at the hydro store when you don't have to (like $10-15 a tube).

I have used t5's start to finish, 4 bulbs, two of each spectrum. In a small space like yours it should be fine. I would not let them get too tall before you go to 12/12, you won't get a ton of penetration with them. Good luck!

ripburger said:

Stick with the T5's and add more when needed, they run cooler than the 400W at the same wattage and produce about the same amount of lumens. If you switch to CFL's you'll need a lot more wattage to get the same lumen output because they're not nearly as efficient bulbs. I have a 4' 8 bulb 432 Watt T5 fixture in a closet that runs fairly cool.

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I don't have any room to add more T5s as I need them. I mean I could get away with a 2' - 8 lamp on the wall and upgrade from a 4 bulb overhead light to a 6 bulb, but that's full. The CFL will give me a bit of room to work with to mount more T5s on the wall.

I don't know really. I just do NOT want to go HIDs in such a small closet.
So it's either to BIG CFLs and supplemental T5s on the wall . Or a large # of fixtures hangin from the walls and shelves.

Can't decide.......