that was constructive....... anyways.......... can someone post a system for the best price that has the right amount of lumens
Use T-5's for Mothers, clones and seeds. HID lamps for flowering. Don't waste time trying to grow buds under T-5's. Not quite intense enough, you have to put plants 3 inches away and line the walls with them to get mediocre buds. Put the money you'd spend on tubes into a good HID 400 watt. For 4 small to med plants, that would be sweet.
I use a 400 watt on the flowering side (2/3rds of a double door closet 2'w x 4'L x 6'H) with cooling tube hood hooked up to the vent fan, stays really stable, temp wise. I use; 5) 24inch T-5's on the veg side (the other third) 3 for the Mother and 2 for the clones. It cranks! Sorry didn't really address your question hope it helps anyway!