T5s or metal halide for veg ( 400 watt )?
- Thread starter drumrol
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inth3shadowz
Well-Known Member
I'm using a 2x 600w MH/HPS in my new room im building...Im on a plan for electric though so my bill never changes lol
Star Dog
Well-Known Member
Both of them are good for veg but I think the mh is quicker.
Led/hps/T5 a welder or toaster it doesn't matter a kilowatt is a kilowatt, a 400w led uses 400w, a 400w mh uses 440w.
Or maybe you're referring to a heater you have to run with led?
Okay - so 400 watts are going to use X amount of AC regardless of the light type, good to know. My 1st grow is currently in flowering, and I used a 400-watt HPS, seemed to work fine. What is preferred, 400 HPS, 400 MH, or 400 T5s for veg. Wondering if I should swap out the 400 HPS bulb for 400-watt MH for veg.????
Star Dog
Well-Known Member
Vegging with a metal halide/T5 gives you a bit of less stretch between the nodes it's better suited for veg imo.
MickFoster
Well-Known Member
T5 for the win.
Herb & Suds
Well-Known Member
8 - 4 foot t5's would be my choice
PopAndSonGrows
Well-Known Member
315 watt CMH. Plants looooooooooove it. They'll pray every day, drink the koolaid n everything.
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
Initial costs going in with LED might seem high. Until you get the first electric bill after swapping out HID. It’s noticeable immediately. Add this up X12. And the light price is fixed. You wish your electric bill was.
Kassiopeija
Well-Known Member
t5 good for sprouts first week on 24/0
inth3shadowz
Well-Known Member
Only con I can find with LEDs is the heat output. Growing in a cold ass basement, LEDs don't keep the temperatures up enough. Only reason I switched to HID. If I was in a warmer area though I'd do LED all day.
waterproof808
Well-Known Member
A 4ft T5 uses 54w per bulb...so an 8 bulb would be 432w. Not sure if it would give a bigger veg footprint than a 400w MH.
Kassiopeija
Well-Known Member
400w MH should create more light but equal spread is way better with t5. also the fluorescents can be put up real close without creating hotspots and give off some nice heat as well.
my plants under 85w CFL have 37°C at tops and love it
and there you go at 10000 LED threads with cold temps = droopy plants
warmth is just as important as light, here at 48 altitude the sativas won't ripe out outdoors in autumn because it's too cold already. though, the sun still blasts 1600ppfd
waterproof808
Well-Known Member
Good point, MH generates more heat than a t5 so you would have to spend more on cooling a MH vs a t5
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
I live 45 miles from Fairbanks AK. In a single room dry cabin. I use an inkbird thermostat and a 500 watt desk heater. Barely noticeable on the electric bill in a closed tent. Closed except for one partially open low intake and a 24/7 4” exhaust fan. Works like a charm.