Buying a T-5 Light. what spectrum to get?

[Guest]

I want to grow, and then later on i would like to bloom to the flowers with it. What should i be getting?

thinking about this sytem

2foot 4 lamp(119.95)(w/bulbs)
http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/customkititems.asp?kc=HLIFT5NW24&eq=

or

2foot 8 lamp($185.95)(w/bulbs)
https://htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=50022

Thanks
Nick

 

[MoleMcHenry]

Get the 8 lamp model. Since you are vegging and fowering, you will need the light. You won't regret it when you see the growth from twice the amount of light.

 

[pakm4n]

ya all depends on how big u wan them to be

 

[Tarantula-1]

Veg and flower? Scrap the 2-footers altogether.

Go for the 4-foot ballast, either 6 or 8 bulbs. You're in the 325-435 watt range that way, and you'll yield respectably.

Spectrum-wise, I opted to buy 12 bulbs - 6 warm (3000k or under), 6 cool (6000k or over). Then I mix and match - 6cool/2 warm for veg, 6 warm/2 cool for flower.

T5s are more efficient than ever, and the prices are coming down a bit as well - try HTG Supply to limit your dollar output, they've got a number of fans here at IC who will vouch for their merch.

One thing's for sure- you'll be pleasantly surprised. T5 setups are a snap to work with, bulb-life is ridiculously long, they make no sound, keep plant height managable and nodes close, you can air-cool and air-circulate with a single oscillating fan, and they even inhibit the stench of flowering females - don't ask me how or why this is (being neither a botanist nor a lighting tech) but my odor control system went from a pain-in-the-ass filter system to the sheer dumb simplicity of one or two Ona Blocks. If necessary.

Can you get big yields? Nope. You'll have to settle for respectable instead. But, as with any other type of growing, your yields will go up as you get more experienced. I grow from seed - I rarely have the add'l time/space to run clones - and flip my girls at 7-9 inches. My first T5 run I averaged 20-25 gr, dry, per plant. My last run - my sixth with T5s - I was up to 35 gr on avg, and even hit 40+ on an NL.

Time is the fly in my ointment, otherwise I'd love to veg a few girls to 15-18 in high before flipping....although it's certainly possible they'll perform disappointingly with large plants, when light penetration becomes all-important. For six-foot trees, go HPS all the way; but if you're staying small - or you're a whiz at LST/supercropping - a T5's a worthwhile investment. And if you're in an apartment, or living in the middle of a row of attached houses, they're damn near mandatory.

Hope this helped.

 

[MEKONE]

Wats up,I just got a set of T5's and absolutly love them.I went with the 2 ft. Hydrofarm model.They are kool because you can keep adding more sets together.I initally brought 2 and linked them together and then a week later I bought 3 more for a total of 5 bulbs linked together that covers my entire cab with very little heat.They are pretty cheap and deffinatly a worth while investment.Good luck!

 

[zoolander]

Get the 4 foot 8 bulb one that you can shut off 4 bulbs when you want, you will luv it.

 

[Sleepy]

mixed spectrum
keeps everything nice & tight.

 

[Guest]

respectable[/i] instead. But, as with any other type of growing, your yields will go up as you get more experienced. I grow from seed - I rarely have the add'l time/space to run clones - and flip my girls at 7-9 inches. My first T5 run I averaged 20-25 gr, dry, per plant. My last run - my sixth with T5s - I was up to 35 gr on avg, and even hit 40+ on an NL.

Hope this helped.

i have a small washroom i want to use, the shower part mainly. if i remember correctly the dimensions are 38x38x80 inches.

 

[MEKONE]

Sleepy,was that grown under T5's only?

 

[Sleepy]

Sleepy,was that grown under T5's only?

no, i flower with a 400 watt HPS...these are at week 3 flowering.

from germination until i flip the timer, i use the T5.

plants love it!

 

[Mackawber]

I thought the rig to gig with now was the 400 watt HPS with a CMH bulb!!

Duh!

 

[Sleepy]

I thought the rig to gig with now was the 400 watt HPS with a CMH bulb!!

Duh!

i was only trying to answer the thread starter's question based on my successes.

i don't have money to change my setup at will (anymore).

sorry for trying to help.

 

[Guest]

so if im going for a new setup, growing one plant at a time. What should i use?