New T5 fixture....how close is your t5 lights?

[Nationwide]

Hey there growers:

How close is your t5 veg fixture? I bought a 8 bulb fixture....will they grow as well as a 400 halide while vegging? I just started useing mine and have the light 2 feet away to be safe but how close do you keep your fixture?

Thanks everyone

Nationwide

 

[Mt Toaker]

Florescent lights can be put as close as you want, T5's get warm, I don't know if they will burn your plants. I was using T12s and the plants literally grew into the lights with now burning what so ever. I run my 400w HPS 6-8" away with a cool tube. I say if you have good air circulation you could be 6" away with no problems at all. 2' will probably give you a lot of stretch. As far as MH is concerned, they will veg fine under the floro's but HID will always give you a much greater lumen output then anything else on the market right now (until you spend about 1200 per light on Light Emitting Plasma's by LUXIM) so a MH light will keep your plant much shorter and bushier. Are you using a timer? The plant need a dark period, specific chemical actions only occur at night. I've read best root development is at 20/4, but photosynthesis greatly diminishes after 16hrs of light making 16/8 also beneficial to run from what I've read so take your pick, I use 20/4. I strongly suggest that you don't run 24 hr lighting, besides who doesn't want to save money. . . There is my 2 cents.

 

[Ommi]

I have a 250w CFL and keep it pretty much almost on top of the plants, so some t5 should be fine right above them, I also noticed a very significant difference in growth when I had the light a couple of inches above them and like I have them now just bearly above, maybe an inch just put your hand under the light if you dont burn your self and feel its too hot to keep your hand there the plants are fine, also keep a thermostat in the close proximity so you can monitor the heat

 

[PoopyTeaBags]

i keep my t5's about 5-6inches above the canapy

 

[truecannabliss]

I make sure its as close as possible without actually touching it, which is the only way you will burn anything......also be careful the plants dont grow enough while your away to touch the bulb, i've had a couple do that and even then they were not damaged enough to cause too bad a burn by time i saw it.
I have a 4 55w T5 in the flower room at the moment and the plants directly under it have a phenomenal amount of thc.
Peace

 

[BPJR]

I keep mine roughly 5" away from my tops.