T5 Club... Show Us Your Stuff...

[ZZTops]

Sorry Zach but I call BS...
You keep making these claims here and in other threads with no proof or photos to back your words. If they're so slow and have such a short life why are you here...?

The Hydrofarm fixture I started this thread with now has 11K hours ( six veg/bloom cycles ) and just finished up some killer Bubblegum...

I plan on doing 4 or 5 more veg/bloom cycles on these same tubes unless I see them going south...

Seed Porn...

I F2'ed the Bubblegum and also crossed it with with the White Russian, calling it Russian Bubblegum...lol

PS... Seeds grown under a T5 Fixture...

 

[PetFlora]

Would love some of that Rusky Gum

I am beta testing Brand X WoodyHaze+BG, then pollinated with a different male (too early to recall, and too lazy to look up)

She's in my Hybrid LED tent, and is beginning to smell sweet

Indulge me for a moment, but it seems no matter what the product, if it's made in China then it can't be much good, but everything made in USA, or Europe is? I call BS. I assure you, if China is given specific instructions, they will follow them. Now, they might also make knock-offs that look similar, but do not quite match up. Happens a lot with automotive panels

 

[zachrockbadenof]

Sorry Zach but I call BS...
You keep making these claims here and in other threads with no proof or photos to back your words. If they're so slow and have such a short life why are you here...?
The Hydrofarm fixture I started this thread with now has 11K hours ( six veg/bloom cycles ) and just finished up some killer Bubblegum...
I plan on doing 4 or 5 more veg/bloom cycles on these same tubes unless I see them going south...
Seed Porn...
I F2'ed the Bubblegum and also crossed it with with the White Russian, calling it Russian Bubblegum...lol
View Image
PS... Seeds grown under a T5 Fixture...

if u 'read' this thread and others, i stated that our hydrofarm bulbs died between 3/4k hrs.. i called hydro and the tech adv us because of the smaller size, the filemint gets hotter then a t8/12, hence will burn out quicker. he stated no way will we get the advestised 20k hrs- ...and if u 'read' further i gave kudos to hydrofarm as they didn't send us new bulbs...but a whole new 8bulb fixture... 1st class company... if u would like a pic of the 8bulb fixture, i'd be happy to post it...let me know.

and to answer your question as to why i am here...'to learn'


if u 'read' this thread and others, i stated that we tried flowering under t5's, but after a month we were not happy with the progress, and moved the ladies into a flower room with hps/mh... and if u ' read' even further i have given kudos to a number of growers on this and other threads flowering under t5's and stated we mite have go give it another try after seeing the results of other growers..

and finally ..if i 'offended' you in any way, i apologize...

 

[zachrockbadenof]

I'd say that was a fair price. Good purchase!

You might (If you haven't), try running a small fan under them to keep the air moving. I also 'tip' the light, so that the heat doesn't just hang under the tubes.

Mine only have one run on them so hoping for better. My Hydafarms came with Phillips, so we'll see. I'll be firing them up again in a month or so.

I grow for myself and a couple of friends. So I'm not perpetual. If I kept them busy, I'd have a ton of smoke by the end of the year.

Not sure of the amount, but I Think I've lowered my temps by 15-20*F, by tilting the fixture a couple of inches, and adding the fan. It did not seem to lower the intensity of light? Who knows.

Because the light is so close to the tips, it also provides circulation for the plant. I've heard that's a good thing as well?

good points... we have not (but will now) add a fan to blow across the bulbs/fixtures... and the units are already tilted somewhat, as its a tight fit in a 4x4 tents getting a 8+6 bulb unit inside and manovering em to water/etc...

 

[2 Legal Co]

good points... we have not (but will now) add a fan to blow across the bulbs/fixtures... and the units are already tilted somewhat, as its a tight fit in a 4x4 tents getting a 8+6 bulb unit inside and manovering em to water/etc...

If you are that 'tight', I'd have to Predict that you'll collect heat and Will have more problems than just fading tubes.

That is Indeed something that I have experience with. my booth was too tight (only and inch or so to spare), and Did cause heat build up. The heat layer could well 'stunt' your growth as well? No, no, not you,,, we're not talking coffee here. But yes, it could easily slow photosynthesis noticeably.

I had to 'stretch' my booth to let the air flow. Went from 24"s and it little, to just over 30"s. It allowed me to go from 5-6"s 'headroom' to almost touching the plants.

I just ran the approximate hours on my tubes. Looks like they have something over 1500, and maybe as much as 1800 hours on them already. Didn't realize how the hours stack, especially when I vegged 24/0, and then went 12 weeks @ 12/12.

I'd guess that you need to get a thermometer in there and see what the temps are at the top of the foliage? It might be enlightening to keep track. Are 'loose' buds the result of too much heat or too little light? Or were the lights too far away, to keep the heat down or from previous practice with HPS?

Just food for thought.

 

[2 Legal Co]

Zach;

Being nosy. What are you doing with the 6 tube or do you have 2 tents? Also what style of grow are you doing? Are you keeping the tops level, and the bottoms defoliated?

With the very limited experience I have. I've already noticed that the more level the tops, and the cleaner the 'lower' end, the more productive the plant.

I did mine (2 plants under 1 light), HST, kept to Flattop, and clean underneath the wire (yup, I said Wire), the 4-8 inches above the wire was dense to the point of noticeably less light underneath. Most of the 'tops' were 4-6 inches, with little to no 'popcorn'. Made just less than a LB with only a couple oz of 'trim'. AK47, and my First run.....

That said, even though it takes a bit longer to grow with T5s, I'll buy new tubes Every run if needed. lol However, I don't see the need, so far.

By the By, I think I've found new/better wire. Home Despicable has re-wire for concrete work in sheets of 42"x84"s. Welded wire. Downside is it's not galvanized so probably needs to be painted. Has what appear to be 4-5" square openings. Could be a winner. $8 per sheet/piece. The description is all jacked up, but here's a link. Looked to be about 14gauge welded wire.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202090...&productId=202090219&R=202090219#.UUnQR3DXdS8

 

[ZZTops]

No Offense take'n on either side I hope, just seemed like you were trolling and not try to get to the root of the problem as I mention putting a fan on the T5's in post #9 in this thread 2 1/2 months ago in response to your first post...

When you say the bulbs went DOA, did they dim or completely stop working and/or were the ends black...?

We are all here to learn so if you got photos that would help ( burn ends and such ) let's see them...

Your experience with T5's is not the norm and should not be treated as such...

I see the T5's as a God Send to personal growers, fast, easy, saves money and takes you off the black market...

 

[zachrockbadenof]

Zach;

Being nosy. What are you doing with the 6 tube or do you have 2 tents? Also what style of grow are you doing? Are you keeping the tops level, and the bottoms defoliated?

With the very limited experience I have. I've already noticed that the more level the tops, and the cleaner the 'lower' end, the more productive the plant.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202090...&productId=202090219&R=202090219#.UUnQR3DXdS8

hey 2 legal... we have 1 4x4 tent that we use for veggin with the 14 bulbs for 60+days, then we bring em into a flower room with 3000w.. we trim the tops 2-3times during the veg, and have now just started to also trim some of the bottom vegation as even with hps/mh, u need to keep the fixtures much higher then t5's, and the penatration goes way down as they generate lots of heat... n even with fans we keep the bulbs 2+ feet high... and in reality they are probably 3+ft high as we grow diff varieties and can never get an equal canapy...

 

[zachrockbadenof]

No Offense take'n on either side I hope, just seemed like you were trolling and not try to get to the root of the problem as I mention putting a fan on the T5's in post #9 in this thread 2 1/2 months ago in response to your first post...

When you say the bulbs went DOA, did they dim or completely stop working and/or were the ends black...?

We are all here to learn so if you got photos that would help ( burn ends and such ) let's see them...

Your experience with T5's is not the norm and should not be treated as such...

I see the T5's as a God Send to personal growers, fast, easy, saves money and takes you off the black market...

i'm def not a troll... a dick...yes...but not a troll...... the bulbs died.. 6 of 8..black ends- don't have em , as we chucked em when the new fixture was sent..

i too thought 3-4k hrs was lame ..hence the call to hydrofarms.. and as said the tech said 3-4k was all i should expect... odd , i agree.. we were not using fan/s to dissapate the heat, as growin in a tent..in a garage, n in the winter, we can use the extra degree's..

peace..

 

[ZZTops]

i'm def not a troll... a dick...yes...but not a troll...... the bulbs died.. 6 of 8..black ends- don't have em , as we chucked em when the new fixture was sent..

i too thought 3-4k hrs was lame ..hence the call to hydrofarms.. and as said the tech said 3-4k was all i should expect... odd , i agree.. we were not using fan/s to dissapate the heat, as growin in a tent..in a garage, n in the winter, we can use the extra degree's..

peace..

lol...

Sounds like you got a bad or over driven ballet, is the new one preforming well...?

Let's see what's in the tent, if not a problem...

 

[2 Legal Co]

hey 2 legal... we have 1 4x4 tent that we use for veggin with the 14 bulbs for 60+days, then we bring em into a flower room with 3000w.. we trim the tops 2-3times during the veg, and have now just started to also trim some of the bottom vegation as even with hps/mh, u need to keep the fixtures much higher then t5's, and the penatration goes way down as they generate lots of heat... n even with fans we keep the bulbs 2+ feet high... and in reality they are probably 3+ft high as we grow diff varieties and can never get an equal canapy...

lol I'd imagine you would have to top them, using that much wattage for 2 months. You be grow'n trees.

I'd think your temps in a 4x4 would be off the charts w/o a fan. Maybe put an intake under the light? I'm sure you'll figure it out.

But NO; If they are going to degrade that quickly, I surely won't be using high dollar Grow tubes and Aquarium lights. Mine came with Phillips and If they go out after another run. I'll just buy 2 boxes, one of each temp.. Might even go for the even cheaper tubes, and just pitch them after each run. Not spending $80 plus for tubes that often.

 

[SirSteely]

Scrog wire question?

Scrog wire question?

I see a previous post mentioned Home Despicable having a good gauge of wire screens, etc. My question is : does a scrog screen have to be galvanized metal? If so: why?
I ask because I just installed a non galvanized tomato trellis around one of my plants and I noticed a sharp increase in the pistils darkening.

 

[ZZTops]

I see a previous post mentioned Home Despicable having a good gauge of wire screens, etc. My question is : does a scrog screen have to be galvanized metal? If so: why?
I ask because I just installed a non galvanized tomato trellis around one of my plants and I noticed a sharp increase in the pistils darkening.

No, You are fine in that respect...

 

[IamIcon]

Are you guys using any old 2x4 tent to fit the 8 bulbs in...
Or
A set brand or model number...

Im trying to avoid bowing on the frame.

 

[CaStoner]

I tried to get another 4x6 but he sold out got 4x4.

Some minor lower trimming and a mixture of bloom and grow bulbs for now.

 

[Taproot]

I have a 2x4x4 tent with 8 bulb fixture. no problem here. I Can't wait to run a grow, need some suggestions for 2 strains. I'm going to scrog 2 to 3 plants a grow, my first run will be for seeds. Pain and sleep issues are the reason , I plan to grow again.*

 

[2 Legal Co]

Are you guys using any old 2x4 tent to fit the 8 bulbs in...
Or
A set brand or model number...

Im trying to avoid bowing on the frame.

If you're handy.... I used some OSB, a few 2x4s and a Roll of Reflectix, to build my 'booth'. The OSB combined with 2x4 framing gives good support, as well as providing good mounting surfaces for whaTever. lol

Used 'dog chain' to hang the light, left it long and hung the wire under the light as well. Pretty much just an 'over depth' closet, with a flap for a door (reflectix,, rolls up and is secured by hook and loop material. I ended up using 2 Homer buckets with a piece of OSB scrap for a shelf to raise the pots up a bit.

The booth goes all the way to the ceiling, so plenty of height.... which I didn't need this run anyway. Could have done two lights 'stacked', truth be known. I prefer to work on the girls while seated, so not so much.

You could do pretty much the same as a tent by building a 2x2 and or 2x4 frame and lining it with plastic to make the enclosure. If you have problems, or just want to be safe. Just strip the plastic out of the frame, sanitize your base pan, and reapply new vinyl walls. Plywood or OSB for gusseting if/as needed.

Once a 'hound dog' always a hound dog. lol

The 'ready made' tents are Purdy however!

 

[2 Legal Co]

I have a 2x4x4 tent with 8 bulb fixture. no problem here. I Can't wait to run a grow, need some suggestions for 2 strains. I'm going to scrog 2 to 3 plants a grow, my first run will be for seeds. Pain and sleep issues are the reason , I plan to grow again.*

So you haven't fired it up yet?

Your optimism is encouraging!

Zach:

I just reread your post. (4x4) hadn't registered. Duuuh! I was reading 2x4.

 

[2 Legal Co]

I see a previous post mentioned Home Despicable having a good gauge of wire screens, etc. My question is : does a scrog screen have to be galvanized metal? If so: why?
I ask because I just installed a non galvanized tomato trellis around one of my plants and I noticed a sharp increase in the pistils darkening.

I was only thinking of handling the screen after several runs with the normal humidity involved. Rust?

The plants won't mind, I suppose.

I was hoping for galvanized, for cleaning. But the size of 'openings' was what caused me to go looking. Rebar and Rewire are of course not galvanized, because the concrete adheres better to the bare metal. Would have been nice if they'd sell them in 24" or 48" strips for my purposes.

Do be ready to tie it Down, as well as up. The girls seem to be weight lifters.

 

[Taproot]

not to grow.I need a few more things.this thread has been very helpful.hope to learn more.thanks