T5 Vertically Doubled-Up Design - will it work?

[Dragor]

Hey all - I've been searching the forums for some time now trying to find someone who has done something similar to what I am planning to do but haven't gotten much answers to my odd questions regarding the T5 setup I will use for flowering...

Right now I have a single T5 fixture holding 4x 2ft bulbs (24w/ea), illuminating my seedlings/clones at a distance of 4-6" from the tops... well once they are 3-4 weeks old they will be 7-8" tall I suspect and very close to or touching the light (based on shelf height I have set) - I plan on dropping the shelf to total height of 2.5' once I start flowering and adjust as they grow.

So for lighting the box in flowering I was thinking of buying another T5 fixture (same: 4x 2ft bulb setup) and getting 4 red (3000k) bulbs with it (makes total of 196w in less than 4sqft, so 50w/sqft) - now here is the twist I wanna throw in - since my box is quite small area wise (28"x20"), but height is real nice (48"), I figured I could hang the two T5 fixtures vertically from the top and mix the bulbs within each fixture so they are alternating spectrum - to increase the penetration of light even more to the outer edges, I plan on placing mylar sheets on the two walls which the lights are not hanging against - does anyone think this will work? T5's done vertically with mixed spectrum on same ballast/fixture? Let me know what ya'll thinks, thanks!

 

[PurplePotion]

I think it'll work quite well. Just make sure that those bulbs don't get hot enough to burn your plants. That's the only thing I would worry about. The more light the better :smile:

 

[CantBe2High]

Why mix the spectrums?

Why mix the spectrums?

I am new at this, but I also have 2, 4 bulb, 2" T5s, currently vegging some sprouts with full spectrum, also some bloom spectrum bulbs ready to swap when its time to flower.

Right now, they are over top, actually due to my 4" cab in a triangle shape as with the fixtures 2+2>4"

But I was planning to switch to the bloom bulbs when I go 12x12. Is there any serious advantage to mixing the grow and bloom bulbs?

I started with a 400W HPS, but it was just too hot for my 2"x4"x5" cab. The T5s seem much easier to manage and use half the power.

 

[suedoe]

I wonder if putting the T5's back to back, hanging vertically in the middle, with plants all around, would work?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Sounds like a home made Phototron http://www.phototron.com/catalog/phototrons.html

 

[Dragor]

Purple & Common - thanks for your guys' thoughts and suggestions...
CantBe - I found out that you CAN mix the two spectrum bulbs within the same fixture, and I think that it would be wise to do because the blue emits more lumens than the red (?) and so you would be increasing the "intensity" of the T5 setup while still maintaining the red spectrum - maybe more people can chime in on that idea...
Freezer - dude you just pulled some decades old memories from my brain with the comment about the Phototron style concept - the first grow I ever did (where parental stealth was an issue) as a kid, was using a small (2foot tall) phototron, oh the memories! Maybe that subconscious got involved with this new T5 lighting setup design.

In any case, I don't think I will put a third one on the top (as of now) - it will just be two vertically hung on each side, with fans blowing across the lights (aimed from bottom of canopy upwards so heat can get dispelled from the top exhaust) - in order to get light coming directly from the top I was thinking of placing mylar on the "ceiling" of the cab - if it comes down to it I might just throw a cfl or two there on top, but another T5 would be a pretty big expense (fixtures are $125 & 4bulbs are $50) - not to mention extra heat that I am trying to stay away from. Any other suggestions on how to disperse light to the top or if it's even going to be necessary?

Gonna snap some pics of the current setup so you all can see the cab layout, but I probably won't setup the double T5s until another 10 days, when my babies got enough beef on 'em to throw down the sensi! thanks again for the input so far, you guys rock!

 

[CantBe2High]

Can yes, but should?

Can yes, but should?

Purple & Common - thanks for your guys' thoughts and suggestions...
CantBe - I found out that you CAN mix the two spectrum bulbs within the same fixture, and I think that it would be wise to do because the blue emits more lumens than the red (?) and so you would be increasing the "intensity" of the T5 setup while still maintaining the red spectrum - maybe more people can chime in on that idea...

I'm sure you can mix the types of bulbs, its just electronics and the ballasts, but should you? I wish there was more science on all this. So much info on these forums are opinions. I'll probably stick with conventional wisdom on my first grow and use all full spectrum bulbs for veg and all bloom/soft spectrum for flower. In the end, I wonder how much it really matters one way or another. But its my first grow and I want OK yield, just want success not maximization!

In nature, the length of day gradually shortens, and the type of spectrum also gradually changes. If I had the inclination I'd make smart spectrum bulbs that match the natural light intensity and timing. Heck, type in a lattitude and longitude of your landrace strain, the effective time of planting, and the lights would gradually change duration of being on and spectrum. Probably could sucker in tons of stoner's with my claims of high tech, mimic nature, light patterns Humm, anyone looking for a business partner! Massive buds by computer controlled timing and spectrums. "Smart Grow 2000" available now!!!!!!

 

[Dragor]

What a BRILLIANT idea bro!! Literally I think that would be the next STEP in lighting technology for indoor horticulture, if it hasn't already been worked on, you should patent some design and get some labels slapped on a proto-type haha I am down to be business partner haha - so yea back to the topic on hand...

I tried hanging the single 4bulb 2ft fixture I have, vertically against one wall, and it seems the illumination is pretty weak overall for some reason, compared to when its up top horizontally, hrmm.. I wonder if adding another one will help much even, and adding mylar - pretty hard to say - but I don't think it will be enough i-lumen-ination for the cab - not to mention the ballast and bulbs take up 4 inches on each side and I have only 28inches to work with so impossible to run six plants... I'll be going back to my 250w HPS and rigging some air cooling for it with the panasonic whisper fan/scrubber DIY setup posted here...

I'm sure you can mix the types of bulbs, its just electronics and the ballasts, but should you? I wish there was more science on all this. So much info on these forums are opinions. I'll probably stick with conventional wisdom on my first grow and use all full spectrum bulbs for veg and all bloom/soft spectrum for flower. In the end, I wonder how much it really matters one way or another. But its my first grow and I want OK yield, just want success not maximization!

In nature, the length of day gradually shortens, and the type of spectrum also gradually changes. If I had the inclination I'd make smart spectrum bulbs that match the natural light intensity and timing. Heck, type in a lattitude and longitude of your landrace strain, the effective time of planting, and the lights would gradually change duration of being on and spectrum. Probably could sucker in tons of stoner's with my claims of high tech, mimic nature, light patterns Humm, anyone looking for a business partner! Massive buds by computer controlled timing and spectrums. "Smart Grow 2000" available now!!!!!!

Here's what it looked like with the single T5 in there,

imagine another on the other side of the cab, facing each other, doesn't seem enough to me - a bit awkward too for six plants, four would be fine - I'll probably go with one of the cool tube DIY designs on here and vent out with the carbon filtered cab air through the Panny Whisper fan thanks for everyone's input, not as cost efficient a process as I envisioned it to be, big loss of light quality with T5 in vertical position, ah well...

 

[Cakes]

What a BRILLIANT idea bro!!

no kidding.

Literally I think that would be the next STEP in lighting technology for indoor horticulture, if it hasn't already been worked on, you should patent some design and get some labels slapped on a proto-type haha I am down to be business partner haha

like an LED projection panel.

The DIY guys use LED panels and a 400W MH to make projection tvs you know.

haha - so yea back to the topic on hand...

i disconnected all my tubes and ballasts from the fixtures. i want the bulbs to be in an interfoliage array. the tubes will stick through the middle of the plants at all levels.

i use standard size 40w tubes. not skinny T5s. if i keep my plants hydrated and the air is right, the leaves can lay against the tubes indefinately without burn. otherwise they burn in about three days.

i keep the lights one inch away or they stretch. They also stretch under the more reddish spectrum tubes. or if the tubes get old/get dark at the ends by the prongs.

i have used side light before and it can help VERY much.

i will never buy the warm fluoro tubes again due to i do not think the plants like them. i use the cool or white even during flower. i do like the red CFLS and would supplement with them. also i had very good luck supplementing with the red of tungsten/halogen security lights.

 

[Guest]

I wonder if putting the T5's back to back, hanging vertically in the middle, with plants all around, would work?

do this! this will work very well. Just make sure you have a fan, t5s get hotter than you think

 

[MPL]

Where are you guys getting 2' T5 fixtures and lamps? Are they T5HO or just T5?

Thanks.