T5 Versus CFL

[waterdawg]

Sorry! I am sure this has been asked a thousand times before but barring the area of coverage would the same Wattage of CFL be better, worse or the same as T5's. example say I have 4-4' T5's @ 54 Watts and a 250 w CFL. Both are 6500. What would be the better choice to veg?

 

[tobinates559]

the T-5 has more coverage IMO! and with the several bulbs your light is more spread out,,you can even flower and get nice buds under a t5

 

[333maxwell]

The one draw back to T-5 that CFL has an advantage to, is you can scatter them.. you may not get 'equal' cover, but you can zoom in with CFL and get some pretty excellent coverage in tight spaces between buds, that T'5 can't by it's default of being a flat surface.

I've used and have both, given a choice, watt for watt.. 'probably' a good T5.. but forget Watt for Watt, I can jam 20-25,000 lumens in the space of one T'5 10,000 lumen system (for example).. Not as 'efficient' but when you are talking 3 dollars more on your electric bill and you are pulling QP's every month, you can live with that kind of light waste and inefficiency.

 

[333maxwell]

Of course if someone said 'idealy' which one is prettier, less hassle, looks better and is not so damn depressing to work with daily, T-5 for the win.. But when it comes to results, you can cram many more lumens in with CFL

 

[waterdawg]

Ya I've seen some of the amazing setups that use like 20 cfl's. i guess i need to study the actual lumens put out by each light. I now run 8-4' t5's HO for most of my veg growth then switch to a 600 hps for flower due to heat and power usage. Just curious if id be better using the 250's. seems like a lot of wasted light due to bulb design. I have ran a complete run using the T5's but flowering did suffer. But i guess better than dead from the heat lol.

 

[DeeTee]

At least for me T5's win every time.

 

[jacksthc]

scrog setup with t5's work really well, even in flower, massif light spread and canopy, a good yield for the electric used

 

[hyroot]

t5 is winner.

With CFL you only have a choice of 3 spectrums. Cfls for growing mj are an oxymoron
they put out uv-c. Causing cancer for growing something that helps get rid of cancer.

t5's. You can customize your spectrum any way you want. I've Been using par t5 off n on for over 3 years. The bulbs I found that work best. Zoo med flora suns from drfostersmith.com, then 5400k, 2700k from htg(eBay store is cheaper). Use 5400k For veg and the rest for flower.

 

[waterdawg]

t5 is winner.

With CFL you only have a choice of 3 spectrums. Cfls for growing mj are an oxymoron
they put out uv-c. Causing cancer for growing something that helps get rid of cancer.

t5's. You can customize your spectrum any way you want. I've Been using par t5 off n on for over 3 years. The bulbs I found that work best. Zoo med flora suns from drfostersmith.com, then 5400k, 2700k from htg(eBay store is cheaper). Use 5400k For veg and the rest for flower.

I can get 6500 t5's at the electric wholesaler for $5, real cheap! My grow shop sells 2700's for the same (sunblaster)

 

[hyroot]

The sunblaze ones are tri phophor. 6500k is useless. The htg ones have better spectrum and par and are $45 for 8, free shipping. From eBay store. Flora suns are full spectrum peaking at 660. They have uva and a little uvb too. They are $15 each at drfostersmith. Free shipping if you spend $49.

other than that the other way to go is cree led globes from home depot. They work really well. Or cmh. Philips allstart 330. I love those.