T5 vs MH for *VEG*

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
Lumens "don't add" like you said but having a better spread of light makes up for the lumens lost in the distance needed to travel when you have a single point of light. At least i think..lol. And for all you people who are advanced physics people, i know lumens add in some situations, but i am referring to the simplified method people use for this board which is accurate enough...

These T5s do generate more heat than i thought they would...Probably close to the MH i replaced with them...

I am using a new wave 8 bulb 2' T5 fixture in a 2ft x 2 ft veg area. So you you guys think replacing 2 of my blue spectrum bulbs with red would be the way to go?
I didn't wanna jump in the piss-fest of the 8 tubes pumping out 5K lumens each = ???? (parallel vs series, what are the bulbs configured for??)

(I still say if 1 bulb is 5K lumens than the whole bank is still only 5K, but better coverage)

But its *MY* damn thread damn it! (yes, joking)

So CFLs or reg floro are a better bang-for-the-buck over the T5 or MH.

But for light output vs heat (with remote ballast) which would be best for a small area? (ok, I'll let coverage sneak through, that kinda important)

Is it me? But the T5 do seem killer on paper. But once put up against a MH/HID then seem to fall behind (out lay cost, running, and heat)

-bbb
 

DR. VonDankenstine

Well-Known Member
I didn't wanna jump in the piss-fest of the 8 tubes pumping out 5K lumens each = ???? (parallel vs series, what are the bulbs configured for??)

(I still say if 1 bulb is 5K lumens than the whole bank is still only 5K, but better coverage)

But its *MY* damn thread damn it! (yes, joking)

So CFLs or reg floro are a better bang-for-the-buck over the T5 or MH.

But for light output vs heat (with remote ballast) which would be best for a small area? (ok, I'll let coverage sneak through, that kinda important)

Is it me? But the T5 do seem killer on paper. But once put up against a MH/HID then seem to fall behind (out lay cost, running, and heat)

-bbb
The T5 8 tube does put out a lot of heat(say compared to 8 t10/t12 flou.). You can hold your hand on the t10/t12, but not for very long on the T 5.
 

DR. VonDankenstine

Well-Known Member
Lumens "don't add" like you said but having a better spread of light makes up for the lumens lost in the distance needed to travel when you have a single point of light. At least i think..lol. And for all you people who are advanced physics people, i know lumens add in some situations, but i am referring to the simplified method people use for this board which is accurate enough...

These T5s do generate more heat than i thought they would...Probably close to the MH i replaced with them...

I am using a new wave 8 bulb 2' T5 fixture in a 2ft x 2 ft veg area. So you you guys think replacing 2 of my blue spectrum bulbs with red would be the way to go?
I'm just posting the information that comes from the manufactures-----I'm not sold on the lumens either but I do know I get more light coverage with the T5 8 hood than I did with my 400.
(separate note: a 400 is the least efficient of all the bulb sizes I.E. 150,250,400,600,10000)
 

blinkykush

Well-Known Member
I placed my temp sensor right under the shaded spot of one of my plants and it stays b/w 75-80 consistantly. i keep my t5 an inch from the tops and havnt seen any burns.
 

Lord Dangly Bits

Well-Known Member
I have dropped down too just two plants for the summer time. They will be my mothers for next fall, these clones are about 45 days old now, under one T-5 single bulb and (4) 43 watt cool white CFLS. A t-5 and a few CFLs are all i ever use for vegging and cloneing, And i even have a 400 watt MH light sitting around also.

I have vegged up to 8 nice big bushy plants under this same exact light system.
My system for growing hardly cost me any electricity really. I vent the warm air out of my room into my home. And i do not grow during the Summer months. So my 1,000 watts of light also produces 1,000 watts of heat for my home, which means my heater for my house turns on that fewer of times. These crl lights work great for summer time in door growing, to keep the heat down. I used them during the winter to veg with also. But i always have used a HPS to Bud with, except for my first crop, I went 4 weeks into flowering with this cfl/t-5 system, and at 4 weeks I had some very nice buds, but I had to buy a HPS. I want FANTASTIC BUDS. I want people to say, Holy SHIT!!!!!!! Look at those fucking BUDS!!!!
 

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ganjagoddess

Well-Known Member
My breakdown on Flouro's...

T5 fixtures = $100's X 2 or 3 HO for fixture plus ridiculous bulb cost (high version = 5000 lumens per bulb 54watts)

T8 fixtures = $8.98 for a 2 bulb 4' fixture Homedepot shop light plus $5.98 for two 6500k daylight bulbs or the 5000k bulbs = 32 watts 2950 lumens...

Flouros do not combine there light into one big lumen output, hence 8 5000lumen flouros are putting out 5000 below the bulb, and possibly a tiny bit more directly between two bulbs at one inch away. TINY IT MORE...

BUT...

MH are forced to suffer the inverse square ratio of light loss, but the bulb does put out 35,000 to 40000 lumens...

At one foot away the light of 40,000 lumens is only 20k, at one a half it is 15k

so 15k spread over a meter squared versus 5000k lumens spread over the same distance or even the more economical 2950 lumens.

For cost (except t8's), ease of use, even tempature (again except t8's), wattage, THE MH wins hands down in my book on all fronts..

I left out quite a bit of things comparing the two, n im done writing bout this.

The only chose in my book is MH vs T8 flouros.

T5's are a righteous waste of money versus thier t8 counterparts...

CFL's are even worse in thier output that thier big counterparts.

However I USE 4 foot t8s for veg becuse of the ease to get them (homedepot)
and cost involved.
 

DR. VonDankenstine

Well-Known Member
I've got what I call a rack set-up for the veg--the space is 4'x2'x10', it's got 2 shelves built in it. under the bottom shelf i have been swapping between the T5 4' 8 bulb and the 400mh. On the second shelf I have 4 dual bulb 4' 40w flours. On the ceiling over the top shelf I have 1-24" t5 4 bulb(I take the two center bulbs out) this shelf is used for cuttings. The set-up works just fine but I am really hearing good things about LED--If they get the bugs worked out I will probably spend the cash and convert----well see-----
 
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