What are the T8 6400k fluorescent pros and cons

ElFumadorSmoke3C

New Member
This is my first indoor closet grow so im not trying to buy anything professional until iv mastered the basics and im on an extremely tight budget.
my question is what are the pros and cons of using T8 6400k fluorescent on veging stag?
My plants are 23 days old both sativa of unknown percentage.i just added the 6400k 7 days ago before i wuz just using the standard one that comes with the light fixture(4200k).
 

eyeballsaul

Well-Known Member
Just off the top of my head in my opinion I would say-
Pros
Easier temperature control, may be less expensive, easier to specifically target light onto a certain point of the plant.

Cons
Slower growth, less yield, more lights are needed.

Me personally I would not use anything but hps/mh but they new expensive led lights look appealing.
I think that it's better to through yourself into the deep end but that's just my opinion.
 

stvitusdance

Well-Known Member
kinda depends on how many plants and how big of a space you have and how much ventilation. i use the t8s for seedlings and early vegging. the + is they don't generate much heat. the minus is they don't pump out the lumins that HIDs do. how big are your plants now? how tall is your space? when do plan to flower and then what will you use for lights?
 

ElFumadorSmoke3C

New Member
I have two plants growing under one 18" light fixture 15w 6400k both 24 days old the first is 5 1/2" tall the second is 4 3/4" tall. My box measures 1' 7"x10"1/4x2' 11".for ventilation,this is all i have for now.. i have a 88mm pc fan 5v and another circulating air hanging 6" above light. I plan to flower when the plants are 12" or so and use 2700k T8 for flowering.
 

333maxwell

Active Member
If you keep them short (pipe cleaners work if you don't want to pinch her over) and keep those lights an inch away, they will do exactly what you need, just a bit slower.
 

ElFumadorSmoke3C

New Member
If you keep them short (pipe cleaners work if you don't want to pinch her over) and keep those lights an inch away, they will do exactly what you need, just a bit slower.
How exactly would i go about using pipe cleaners
to keep it short? Also how slow will it grow.
 

ElFumadorSmoke3C

New Member
Oh i see the pipe cleaners are restricting the branch from growing up so now instead of getting tall it just gets bushy and grows to the sides.
Your pants are beautiful man it looks like a auto flower with all the buds.
 

333maxwell

Active Member
Oh i see the pipe cleaners are restricting the branch from growing up so now instead of getting tall it just gets bushy and grows to the sides.
Your pants are beautiful man it looks like a auto flower with all the buds.
Thanks, but no auto flowers here.. That plant would of been 4-5 ft tall if it was unwound. What you mostly see is low light 'cfl' characteristics. If memory serves, those buds were as good as any.. :weed:
 

stvitusdance

Well-Known Member
max is right. bend and tie them down. there's numerous ways to do it. i take twist ties and clamp them on the bucket with clothes pins.
 

Nice Ol Bud

Well-Known Member
Just off the top of my head in my opinion I would say-
Pros
Easier temperature control, may be less expensive, easier to specifically target light onto a certain point of the plant.

Cons
Slower growth, less yield, more lights are needed.

Me personally I would not use anything but hps/mh but they new expensive led lights look appealing.
I think that it's better to through yourself into the deep end but that's just my opinion.
Lol you can pull a half lb with a 4ft 8lamp HO T5... if genetics are good, and scrogged properly.
 

ElFumadorSmoke3C

New Member
Well i have 6 3 day olds now and i added another 18" light fixture. The included light is the standard F15T8/CW 4200k, i also modified a 4" desk fan then mounted it to the top of the box as an intake and i flipped the bottom intake fan around into a vent.
Another question do yall have any good experiences foliar feeding with carbonated water?
 

eyeballsaul

Well-Known Member
No doubt you can but you would prob yield more focusing a hid light on the same area using the same training techniques. The question of light wattage used per gram arises for each type, I dunno I don't have enough experience with t5 bulbs to answer that properly but I have no doubt that the yield efficiency of a particular space coupled with the extra expenses would still make it more efficient to use hid lights, overwise everyone including me would use t5's. I'm not insulting t5's, I'm not saying dont use them I'm just saying I believe it would be more efficient for yield per certain space and wattage using hid.
If anyone has a lot of experience with t5s and hids and believe I am wrong please correct me, there is always something new to learn.
 
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