HPS versus T5?

[Mycroft]

I'm moving my grow area and will be making some changes in the process. One of the changes I'll be making is getting a new set of lights. I had pretty much made up my mind to get a 400 watt HPS, but then I visited my local hydro store and took a look at some of their new T5 lights.

Any thoughts? Has anyone out there tried both?

One of the things I like about the T5 is I wont need a cooling system. I'm a firm believer in keeping things simple whenever possible.

[Dr McNasty]

I have a T5 4 bulb light. It worked well for veg, but I would still recomend that you get the hps for flowering. I use my 600 watt hps for flowering because i belive that the t5 will not be powerfull enough. plus i want the best buds possible go hps.

[Mycroft]

Okay, but what's the wattage of your 4 bulb setup?

[probus]

i use a 400 watt MH Sun System for vegging that is switchable to HPS when i'm ready to flower-- i also have a small (2ft.) T5 system for seedlings that works well-- am getting another 250 watt HPS system because i'm crazy and don't know when to stop-- my 400 watt system covers 4x4 in my basement with visqueen on the sides

[myles117]

i use four foot four bulb t5's for veg and flowering. The buds are great as long as you use lst to have an even canopy so the light can be nice and close to all of the buds. I use two veg and two flower bulbs at all times in the fixture to have the fullest spectrum possible. I have a 400 watt hps/mh also but i hate the heat. I grow in an attic and heat is a huge issue especially during the summer. T5's low heat and high output are awesome for my situation and i love them. The decision should come down to which will fit your needs best.

[valleyhempz]

T-5's are nice cost efficent heat effiecent and the bulbs in t-5's last 2 years or longer without loosing much lumen output downsides are they dont have penetration power of more then 6 inches while 400watt hps has about 12 inches give or take depending on the newness of the bulb. im thinking of this summer expanding my grow room to double the size and buying a 8 bulb t-5 for veg but for flowering hps is the best, but its up to you dude whats the most cost efficent purchase?

[ocitown]

All pros and cons have been covered here i believe but i will give my experiences and you decide.

I have been using an aquarium (not grow)T5 tek-light which has two ballasts controlling half of the bulbs for each ballast.
Its a 4' 8 bulb with 52 watt bulbs all 6500K used for clones and vegging plants,which i have grown to 30" in what seemed like no time with a min. amt. of heat issues.

This light is a 216watt with 4 bulbs lit and 432watt with all 8 but as someone has said,the T5 has lower heat at the expense of light penetration,and this T5 is VERY expensive but there are less expensive types too.

Now,i also have a HPS which i just fired up 3 weeks ago for flowering but that's a 1K and another story altogether.

[FRANKLY]

I'm a newbie however I am using T5H0 florescent tubes, a single tube puts out in 6500 k @ 4370 lumen's and 54 watta per bulb . (mean #'s not initial ) One ballast will accommodate for bulbs @ a cost of 90.00 dollars, plus 9.00 each for the bulbs, 126.00 for a total of 17480 lumen's for 126. dollars, hardwired as individual bulbs they can be placed as close as 1 or 2 inches from growth with little detrimental effect. Heat issues are minimal ( cool tubes, extreme ventilation methods etc.) and I believe the plant itself is healthier by not forcing the growth as much.( the last point was weak ) but still a point. The 3000 K #'s are better yet. dollar for dollar returned I think T5HO"s r def. in the running.

Frankly

[FRANKLY]

This is def not my grow but if you could match the output with your HPS bulbs then I give, cry uncle shut the fk up and not retort again. Technique and knowledge has more to do with production than blazing them with power.

I'm sure you recognize the grower.


<hr style="color: rgb(236, 252, 178);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> Over the next few months I will be talking anyone who wants to know how 2 become free-of the Black market and any dependence on a Grow store of any kind bcuz if you......
1) Never have ANY contact with a grow store of any kind....and know one who might ever being watching one of them will EVER come visit your home.
2)Have No contact with the black market (buyin' or Sellin') ...ya' just can't git' caught doin' nothin'...that will cramp yer' style..lol
3)Buy everything at Walmart or Home Depot....NEVER all in one trip EVER Don't be Stupid.
The system will require Some compact floros..2 -15 Watt Florex full Spectrum,1-13 Watt warm white for the seedling and clone shelf.

1-65Watt Florex and 1-42Watt warm white for the Mother room.

5-42Watt Warm White for the flowering room.

My System pulls air from under the house and dumps the lovely smell of the girls into the Sewer vent for the house....it don't smell so good after that..........lol
But it can B set up to dump into a carbon scrubber inside.

If anyone is intrested in this set-up please respond Thank You......

Dr. Bud Greenegenes
"25 years in the grow room and ya' learn a thing or two"

[ocitown]

Originally Posted by FRANKLY

This is def not my grow but if you could match the output with your HPS bulbs then I give, cry uncle shut the fk up and not retort again. Technique and knowledge has more to do with production than blazing them with power.

I'm sure you recognize the grower.


<hr style="color: rgb(236, 252, 178);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> Over the next few months I will be talking anyone who wants to know how 2 become free-of the Black market and any dependence on a Grow store of any kind bcuz if you......
1) Never have ANY contact with a grow store of any kind....and know one who might ever being watching one of them will EVER come visit your home.
2)Have No contact with the black market (buyin' or Sellin') ...ya' just can't git' caught doin' nothin'...that will cramp yer' style..lol
3)Buy everything at Walmart or Home Depot....NEVER all in one trip EVER Don't be Stupid.
The system will require Some compact floros..2 -15 Watt Florex full Spectrum,1-13 Watt warm white for the seedling and clone shelf.

1-65Watt Florex and 1-42Watt warm white for the Mother room.

5-42Watt Warm White for the flowering room.

My System pulls air from under the house and dumps the lovely smell of the girls into the Sewer vent for the house....it don't smell so good after that..........lol
But it can B set up to dump into a carbon scrubber inside.

If anyone is intrested in this set-up please respond Thank You......

Dr. Bud Greenegenes
"25 years in the grow room and ya' learn a thing or two"

I agree,exp. is the canary in the gold mine and pure watts will NEVER completely compensate for lack of skill.

However,after the basics of growing are mastered,using BIG powerful HID lighting WILL have MAJOR benifits over any other lighting when the need to penetrate is involved.