Looking to stick this in a rubbermaid setup instead of using LED + cfl like I had originally planned. HTG Supply - 2 Foot 4 Lamp PL-55 Tek Lamp Does it get really hot, say more so than a bunch of cfls? 20k lumens, I think it would be more economical also vs getting a regular 2' 4 bulb t5
don't buy that garbage. it's not even t5. it's power compacts disguised as t5s. power compacts have about 3-4 month good life then degrade. those bulbs cost the same as t5 to replace and last 1/4 or 1/3 of what a t5 bulb does. do the math, not worth it if your looking at doing t5s, they have some killer single reflectors from icecap.
Indie: I have a couple of 2' long 4 tube units that I use for cloning and seed propagation and I've had no problem with them. They recommend a distance of 6" to a foot over the tops of your plants but I keep mine a 2 to 3 inches with no heat problems. Take a look at what your hydro stores have available. I bought one fixture on line thinking I would save a lot of money and I didn't. What's important is what you have in it and that it completely covers your grow. You have 5,000 to 6,500K lamps to start either seeds or clones and you'll use those throughout veg. When you're ready to flower replace the lamps with 2,700K reds and you should be fine. The bad thing about the advice you get off these forums is that opinions are like anuses, everybody has one and they usually stink. I wish there was an easier way, but from what you ask, I get the impression you might be new to this so I’d suggest you RTFB and refer to the following resources: 1. Read: SeeMoreBud’s, “MARIJUANA BUDS FOR LESS- GROW 8 OZ. OF BUDS FOR LESS THAN $100.” It’s a must for dirt gardeners using CFL’s. 2. You’ll also want to read: Mc McCarthy’s, “GROWING MARIJUANA.” It’s another must for dirt gardeners. 3. Read: Jorge Cervantes’s, “MARIJUANA HORTICULTURE THE INDOOR/ OUTDOOR MEDICAL GROWER’S BIBLE.” It’s great for dirt and hydro. 4. Read: Ed Rosenthal’s, “MARIJUANA GROWER’S HANDBOOK.” 5. “THE CANNABIS GROW BIBLE- SECOND EDITION,” written by Greg Green, is a match, if not better than, the ones listed above. 6. You should also subscribe to, “HIGH TIMES,” magazine. Each issue is full of useful information and excellent photography. 7. You might also want to subscribe to Garden & Greenhouse. It’s free and they offer a monthly news letter that always has a lot of good information, especially for newbies. 8. A lot of local hydroponics stores offer free weekend gardening classes. Admittedly they offer these classes as a means of boosting sales but they present some good information and they’re frequently taught by experienced gardeners. All these resources are very well written, well illustrated and packed with information that will answer most of your questions before you know to ask them. Doing your homework before you grow by consulting these resources will save you and your plants a lot of stress. These forums are great but often they’re the blind leading the blind and when you do get it from a knowledgeable source they frequently can’t get the information you need to you in a timely fashion. I sincerely hope this helps. Hank