How much is a T5 setup vs a 250watt HID w/inline fan and cool tube?

Going by HTGsupply prices they're the following:

4 bulb HTGsupply T5 fixture w/bulbs: $129 + shipping


250watt MH w/ ballast: $118
Cool Tube: $85
4" 170cfm inline fan: $99
flexible ducting: $10

alternative air cooled hood option
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4" Pyrex Bake-a-round tube: $13 on ebay

So you're looking at $129 for a t5 light and $240 on the low end for a 250 watt MH air cooled system. $312 on the high end.

With that said I would go with the 250watt MH with home made cool tube. Sure you spend about $100 more but you gain a completely enclosed air cooled light system that you can bring closer to the canopy, get's better penetration to the lower canopy and has a slightly higher lumen output.

With that said a 400 watt Light and ballast at HTG is only $2 more.. so you could really run that same setup, gain a crap load more lumens than you would over the T5 and still be air coolable.

I would go HID, that's just me though. Actually I would get an HPS with MH conversion bulb. That way if you wanted/needed to you could have two flowering rooms at the same time. Not just that but you can modify an HPS ballast to work with regular MH bulbs I believe (I think you basically just disconnect the HPS ignitor)

Hope you figure out what's best for you :thumbsup: