When I first started out I used a couple of T-5 fixtures ( 4 foot X 6 bulb ) to veg. and then flower. After several grows I switched over to 600 watt Hps and have never looked back. The HPS has more penetrating power than does the T-5's and I think the HPS produces much tighter bud formation. The T-5s really shine when used to veg your plants. As far as heat is concerned the T-5s generate heat also, and with the amount of bulbs (32) you are thinking of using you will need some sort of ventilation to cool everything down.
I would suggest that for the size space you have to work with 2 600 watt HPS systems would work better. You would still have about 5600 lumens per square foot.
ditdotter Reviewed by ditdotter on . T5 vs HPS? Ok i wanted to know what would be better 2 X 4ft 8 lamp HO T5. That would be 80K lum. Now a 1000HPS would be around 100K-140K lum. But the kicker as most ok that you have to hang the HPS around 18-24in over you ladies. With the T5 you can hang about 8" over you ladies. Now with the HPS you lose all allot of power. From what i read the 140K lum can drop to 35K lum at 2ft (24"). With the T5 being allot closer would I have much of a drop off? If so whouldn't it be stronger then the 1000 HPS? Also Rating: 5