T5 or 150/175w Metal Halide

[doco]

I am starting another veg only cabinet and can't decide if I should use 24" 4 bulb HO T5's or a 175w MH in a mini cooltube. It will only need to be sufficient for two plants (70" tall, 36" wide cabinet, two levels, two plants each level, I'll use the same type lights on each level)

The plan is for clones to come from the cloning cabinet, to this veg cabinet for 4-6 weeks, and then into the Hydro Hut for flowering.

So far, the T5 with the T8 side lighting I have in the Mother/Cloning cabinet seems to be working great but I can't help but think MH might be better, especially in terms of light penetration. But considering it's only vegging and they are only gonna be what, maybe 12" - 18" tall, maybe I don't need that much penetration?

What's anybody else think??

doco Reviewed by doco on 01-07-2007. T5 or 150/175w Metal Halide I am starting another veg only cabinet and can't decide if I should use 24" 4 bulb HO T5's or a 175w MH in a mini cooltube. It will only need to be sufficient for two plants (70" tall, 36" wide cabinet, two levels, two plants each level, I'll use the same type lights on each level) The plan is for clones to come from the cloning cabinet, to this veg cabinet for 4-6 weeks, and then into the Hydro Hut for flowering. So far, the T5 with the T8 side lighting I have in the Mother/Cloning Rating: 5

[ticoblunts]

Hey doco...I am currently using the 8 bulb 4ft t5 for vegging and flowering and its wking great...

[latewood]

for a cloning veg cabinet...that fluorox4 should work beautifully. I used to use one 4' for clones and they came out great...in spite of all the lights I do have. I would love to have a full bank'o'fluoros. peace

notes:
1) less heat issue with the fluoros than MH
2) mandatory to get an HID lamp for flowering. even a MH. Even though a MH doesn't have the optimum spectrum and put's out less lumens it still does a great job of flowering longer finger like buds. /this information is based on the use of a sunmaster, and agrosun gold 1000w MH. both are enhanced red spectrum bulbs. So if money is an issue and you cannot swing a more expensive HPS/Hortilux set-up, then buy and use the more economical MH. It will definitely outperform fluoros of any abundance and cfl's. peace

[doco]

Ya Tico, I've seen your T5 thread...very nice examples. In fact it may have been your thread that first brought T5's to my attention and help me to decide to get them for my mothering cabinet where they are working great now. KDSpecial also had a T5 cab that really helped push me in that direction too.

And I do have HID for flowering Latewood..right now its a single 400w that I used with a MH conversion bulb for vegging and just switched over to HPS for flowering. I just got another Lumatek digital 400w ballast too, so for the next flowering Ill run two 400w lamps in the Hydrohut Mini.

I'm just trying to shorten my turn around time - if I can have separate cabs for each stage - clone, veg, & flowering, I should be able to harvest every two months or so.

BTW Latewood - I thinks its cool you were in that band....I'm old enough to remember some of your songs.

[latewood]

good for you. 2-400's will be real nice.

as far as band...we are in the process of arranging dates around the southeast/east coast for a tour. peace

[stinkyattic]

The T5 is a GREAT light!!! I got a 24" new wave for my seedlings and it's just amazing.

[fatfreddy]

How good is the T5 in this system for Flowering??Apparently is only good for cloning and Veg
Jumbo Stealth Grow Cabinet v2.0 w/ Tek Lite T5 (8 Tube) Floro System & 5-40 Plant Aeroponic Hydroponic System w/ Co2!!