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shuswap
lets compare flos,t5s and metal halide,asumming we have 16 pots in a 4 x 4 area and are looking for a finished veg height of an estimated 10 inches topped,what and why would you do?
http://www.eyehortilux.com/blue.html I would use these, since i have my plants are lusher. I like these also: http://www.eyehortilux.com/superblue.html
Personally they are better than any florescent or t5
Personally they are better than any florescent or t5
pedrodepaco
Member
For only 10in. wouldnt waste $ on high output lighting. Fluros will do the trick. Keepn big moms alive or grown bushes I would go with metal halide in veg. My fav is the hortilux blue spec. halide. Amazing growth!! Veggn clones to 10 in. can b done in apx 1 1/2 wks with T-8 day light spectrum fluro bulbs, depending on your feeding reg.
yea, sure, 'will do the trick'...what hubris.
while "will work" might be good enough for you.
B. Friendly and me are on the same page, the superblues get the plants ready for mega hpslumins, keep the nodes tighter, firmer stem growth, and more side growth, all a few days faster then any Tbulb. T12/T8/T5 ive got them all and im using the superblue.
pedrodepaco
Member
If thats your thing keep on keeping on but 10 inches is like almost no veg. My plants come off the cloner at like 5 inches sometimes. Like I said I use the hortilux blue bulbs for moms and a 400w halide for seeds. floros actually offer the best spectrum and cuttings require only low light levels. I only use floros because veging under halides never improved my end result with small plants.
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milehighmedical
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Just go for an hps (dual spectrum bulb) from seedling to harvest without any need to change bulbs or ballasts. I do it all the time with a 400w hps growlux (dual spectrum bulb) from seed to harvest with great results everytime. Why use fluros or mh lamps when 1 lamp (hps) does all ???.
For your size of 4x4 i would get a 400w CMH which runs on an HPS ballast. I think this way you get the best full spectrum, its also much cheaper than the horti bulbs. Either that or get T5 the four foot fixtures, but you'll need a couple of them.
I don't know why people are still stuck on the Hortilux bulbs or other so called enhanced bulbs. The CMH is the best between both worlds of HID lighting along with a nice smooth spectrum to boot! The CMH does better in the flowering than the Horti Blue since the blue will promote extra leafy growth. The spectrum on the CMH is biased more torwards red which is better for flowering. Also I found these phosphorus bulbs here: http://advancedtechlighting.com/philipspricolor.htm .If you want to supplement while in veg with the blue spectrum bulbs you have the whole spectrum covered very nicely i think. This way you can get a couple of T5's and than be able to change them out during flower.
With that said, if your vegging for a short period florescent will do the trick no problem while being cheaper on the lighting bill depednign upon how many bulbs used.
Stay Green
I don't know why people are still stuck on the Hortilux bulbs or other so called enhanced bulbs. The CMH is the best between both worlds of HID lighting along with a nice smooth spectrum to boot! The CMH does better in the flowering than the Horti Blue since the blue will promote extra leafy growth. The spectrum on the CMH is biased more torwards red which is better for flowering. Also I found these phosphorus bulbs here: http://advancedtechlighting.com/philipspricolor.htm .If you want to supplement while in veg with the blue spectrum bulbs you have the whole spectrum covered very nicely i think. This way you can get a couple of T5's and than be able to change them out during flower.
With that said, if your vegging for a short period florescent will do the trick no problem while being cheaper on the lighting bill depednign upon how many bulbs used.
Stay Green
If I'm vegging for 8 weeks to go under 2k flower then what should I be vegging under? I was going 400 CMH. Just think it'll give me better penetration with bigger plants.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
KosmoKramer
Member
CMH's are hot! I veg and flower with a 400 and couldn't be happier. Nice, tight nodes and for flowering the quality couldn't be better.
Not to mention they're only $60 or so a bulb. Can't go wrong with one IMO. Best bulb on the market next to the Hortilux Blue.
Not to mention they're only $60 or so a bulb. Can't go wrong with one IMO. Best bulb on the market next to the Hortilux Blue.
Why do you think the Horti blue is better, because it has some extra blue spectrum? I think that would only show a greater benefit in veg anyways.
And smiley I think a 400w would be pretty good depending upon the size of your room the lights going in, the less distance between walls equal greater intensity. Than again I don't know about larger scale grows but I think a 400w can easily support up 24 plants in veg in my opinion.
you dont have to defend yourself its not an attack.
theres nothing WRONG with floros but for optimal growth HID.
simply put, my opinion is to use the best. ABSOLUTE best, not 'good enough' when asked for and opinion, my opinion is ....the absolute best.
i own 6or7 "shop light" T12's 4ft
i own 6tube T8 4ft
i own 8 tube T5 2ft.
and i still veg my plants prior to being flipped under.
1K Blue MH horti.
600W super blue mh sunmaster.
400W blue mh horti.
if your at the peak of your game, using ascilic acid, harpin, chittins. and high grade ferts with rw, CO2, sealed room, then theres no excuse. simply put. throwing a plant from a floro to a hid they take a few days to adjust. get that done for while still veging.
i rotate out of the floros after they start to grow again.
there not more then 8 inches or so. if that. seriousely, just a week under the bluemh and there exploding, not just growing. 2-4inches a day. these arnt more then 4 days under the mh and already like rockets.(old pic)
If it were me I'd go with a 400w CMH every time over fluoros. The super blue look great for veg too but with the CMH you have the versatility of HPS too. I use cfls and they're great but they can be added to any lighting situation. My veg chamber is small but soon I'm going to make a 150w CMH light for it to go along with the CFLs.
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milehighmedical
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EvilTwin
Hi Shuswap,
I see you have a variety of opinions. I veg both with a standard 400mh and a 6 bulb 4' T-5HO. I get good node spacing with both. Actually a little better with the T-5 but I relate that to the fact that I can get it closer.
You'll need more then a 400watt for 4x4. I use mine in a 3x3 tray and it's just right.
ET
I see you have a variety of opinions. I veg both with a standard 400mh and a 6 bulb 4' T-5HO. I get good node spacing with both. Actually a little better with the T-5 but I relate that to the fact that I can get it closer.
You'll need more then a 400watt for 4x4. I use mine in a 3x3 tray and it's just right.
ET
shuswap
I had a T5 (8 bulb, 24") and besides being really stupid expensive (replacement bulbs run between $95.00 - $120.00 for the 24" fixture) they do a very nice job for rooting cuttings and then getting those rooted cuttings up and running pretty quickly.
I eventually got rid of the T5 and bought a Philips 400w CMH bulb a few months back and I'm pleased with the performance. The rate of growth is excellent as is the overall health of my little MMJ garden.
HTH
CC
You can always go with with t5Biax which are very efficient and very compact. Not to mention the bulbs run at $15 for the expensive one. I got my bulbs for $3 a piece.
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shuswap
i have always used mh for my veg but i was curious to whether the t5s we worth the bucks and just to see what others have found worked well ,thanxs for everyones input!
as far as experience goes with t5s i rock 2 t5-48s and 2 pioneer jr 4's along with a htg pll-55 also have a 2ft and 4ft t12s for seedlings... still have 6 ushio mh conversion bulbs though... they all have their place... when used properly it can be hard to keep up with the plants 
