found new light for free today

[Snagglepuss]

A building was being remodled,they were throwing this T8 fixture out.I snatched it up.I heard these aren't as good as t5's.Is anybody using them to grow? Do they make higher wattage ,better bulbs for them besides the 32 watt? Anyone using one of these ...your opinion??

 

[Voidling]

Best used for sprouting seedlings usually. I know they are used to start vegetable seeds early

And for rooting clones

 

[PoisonedDart]

They are decent for first 2-3 weeks of growth from seed and cuttings if you keep it close. Any more than that you sacrifice penetration of canopy...

PD

 

[schwilly]

thought this might have something to do with climbing a telephone pole, old school style

good find though

 

[fuzzymuffin]

Nice grab, man. I haven't any experience with T8 so I don't have any info on that front. What is the availability of full-spectrum T8 bulbs around you?

 

[sneaky101]

I used to use 2-2 bulb t8s...I think. I just used em for veg (mainly moms), but it seems like they were quite stretchy.

 

[5th]

That my good sir, was a great find. T8's are great for everything but flowering. I use them religously. I've got a custom one I built and use for my clones, one for my moms.

Penetration is stellar until the plants are about 12" tall IMO. Tightest internodal spacing you will ever get bar none because you can keep the bulbs an inch away from the tops without being concerned with heat. You don't need to bother with spectum bulbs or any of that shit. Cheapest 5600k bulbs you can find will give great results.

Depending how "handy" a guy is...I'd try to get a few more. Take them apart and add those ballasts and tombstones to that one you have there. Ballasts look like they go in the middle of that particular reflector...cut four holes, two at each end for the addition of computer fans to assist in cooling that beast...cover with plexy-glass and veg the fuck out of some plants...

Edit: seedlings/moms/clones

 

[Snagglepuss]

thanks for the reply's ...the plants are fucking loving this thing..im so happy.... chheeerrrsss!!!

 

[Phaeton]

That is the exact fixture I use, I had five of them in a three sided cube (20 bulbs!) for vegging. Overkill, I leave two ends open now.
I have T5's for where higher intensity is needed, but bright is not always better for cloning and veg transitions. Four are set vertical in the main budroom, brightness is just right for sidelighting.
Aquarium bulbs fit, pick any spectrum you want (at $20 a tube) from deep red to ultra violet B. $3 residential tubes at 5000K clone as well as the expensive ones, vegging likes more color.

Good find, I got my first ones from a remodel also, liked them so much I spent my own money on more of them.

 

[supermanlives]

i have an 8 bulb setup. great for plants up to like 12 inches. clones ,seedling love em. everything starts under em in my garden . then off to hps. you can flower with em if you sog or even better scrog. not my first choice for flowering. i dont bother with the 32 watts got 40 watt ones. i mix spectrums and get my bulbs from home depot. i dont buy any florescent bulbs advertised as grow bulbs as they cost more and aint needed

 

[Classy@Home]

I've seen setups where a large bank type fixture like that is set up vertically at the back of grow to keep lower and back canopy lit.

Congrats...

 

[Phaeton]

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