Lighting T5 Upgrade query!

[kxvyvxw]

Hi guys,

Long time reader, short time poster

I've got 4 seasons of outdoor growing under my belt, and I'm just setting up for my first indoor grow.

I currently have a 5x5x6.5 tent, which has 1, 8 Bulb T5HO (432w), small oscillating fan + i have carbon filter kit on the way.
As you can see from the image, My plan is to run 9 autos each run.
I know 400W isnt going to yield great for 9 plants, but this is where my question comes in!

I originally planned to, Veg with 400w, see the results, but get another 8 bulb by Flower time, to make it a 864w light in a 5x5.
The greatest thing to me about this is, electricity, simplicity, and i would like to learn/train myself to LST these under the square 16 bulbs.

I have recently been reading that LED's are getting better and better over the years, and i've been contemplating running 2 x 300w LED'S
on either side of the 8 bulb T5.
My concern here is that, T5's like to be as low as they can and from what i read LED's like to around the HID distance from the canopy.
Would this T5 + LED combo not work out so great, as the great big 8 bulb is going to be blocking the center of the canopy?

I originally wanted to go with HID's, but i fell in love with T5's after seeing some grows..

Any input is highly appreciated!
Thank you for hosting this great forum
And sorry for not resizing the pic, couldnt work it out

Peace!

(edited again hoping the image would show(using tinypic)
-- http://i61.tinypic.com/24l4gig.jpg <-- direct link for anyone interested if the above doesnt work

 

[Eyes on Fire]

An Elbow under T5 HO's easy

Cant see the pic man.But if your planning on running 2 T5 HO panels I would recommend getting your 1 or 2 LEDs and use the mixed or full spectrum t5 lighting as side panels.that would give you some outstanding light penetration with light tucking and clipping of leaves.or LST that you plan on using.Get a few more small fans to blow across the panels them selves and you should be fine.with 2 panels of 8 bulb four foot lights you could EASILY do a pound under each of them piece of cake.thats T5's only and stright red lame bulbs.Mixed specs and with an led booster up top? YUP sounds like a winner.but if you have t5's already use them and save for a cpl good LEDs in the future like winter or early next yr.thats kinda what Im trying to do myslef.

Id cut that down to 6 or 8 under one 4ft panel and with spinning and light trimming you could do 8 under one panel ok.but 6 with LST is a better bet and with the right strains you'll get easily an Elbow under that 4ft panel.I did that last grow myself.just shy of a pound total but I was running tesaters too n they are often not heavy yeilders either.so.Hope that helps ya man.Thats exactly what Id do if I had the wears to get more LEDs n stuff.Be good dude n happy growing"AFN smoke out"

 

[kxvyvxw]

Thank you

Hey Eyes on Fire!

First of all, Thank you for you're incredibly detailed response, that's all the information + some i forgot to ask about, Legend!
To have someone like you respond is awesome, I've been amazed at all of your stuff man

I like the idea of running the T5's as additional side lighting, although I think after your advice, I'll try grab another 8 bulb fixture ASAP or cut down on the plants for this run.
From there if everything goes well, with some happy growing and patience, I will definitely be looking into LED's.

I would have probably gone straight to 100% LED grow if I had wanted to invest a little more in my first indoor set-up, that's for sure!

Thanks once again dude, highly appreciate!
I feel right at home now

Peace!

 

[mauricem00]

16 tubes should work great for flowering in that space using a mix of 6000k/3000k tubes.I am running 3 pl-l 55 tubes in a 2ft by 2ft by 8 foot grow area and have 6 plants in flowering that are 30 -36 inches tall.some of my buds are 5 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter and they still have 2 1/2 weeks to go.if you decide to use them as side lighting and use an led for top lighting that may be over-kill but avoid the cheap grow lights on ebay. sometimes they work well but some people have had a lot of problems with them.my 300 watt light is collecting dust in my tool shed. an expensive reminder that "I can't afford cheap products" spend the money to get a good high quality light. many people including myself have had great results with fluorescents runny 3200-3600 lumens per square foot. more light may give you slightly higher yields but you reach a point of diminishing returns.fluorescents and leds produce a lot more usable light than standard hps lights so you do not need as radiant power. if you have the room you may be better off setting up a second grow room for your led lights.

 

[kxvyvxw]

Thank you for your advice Mauricem00!

I've decided to go with/stick with the 16 tubes, currently running 8 but will have another 8 shortly.
I think the size for my tent would be perfect, and I originally wanted to grow with T5s, so, lets do it!

Once again, thanks everyone who contributed!

Peace!

 

[bolio]

Eyes on fire is right, with some work you could do 8 under each panel. I've got a side project going at the moment with 2 T5 panels going for a total of 16 bulbs as well and things got a little tight with 14 plants for the T5's. Watering was quite difficult and the Divas were just so bushy that i decided to cull my 4 weakest. Now about a week from harvest I do not regret it. I have 10 plants and great light all around.

 

[SCARHOLE]

Use coral Sun reef t5 with half warm white in flower for amazing results.
Or induction flouro so you don't have to change bulbs fot 20 yrs.

 

[medic grower]

Scarhole finaly someone who knows the Benefts of Aquarium or Terrarium Lights. I would add a Sungro or simmilar too for massive Resin Production cause of the right ammount of Uvb.

 

[F.N.]

I have seen some amazing t5 grows just keep them close as possible and definitely LST the only way to grow with straight up T5's. That being said though a couple of 100 watt ufos sure would help your grow seen

 

[mauricem00]

the 6500k provide plenty of blue light. you do not need an actinic bulb. standard T5s (6500k/3000k) are week in the red and deep red spectrum. you may want to try replacing the 3000k bulbs in your mix with these http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=23649 they are listed as a 5000k bulb but the have a broad peak at 656 nm instead of the 615 nm peak on standard bulbs and have a an equal balance of red and blue. I used them in my T5s before upgrading to power compacts (PL-L55 style).and using them instead of 3000k tubes worked great unfortunately they don't make power compacts with this deep red phosphor or I would still be using them. in a 2ft by 2 ft grow room I do not have room for 4 ft T5s and the PCs are much brighter and more efficient than the 2 foot T5s.but if they made this bulb in a PC I would definitely still be using it. the deeper red improves flowering