Metal Hailde vs. T5 for young plants

I was told that metal halide was the way to go after years of using t5 flouroscents. I figured it was worth seeing the difference. So far, 5 days in to veg the ones under the MH seem to be less happy. What is your advice/ experience?

What size mh are you using and how far is it from the plants?

It is 400w same roughly as the t5 fixture I run as well. It is not air cooled, the room is perfect environment, didn't want to cook them so 30'' maybe.

30 inches is the distance I use during veg with 1000 watt mh. Its air cooled though.
This could be the issue you're experiencing. Here is a light distance chart for mh.

I'm considering going with t5`s for veg in my perpetual grow due to the amount of power(electricity) available in my setup.

I have not used MH, but with T5's the energy used is lower.
Also no Heat issues.
I have a 4 bulb 4' fixture, 54 watts per bulb 216 overall watts.
It grows great,
I have 95 watt fixtures over my clones and youngins.

NrthrnMichigan said:

30 inches is the distance I use during veg with 1000 watt mh. Its air cooled though. View attachment 2981474
This could be the issue you're experiencing. Here is a light distance chart for mh.

I'm considering going with t5`s for veg in my perpetual grow due to the amount of power(electricity) available in my setup.

Click to expand...

I use the same charts, good heads up!

Those soft little cuttings I was nervous about getting them any closer, I will drop down the bulb a bit....I liked it.

So unless you can get that mh bulb closer without turning your plants into charred death I would stick with the t5 bulbs.

"Doesn't matter how you grow"

Dogenzengi said:

I have not used MH, but with T5's the energy used is lower.
Also no Heat issues.
I have a 4 bulb 4' fixture, 54 watts per bulb 216 overall watts.
It grows great,
I have 95 watt fixtures over my clones and youngins.

Click to expand...

I have used those for a long time and they always have been very effective. I am just trying to see if my friend is selling me bad advice.

I use T5 to start and veg for 3-4 weeks and then pop them under my 600w MH for a week or 2 before going under the 3k hps lighting.


Sent from my SCH-I545

alwaysgreen420 said:

I use T5 to start and veg for 3-4 weeks and then pop them under my 600w MH for a week or 2 before going under the 3k hps lighting.


Sent from my SCH-I545

Click to expand...

My observations are that new cuttings are better under t5.

I am with burger and green^^^ Clippings and new sprouts seem to grow better under T5's or CFL's for me...But once they are established, the MH shows better growth rate (equal density if grown at right distance though). Just my 2 cents. Might want to try a humidity dome over your plants for first week. That seems to help me when only using the MH.

I think it depends on how long you veg your plants. I use 4-bulb T5's and once my plants get to around 20" they lack enough penetration to get below the canopy. For me, that's ok as I toss 'em into 12/12 at that height anyway.

I started with a 400w MH and it did ok....but between the extra heat and energy cost, found the T5's a much better solution for vegging.

Personally i think you can't beat the T5s there great i veged 12 plants under 200 watt T5 for total of 2.2 months was so much growth worked a treat.
Like you said no heat issues lower power consumption it's a win win

burgertime2010 said:

I was told that metal halide was the way to go after years of using t5 flouroscents. I figured it was worth seeing the difference. So far, 5 days in to veg the ones under the MH seem to be less happy. What is your advice/ experience?

Click to expand...

I use T5s up to day 1 of flower. My plants stay happy, and I'm a fucking woman beater if there ever has been one.

love t5's for veg. beefy, bushy and green. looked just as good as mh imo.

How much height do you have to play with? If I do a short veg with my hps..come stretch time(summer temps) they overrun my box..with the cfls, they are more manageable when I flip

I've used both. T5s great for starts but switched to halides because I can get a bigger footprint 4x4 over 400w instead of 2x4 over 440w(8x55w T5). Lately I'm hearing a lot more growing under T5s cuz of the tighter nodes like dannyboy602 and Scroga. I also like that I can use halides on 220v and save extra amps in box for flowering.

Anyone ever heard of using a travel converter 220v to 110v step down to run T5s or lights? Would that save amps?

I honestly feel like 4 foot shoplamps with t-12 tubes are just fine for veg. The startup cost is just so low.