T5 vs T8

I recently purchased a 4 lamp T5 fixture and installed 4 - 54 watt 5000k bulbs and Im thoroughly impressed. Compared with a 4 bank of T8 soft light, the T5s out shine and out proform the T8s drastically. Is there a bulb for the T8 that might help?

I bought the 32 watt 6500 k bulbs for the t8 but as I read on the net, it seems futile to think the t8s can compete.

There is a T8 led tube out there but at the price I don't think many would use it.

Warlock1369 said:

There is a T8 led tube out there but at the price I don't think many would use it.

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Thanks, I checked it out and wow, expensive!!! 4 T8 LED bulbs would cost me $220.00. Whereas I can buy the T5 fixture with bulbs for $130. No contest. Thanks.

You're talking about normal output T8's vs high output T5's. It's like apples to oranges. Compare normal output T5 to T8, and the difference won't be quite astounding. If you want brighter T8's simply overdrive them by running one bulb per ballast instead of 2.

PJ Diaz said:

If you want brighter T8's simply overdrive them by running one bulb per ballast instead of 2.

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Really PJ? I would have no idea as to how to go about that! I will have to find an electrician to see if he knows how to go about that. Thanks. My guess is that by the time I rewire all my fixtures and buy all new ballasts, I would be further ahead just buying T5s lol.

This just crossed my mind, ...if I was to double up on ballasts, wouldn't I be using twice as much hydro as I already am? So then T5s would cost a fraction to operate in comparison to the T8s?

I do all my vegging under t5 and natural light CFLs combined. See no difference in growth rates from using 1000w halides.

Here's a curious beast, anyone know about them? Not exactly HO though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-T5-BULBS-FIT-48-T8-and-T12-for-GROW-LIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY-and-VIDEO-STUDIO-/190776691156?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item2c6b2d49d4

Two (2) High-performance T5 fluorescent bulbs that fit a standard 48-inch T8 or T12 light fixture

• Replaces F40T12 and F32T8 bulbs - tip-to-tip length is 47+11/16 inches
• Works with a rapid-start, instant-start, and programmed-start electronic ballast - does not work with magnetic ballasts
• No modifications required to fixtures with electronic ballasts

FranJan said:

Here's a curious beast, anyone know about them? Not exactly HO though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-T5-BULBS-FIT-48-T8-and-T12-for-GROW-LIGHT-PHOTOGRAPHY-and-VIDEO-STUDIO-/190776691156?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item2c6b2d49d4

Two (2) High-performance T5 fluorescent bulbs that fit a standard 48-inch T8 or T12 light fixture

• Replaces F40T12 and F32T8 bulbs - tip-to-tip length is 47+11/16 inches
• Works with a rapid-start, instant-start, and programmed-start electronic ballast - does not work with magnetic ballasts
• No modifications required to fixtures with electronic ballasts

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The price is OK. But at only 5000k not the best. T8 are good for side lights.

GreenThumbSucker said:

I do all my vegging under t5 and natural light CFLs combined. See no difference in growth rates from using 1000w halides.

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I actually think my T5s do a better job than my MH. The internodal spacing is crazy with the T5. 54w 5000k bulbs, wow.

typhoon said:

I recently purchased a 4 lamp T5 fixture and installed 4 - 54 watt 5000k bulbs and Im thoroughly impressed. Compared with a 4 bank of T8 soft light, the T5s out shine and out proform the T8s drastically. Is there a bulb for the T8 that might help?

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Here:

http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/grow-bulbs-fluorescent-c-73.html

T8s

The 6500 kelvin bulbs are 'daylight' bulbs. They can be used for vegetative. Mix 3000 and 5000 kelvin bulbs for full spectrum.

The 6500 K bulbs have a bit more blue than regular daylight spectrum bulbs. I would mix in a few CFLs to round things out. They should work fine, I have a friend who swears by them for vegetative.

I just switched from two t8s and a WHOLE bunch of cfls to a 4ft 8 bulb t5 and a 2x2 6 bulb t5 to light my veg closet and I must say the diffrence is drastic. With the 6500k bulbs my plants are loving the change. It was well worth the investment and I know Im going to save on the power bill too.

koolaid209 said:

I must say the diffrence is drastic. With the 6500k bulbs my plants are loving the change.

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Kool, do you only use the T5s in veg? If not, what do you use in flower? I am using 54w 5000k. What wattage are your 6500ks Would you know if the 6500k are better for veg than the 5000k?

GreenThumbSucker said:

A friend who swears by them for vegetative.

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Hey Sucker, thanks for that link and advice. Ur friend, does he use 6500 or 5000 for veg? I am using 5000k for the first time and I am impressed. I doubt I would change anything.

I use T5's HO for veg (6500) and do use them for the first week or two for flower (2700) waiting for the bud room to be vacant lol. They work great! I have used them for the complete flower cycle and there was not a huge difference in a side by side grow with a 400 hps. My first hydro grow was White Russian and I had a real problem with stretch but I think I have solved that by using the T5's for the first week or two at 12 then I switch to a MH for a week then the hps to finish. Not much stretch now but I really have not done much hydro, 4th tray, and may be way off base lol. This is the tray after 3.5 weeks from seed and 2.5 weeks at 12 View attachment 2486517

Hey dawg, they look good being 6 weeks old from seed. I'm using 5000k from the start but I use clones. After 4 weeks they are 19 inches tall. But also real dense and virtually no stretch.

Hey dawg, they look good being 6 weeks old from seed. I'm using 5000k from the start but I use clones. After 4 weeks they are 19 inches tall. But also real dense and virtually no stretch.​

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They are 4 weeks old but thank you lol and I have tried the different lights to see if stretch is reduced and I think the extra week with the MH light helped. They have been under the HPS for about 4-5 days now and are just starting to stretch out a bit. The side by side comparison was a soil grow so may not apply to hydro. The 2 strains in the tray shown are white domina and pato#1. I have not had great luck with ths clone thing as they dont seem to have the vigour of a seed IMO, but again I know not a lot so could possibly be my skills lol.

And not sure but I think 6500 better for veg and 2700 better for flower than the 5000 and 3000.

I looked at my notes yesterday and they are 33 days old from the day they went in. The Pato is taking over the canopy. I guess I need bigger tray or less plants! Going to work on that! I have a couple of trays running so I get confused about the times lol.