Burple lighting

Radogast;2856362 said:

Cannafan;2855854 said:

Here's a couple of sites with some Info on T5 vs. T8 Smokey.

T5 vs. T8: How Do You Know If You Really Need T5 Lighting?

Does a T5 lamp give as much light as a T8 lamp? | What are T5 Lamps? | T5 Fluorescent Systems | Lighting Answers | NLPIP

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Smokeater;2856196 said:

Canna, Those links told me almost everything I need to know about T5 and T8's, Thank you very much! Now I just have to wait to afford some light fixtures (and bulbs) before I can set up the tent after it gets here. My wife is even on board helping to cut back as much as possible to save enough for some lights since she's found out I'll need more lights. I'm looking at getting 3 (depending on their footprints) 4 foot long 4 bulb fixtures for the new tent, I'm thinking T8 because of the price difference and because between T8 and T5 sound like there isn't much different in the light output (If I have that wrong, please let me know). I still have more shopping to do to compare prices between the T8 and T5 costs. But either way I'm sure I will come up with the money, just in my own time. So I won't be putting up the tent for a while after I get it but have no trouble waiting until we have the money for lights (I would have preferred a smaller tent but since this one just plopped in my lap, I'll take it). But once again, Thank you again for all the help!

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T5 and T8 are about the same light (lumens) for the same power. T5 HO is about 1.5 X the light for 2X the electricity. A more concentrated light per square inch.

As well as choosing a bulb size, when growing plants there is the bulb color 'Cool White' (5000-6500K) for veg (to avoid stretch) or 'Soft White' (2700-3000K) for flowering. You have an LED for flower, so you would probably choose veg spectrum flourecents,

Historically, when talking about flourescent light, the discussion stops here.


When talking about LEDs the discussion continues into discussing PAR (Photosynthetically Available Radiation) and light distribution curves within the 400-700nm range that plants love. Quality LED manufacturers love to show their spectral curves.

Flourescents have now joined the ranks of advertising PAR spectral curves. This year I purchased a flourescent light with the 'burple' look of LEDs and the same theoretical advantages. My Late Veg plants seemed to grow faster under it compared to veg T5 HO lamps.

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