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De Pere Wi

What is the best grow lights to use on new seedlings the T5,T8 or T12. What watt do you use on them?

4/21/2017 9:51:17 AM

President - GPC

I like the BadBoy T5's. I have two units - 1000 watter, and a 500 watt unit for the germ table. Light weight unit, high quality..a fixture doesnt have to weigh 25 pounds, these guys have put together a great unit. Hit the internet at google grow lights... the medical growers have done some great homework on this as well.

4/21/2017 10:10:43 AM

Here is some information to compare the output of the different possibilities from my recent lighting system design college notes related to growing.

Below you can see the type of grow light, the life span in hours, heat output in F, safe distance required to the plant in inches, light output in lumens/watt, and est cost per bulb.

HID Grow Lights    10,000 hours    600 degrees F    6” – 10”    125 lumens per watt    ~$15 per bulb

HPS Grow Lights    18,000 hours    500 degrees F    4” – 6”    140 lumens per watt    ~$150 per bulb and ballast

LED Grow Lights    50,000 hours    70 degrees F    10” – 16”    25 lumens per watt    ~$200 per square foot panel

T8 Fluorescents    25,000 hours    100 degrees F    2” – 4”    90 lumens per watt    $3 – $5 per bulb

T5 Fluorescent    20,000 – 35,000 hours    95 degrees F    2” – 4”    110 lumens per watt    $5 – $10 per bulb

I want to switch to T5 bulbs, but the cost is a factor since my son's current ballast cannot accept a T5. At the moment, I am using a Performance Shop Light Plus 48 1/2" with 2 T8's. The current fluorescent bulbs emit a very different light spectrum which has limit frequencies. If you can spend the extra money for the T5's then go for it. T8's are great for sprouting and for the small stages, but T5's provide a bit better output in lumens/watt for all stages.

I have used Hydrofarm, Luxstar and EnviroGro for comparing and purchasing equipment for growing in an indoor ag study of midwestern turf grasses on college football fields to reduce irrigation costs. I really think EnviroGro was the most helpful.

Hope this helps!

4/27/2017 9:42:12 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

I have a few 8 bulb hoods and no way would I ever put them that close to a plant currently I am about 20 inches over top of my kin plants and I have zero leggy issues been doing it this way for years t5 vho is the way to go if you just start seeds oh ya get the veg bulb

4/27/2017 10:56:49 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

I mean unless you want burnt up plants

4/27/2017 10:57:51 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I wasn't going to answer since i am unfamiliar with the t8's and and t12's. Wizzy brought up a good point...the medical growers have the best info. When you are growing a product that sells for $10/gram...it leads to high (no pun intended) tech in growing. Reading biddygoats reply..i am thinking some of that info might be outdated. Instead of comparing lights on lumen output...the current standard seems to PAR (photosynthetically available radiation) which measures the light usable by plants as compared to humans which is lumens. I am wondering what HID is...i have always considered HID to be either Metal Halide or HPS. There are ballasts that are capable of powering both metal halide and hps. Hope you make a good choice no luck...hope to see you in stillwater with another beauty.

4/27/2017 4:33:54 PM