Help picking the right light setup for my application???

jswieton

jswieton

This will be my first season to start seed indoors and I’m a little confused on which lights I should buy.  I was thinking about buying an inexpensive T5 4 tube 4 foot grow light  something like this
 
https://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLT5XXPANL4T4-Fluorescent-Fixture-Grounded/dp/B00T0CPI7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480667614&sr=8-1&keywords=t5+4+bulb+fixture or something like this 
 
https://www.amazon.com/4lamps-DL844s-Fluorescent-Hydroponic-Fixture/dp/B00HEYCRI8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1480667614&sr=8-2&keywords=t5+4+bulb+fixture .
 
 I am a new b and I really don’t know what to buy, so if someone could give me some suggestions I would really appreciate it.
 
Here is a little info about what I’m looking to accomplish.  My grow set up will be in a spare walk in closet in my basement that is 6’x4’x7’.  I am looking to start a 72 section grow tray with my seeds and then once my plants start to develop I plan to cut that in half to somewhere around 35 healthy and thriving plants that I can eventually container grow outside once the weather allows me to.
If anyone can give me some direction on what lights to buy for my application I would really appreciate it.  I would like to keep my budget just for lighting to somewhere under $135 for my lighting system. What does everyone suggest would be my best options for lighting in my situation?
 
Thanks
 
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Following. Pandora threads fascinate me, besides I'm very new to the indoor growing game myself.

My minimal 4'X2' window setup uses a two bulb T8 flourescent fixture, but Amazon is deliverying a pair of T8 LED bulbs today. Also a $99 Apollo box array. Unfortunately I have no opinion to give on either, yet....
 
I use a two light T5 setup and have 3 racks so 3 lights or 6 bulbs total. My rack is 2 * 4 * 6 high and I have zero issue. I would think if the heat is right one 4 light system would work. I start 96 plants per rack and move down to 40 - 48.
 
10012961_757625160937879_594568907_o.jpg

 
1597915_757625220937873_1937776487_o.jpg

 
1617969_757625177604544_349962482_o.jpg
 
last year was my first grow, I started my plants off with three 2-bulb, 4' T12 fixtures i got for free. I kept the lights right on top of the plants and they did great.
probably do the same this year. i was looking to find some craigslist T8's but that didn't happen.
 
t5 work great, t8 are cheaper(look at shoplights at homedepot / lowes) and still work good.
 
what you are planning sounds good
 
look at them beautiful pics joyner posted lol
 
i started with an 8 bulb t5 in a closet and it was a bit much, but grew great plants nevertheless!
FrhMCLEL.jpeg
 
I have the same 4' 4 bulb t5 fixture (same fixutre but branded by a different company) as the iPower one you linked, and it works well for my vegging purposes. It puts off manageable heat and keeps plants healthy/vigorous enough for up to four or five months before they need to go outside. But it's only good for vegging as far as I see it. - not suggesting anything, just that I use that light and I like it. I use a 600 watt HPS for flowering (other plants) but something like that would put out WAY too much heat in a closet :)
 
Typically, I start seeds under two T5's, then move them to the 4-bulb T5 fixture until the right size, and finally either put the plants outside or into my flowering tent.
 
 
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JoynersHotPeppers said:
I use a two light T5 setup and have 3 racks so 3 lights or 6 bulbs total. My rack is 2 * 4 * 6 high and I have zero issue. I would think if the heat is right one 4 light system would work. I start 96 plants per rack and move down to 40 - 48.
 
10012961_757625160937879_594568907_o.jpg

 
1597915_757625220937873_1937776487_o.jpg

 
1617969_757625177604544_349962482_o.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Joyner, I really like how clean and organized your grow rack setup looks. It almost looks like a piece of furniture rather than equipment used to grow pepper in solo cups.  Did you build that rack yourself or did you buy the rack at a store?  If you did buy it, would you mind sharing where you got it because I would love to pick up a rack like yours?

 
 
I think I'm leaning towards buying this light since mrgrowguy has had success using it.  My only concern is that it might put off too much heat.  The entire width of the closet I want to put it in is over 10x5x7'.  Even though I'm only going to be using less than half that space for my rack and light setup.  Will I have any issues with excessive heat being in an enclosed space like this?   Do you guys think I will be OK with the temperature inside the closet?  I know I'm going to get some resistance from my wife regarding the whole setup.  I can already hear her complaining that I'm going to burn down our house with these lights or some other silly comment she might come up with.

https://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLT5XXPANL4T4-Fluorescent-Fixture-Grounded/dp/B00T0CPI7O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480667614&sr=8-1&keywords=t5+4+bulb+fixture
 
 
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mrgrowguy said:
I have the same 4' 4 bulb t5 fixture (same fixutre but branded by a different company) as the iPower one you linked, and it works well for my vegging purposes. It puts off manageable heat and keeps plants healthy/vigorous enough for up to four or five months before they need to go outside. But it's only good for vegging as far as I see it. - not suggesting anything, just that I use that light and I like it. I use a 600 watt HPS for flowering (other plants) but something like that would put out WAY too much heat in a closet :)
 
Typically, I start seeds under two T5's, then move them to the 4-bulb T5 fixture until the right size, and finally either put the plants outside or into my flowering tent.
 
 
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Click to expand...
Exactly the same as my set up...no tent though, my two 600hps are in a 8 x 8 x 8 dedicated room with venting etc.

Flourecents are great for germination and those 4 mos getting them ready for outside. I put up a false wall within a spare room and use the closet for the T5 set ups. Works great and as said..managable heat and a couple small 8" fans is perfect.

Joyners rack is the shizzle....excellent effective set up.
 
LED's arent bad either. Plants end up a bit smaller and tighter.
 
8Xo9iSql.jpg

 
26w LED gave me promising results, I'll use it again this year and if I get around to actually getting some shelves, get some more LED bulbs and make a strip. Just make sure you have full spectrum, IMO. (dont look at the light directly.)
 
jswieton said:
Has anyone tried this 8 bulb Hydro Crunch setup.  I seems to get pretty good reviews but is about $50 more than the other two units I wall looking at before..  I'm just not sure if this might be an over kill for what I'm looking to accomplish.  Does anyone have an opinion on this lite setup?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydro-Crunch-T5-Grow-Light-48-4-Ft-8-Lamps-4x8-6500K-Bulbs-Hydroponic-432-Watts-/290840163098?_trksid=p2349526.m2548.l4275
Click to expand...
If your plan is to only germinate and raise juvinile pepper plants before moving outdoors, then imo it is a waste of resources going with an 8 bulb.

Here...one 4' t5 6500k bulb is 12.95 each. The bulbs last 3-6 mos.

Joyner has 3 rows of plants under each two bulb.

Generally the cannabis growers here use those massive 8 bulbs for veg and flower mixing red and blue bulbs.

The 8 bulb units are Heavy as well...just a massive overkill for peppers imo.

Get a two bulb 4'....you can add a second one later if needed....you will be rather surprised how much light comes from a 2 bulb unit.
 
jswieton said:
Has anyone tried this 8 bulb Hydro Crunch setup.  I seems to get pretty good reviews but is about $50 more than the other two units I wall looking at before..  I'm just not sure if this might be an over kill for what I'm looking to accomplish.  Does anyone have an opinion on this lite setup?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydro-Crunch-T5-Grow-Light-48-4-Ft-8-Lamps-4x8-6500K-Bulbs-Hydroponic-432-Watts-/290840163098?_trksid=p2349526.m2548.l4275
Click to expand...
i used sunsystem 8 bulb t5, yes 8 bulb is a bit overkill.
 
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