Gang, I currently have a regular fluorescent light set up, i think they're T8s. 48 inch long bulbs, two bulbs per fixture, two fixtures per shelf. I'd been considering upping the light on one shelf, to make way for higher light plants like catts and oncs. I was wondering what the deal is with T5s, namely:

How big are they? Are they long like the T8s and T12, or shorter? I've searched on google, but it's a bit confusing with lots of choices.

Speaking of choices, I've seen fixtures with 4, 6, and 8 bulbs. Does it make sense to get the largest fixture, two small ones - how many bulbs do you actually need per shelf with T5s?

How far above the plants do you put T5s? I have my T8s anywhere from 8 inches to 1 inch depending on the plant and how much it's yellowing or reddening. This is really two questions:

1. For the plants enjoying the T8s at 6 inches, what distance approximately would they be from a T5 (or a group of T5s)? I'm just trying to get a sense of how much more powerful they are, and whether I have the vertical space.

2. For high light orchids like catts and onc sharry baby, or more importantl for those large multi-florals paphs that I've been avoiding, how far from the T5s would they have to be? (Again, I realize that if I have a 4 light fixture it will be less powerful than an 8 light fixture, so take that into account with your answer).

How hot do they get, meaning, heating up my apartment? Or not really?

How bright do they get - even with the hood or covering on the light will it be a supernova in my studio apartment, or not that bad?

And finally, where do folks recommend getting these from, if I do? Good vendor, quality, prices?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I've looked around online and searched the forum. Still have questions :-)

Thanks everyone, JOHN

John, I have NO idea!
Hopefully someone will weigh in on this and help you out!

John,
Have you tried flowering the plants you want under your existing light setup?
I flowered a Colmanara (Odontocidium) Wildcat 'Carmela' under my T8s. I even had to move the leaves away from the bulbs because they were getting a bit too much light.
I don't mean to talk you out of a new light setup, I'm just saying you might be surprised as to what you can flower...

Hi Marcus, it's funny you mentioned a colmanara - I have one that I'm bringing back from the brink of death and it's rooting very nicely under my t-8s, and eys, it's burning a bit at the tips near the lights. I was wondering more about multiflorals, oncs, things like that - from what most have said, the stronger lights would supposedly be better - I was thinking of perhaps trying them on one of my three shelves, leave the other two T8s...

John, I have T5HO fixtures. Four bulbs per fixture [48 inch]. I run only four bulbs out of the available eight. At 25 inches/four bulbs [bulb to surface] I get 675 foot candles. If I bring the height down to 21 inches [height of a pot] I get 1010 foot candles. If I run six bulbs at 25 inches I get 890 foot candles, and 1500 foot candles at 21 inches. I used a pretty good digital light meter. Rusty

And finally, where do folks recommend getting these from, if I do? Good vendor, quality, prices? Sorry to ask so many questions, but I've looked around online and searched the forum. Still have questions :-)
Thanks everyone, JOHN

This is where I got mine: http://www.specialty-lights.com/960200.html I am very pleased with my 4-light fixture. After I got mine, phrags that had been reluctant to bloom under T12s all put out buds after three months under T5 lights. I think T5 lights are great.

John
I have 3 of the T5 units and am very happy with them. My phrags do very well under the 4-48" units but I do think it is too much light for my paphs. I have moved them back under the T8 bulbs.

The phrags do very well under them and I have bloomed several plants under them and I feel they do as well as the ones I have in my basement under HPS lights. They do give off heat but not as much as the HPS lights.

I have listed both is toll free number and his e-mail address. If you want to give him a call, he is very helpful. Just tell him Marilyn Morton gave you his number. He knows me well because I buy a lot from him. He has helped me a lot with many things. I buy Hydroton and other supplies from him.

http://www.4hydroponics.com
toll free: 877-939-6900

Marilyn (Grandma MC)

Thank you Marilyn, and everyone else. I guess I'll wait till the fall when all the high light guys come back in side and then figure out what I'm gonna do. I can tell that for most of my paphs, the T8s seem sufficient. There are only a few that are right up to the lights and still dark green. Phrags are another story - again, some doing fine, others could probably use a tad more light. I'm also thinking of perhaps getting some compact fluorescent bulbs , the ones you can just plug in a regular standing lamp, to do some spot light action on a few of the high light catts etc in the winter.