DIY with Quantum Boards
- Thread starter robincnn
- Start date
booms111
Well-Known Member
Honestly It's hard for us guys with over 10 years of 1k hps experience hitting 30+ oz per light consistently to take most of this LED stuff seriously, especially after seeing the numbers you guys hit when using hps then praising LED yields.
I do own 2 qb boards and I'm preparing to change a genetic test tent from 600hps to 320w of qb's to see what happens. My biggest concern with LEDs is all the short plant grows I see with them, I prefer tree plants at 6ft tall.
I do own 2 qb boards and I'm preparing to change a genetic test tent from 600hps to 320w of qb's to see what happens. My biggest concern with LEDs is all the short plant grows I see with them, I prefer tree plants at 6ft tall.
frigginwizard
Well-Known Member
check out grand master level on youtube, he's doing a larger side by side grow right now 1000w hps vs 550s
booms111
Well-Known Member
I'm not saying you can't teach a old dog new tricks, I want to believe in the qb boards, I like them. I just haven't seen any grows yet where I was like wow that's impressive compared to hps. I see a lot of newer(under 5 years experience) growers with little experience with hps getting shit yields then switching to LED and praising them when they never really learned how to maximize there results under hps.
Humple
Well-Known Member
Then you need to follow that logic to its conclusion. If these inexperienced growers are pulling more weight with QB than HPS, an experienced grower should be able to do the same. Blaming the grower AND the light on the LED side, but only the grower on the HID side doesn't really make sense, you know? As for plant size - there are plenty of QB-grown trees here on RiU.
frigginwizard
Well-Known Member
No, I get what he is saying. If you change your light at the same time that you are rapidly gaining experience growing, then what increased your yield? Was it your light, or are you just learning how to grow better?
booms111
Well-Known Member
I've thought of this also, that's why I'm interested in these qb's. I'm very interested in replacing 1k hps's with them. I'm just not convinced yet that's why I'm doing a small test in a extra tent to see hows it goes.
I think it's harder for the newer growers with hps to get there environment right with 1k hps's running compared to quantums/cobs could be the main issue. Either way I see a lot newer growers that have switched before getting proper yields with the hps for whatever reason.
I haven't seen any big tree grows with 8-10 oz per plant or more(4 plants under each 1k hps) with qb's, if you know of one please post a link. As I said I'm into the LED movement just need more proof that there capable to do what I want.
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Humple
Well-Known Member
That could be in some cases, but on the other hand, we see plenty of growers struggling with the LED learning curve when they switch, so it could go either way. And my other issue with that theory is that we're not just dealing with new, inexperienced growers here. Plenty of QB users come from many years of HID experience, and they're quite convinced.
booms111
Well-Known Member
I'm sorta worried about learning curve under the qb's also. Worried if there will need to be external heat added, height of light for maximum results, and if the nutrient uptake will be different. Hps is like cruise control to me.
zypheruk
Well-Known Member
Put 1kw of cobs or quantums in a 5x5 walled grow space, and 1kw Hid in a 5x5 walled grow space. Lights all at same height. Use same plant count and same sized clones of the same strain, grow in coco and same strength nutrients, with both spaces dialled in. Forget running the leds at lower power keep them at 1kw. Complete the grow. Then make a biased decision on which worked best. Then do the same setup but this time lower the power on the leds and keep the hid at 1k. Repeat until you get to a level of yield that is very similar. Forget graphs let the plants and skill of the grower do the talking. I have seen what I can produce using 400watts of led, I have since replaced my 600watt 400v hps and have no reason to return to that tech of lighting.
There is a learning curve when you switch.
If I had the space to do this I would but I grow in the bedroom and I know the limits that the wife will put up with lol.
So on that note, until someone actually does a proper grow test give over ffs. Grow some plants and be happy campers.
There is a learning curve when you switch.
If I had the space to do this I would but I grow in the bedroom and I know the limits that the wife will put up with lol.
So on that note, until someone actually does a proper grow test give over ffs. Grow some plants and be happy campers.
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PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
Doesn't he have a vested interest though? if that's the case it unfortunately taints the outcome(if favorable to led) for the mob mentality in here.
"c'est la vie" on the internetzzz
booms111
Well-Known Member
Do you know of any watt for watt in same square foot led(cob/qb) vs hps grows ? Id like to see that. Basically 2 HLG 550s vs 1k hps. I'd do the test but that's almost a $2k test to buy the 550s.
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zypheruk
Well-Known Member
@booms111, there is a drop in temps but if your growing in an enclosed space tent etc then you will not need any extra heating. The plants from my experience under the quantum boards are happy with lower temps during lights on. IE mine thrive at 24c. Which is 2c more than ambient heat in my house. No ac needed etc in summer for me anyhow.
muleface
Well-Known Member
Current grow.
So i have 36 plants going right now, they are all exactly the same variety and are in the same growing medium, I have noticed some things, thought this might a good spot to mention it.
The setup as follows:
2 tables at 3x12 feet
each table has 3 light fixtures on it for a total of 6. Each table is broken up into sections of 3x4 in size for lighting purposes.
i am running:
3 - Getian cobs fixtures, each fixture has 10 cobs running about 55 watts per cob, 550 watts (all 3500k)
1 - vero 29 with 8 cobs at 550 watts (4 - 3k, 4- 4k)
1 - doubled ended CMH bulb at 600 watts (3100k)
1 - mixed spectrum quantum fixture at about 550 watts (2 - 3k, 1 - 4k, 1 - 5k)
I have noticed that the plants under the CMH and Quantum fixture are doing far better. They are fuller and healthier looking. Everything is starting to flower and fruit now. I will do a second appraisal in a couple of weeks on this how this goes.
I get more even growth under the cob fixtures, but these light fixtures are much larger in size so the light spreads more evenly. Ideally when I start to replace lights, i would look at doing 4 - 550 watt lights (quantum or cmh) on each 3x12 table As it stands now i don't they 3 per table will do it.
I noticed that the Vero and lower end getian cobs don't seem to be much different, the plants look the same, so if i went all cobs, not sure i could justify spending the extra money on the Veros. I just don't see a huge difference. At least not enough not spend $20 extra per cob.
As a side note, my quantum fixture replaced a bridelux 4 foot rigid strip light fixture, (10 strips running about 600 watts total) which I absolutely hated, I will never grow under that crap again, my plants looked awful, they were all lime green and sickly looking.
Honestly, i really like the quantum fixture, its running on one of the big quad heat sinks, it looks really nice, and it produces great light. I think my mixed spectrum approach here might have some merit, or maybe i'm a loon, hard to say. The plants under it have exploded in size, They just look really good.
So i have 36 plants going right now, they are all exactly the same variety and are in the same growing medium, I have noticed some things, thought this might a good spot to mention it.
The setup as follows:
2 tables at 3x12 feet
each table has 3 light fixtures on it for a total of 6. Each table is broken up into sections of 3x4 in size for lighting purposes.
i am running:
3 - Getian cobs fixtures, each fixture has 10 cobs running about 55 watts per cob, 550 watts (all 3500k)
1 - vero 29 with 8 cobs at 550 watts (4 - 3k, 4- 4k)
1 - doubled ended CMH bulb at 600 watts (3100k)
1 - mixed spectrum quantum fixture at about 550 watts (2 - 3k, 1 - 4k, 1 - 5k)
I have noticed that the plants under the CMH and Quantum fixture are doing far better. They are fuller and healthier looking. Everything is starting to flower and fruit now. I will do a second appraisal in a couple of weeks on this how this goes.
I get more even growth under the cob fixtures, but these light fixtures are much larger in size so the light spreads more evenly. Ideally when I start to replace lights, i would look at doing 4 - 550 watt lights (quantum or cmh) on each 3x12 table As it stands now i don't they 3 per table will do it.
I noticed that the Vero and lower end getian cobs don't seem to be much different, the plants look the same, so if i went all cobs, not sure i could justify spending the extra money on the Veros. I just don't see a huge difference. At least not enough not spend $20 extra per cob.
As a side note, my quantum fixture replaced a bridelux 4 foot rigid strip light fixture, (10 strips running about 600 watts total) which I absolutely hated, I will never grow under that crap again, my plants looked awful, they were all lime green and sickly looking.
Honestly, i really like the quantum fixture, its running on one of the big quad heat sinks, it looks really nice, and it produces great light. I think my mixed spectrum approach here might have some merit, or maybe i'm a loon, hard to say. The plants under it have exploded in size, They just look really good.
booms111
Well-Known Member
If this all works out with the 320 qb replacing a 600hps I plan on building a 6x 288 quantum boards setup on 2x 480 drivers running at roughly 740watts on a 42" square frame to replace each 1k hps. That should be pretty good setup to beat my hps's dont you think?
Humple
Well-Known Member
Give me some time and I'll dig up some threads with big QB-grown plants. I won't swear that they're all going to be 8-10 ounces per, but I can certainly show you that QB doesn't necessarily equal small and squat.