4x4 LED Grow, First Grow

[Dirtbag4]

Hello all, Dbag here, I am here to share my adventure through my first grow with you all. I'm using Fox Farms Happy Frog soil and Advanced Nutrients products, specifically the Ph Perfect Micro, Grow, and Bloom as well as Big Bud and Bud Candy. I haven't used Big Bud or Bud Candy yet. These girls are 5 weeks and 1 day old and starting to grow some buds! I started out with a garbage blurple 1200w King LED. Realizing my potential for failure in flower, I quickly ordered 1 DIY QB288 v2 kit and got it all set up today. I plan on keeping the blurple as supplemental lighting for now, but definitely want to get a few more quantum boards. Do you think it's necessary to even keep the blurple? Is the light even that useful? The penetration is terrible. My setup has been put together week by week and is certainly still less than optimal but I plan on remedying that soon. Check out my pics! I will post updates as the weeks go by. I'm growing 3 White Widow and 1 Cheese (freebie) from Canuk seeds, all Fem Autos. Considering photoperiods soon, whenever I can afford a 2nd room. The close ups on the buds are on the Cheese plant. What do you think?

 

[Dirtbag4]

I am curious about trimming some of the shit near the bottom. We can clearly see that it's not receiving much light, and I'm not in a position to upgrade more in the lighting department anytime soon. I'm just nervous about stressing the plant out.

 

[The Mantis]

I've never done led @Dirtbag4 - but it looks like your lights are way to far from the plants. maybe drop them down a couple few feet. how hot is it in your room when the lights are on?

setup looking good btw! you'll get a nice pull from those 5gal buckets

 

[Dirtbag4]

Thanks Mantis,

I usually have them at about 18 inches. They could have been higher in the photo, I honestly do not remember. I was just excited to get my quantum board hanging. The temperature can reach 80-81 degrees during the peak of the day with the lights on. Until I get a fan and filter, I've just had the small windows on the tent open with a regular house fan outside the tent to push air in. I keep the room the tent is in air conditioned to help regulate temp.

 

[maxlev]

Good on ya for getting a decent light. You may as well keep that huckery thing there until you get another decent light.

For a 4x4, "four" QB288 boards would be optimal wattage.
Looks like you have 1 board, a 135 kit

 

[Budzbuddha]

At least put a fan blowing across canopy ... even from the opening . Plants need that air exchange.
Quantums at 18” is where I keep them usually but can drop to any height with dim adjustments.

As far as light penetration... I find I get good plant penetration thru the plant. Plus you can LST them still to OPEN the plant slightly .... autos do well under quantum and do them all the time .

I kept my old blurple ( vipar ) for shits and giggles ... and pop seedlings under it sometimes.
It has a much more limited job nowadays. Grab another QB when you can , the footprint overlap will kick shit to the moon .

 

[Dirtbag4]

Yeah that's what I figured as well.

Yes, I have one QB288 v2, a 135 kit. I can only afford at most 1 new qb a month.



Thanks Budz, nice setup and good suggestions! Your plants look great! I have slightly modified my setup to get the most out of my space in the tent for now. My fans used to sit on a little stool, but I tied them to the corner posts. They are small and might not get enough air over all the plants, but it will work for now. I cannot wait to get another 2-3 qbs.

 

[Budzbuddha]

Actually your setup is looking quite good .... in a way you can compare growth between them ... lol.

You will be fine for now . Good luck.

 

[maxlev]

The 135 kit will easily run at near 160 watts if you crank up the "IoADJ" with a small phillips screwdriver.
Leave the "VoADJ" alone, it will be set at 54v.

I have 2 135`s in a 2x4, currently in veg at 135w each, but will crank them up when the lumps get sticky.

 

[Mofo83]

Hello all, Dbag here, I am here to share my adventure through my first grow with you all. I'm using Fox Farms Happy Frog soil and Advanced Nutrients products, specifically the Ph Perfect Micro, Grow, and Bloom as well as Big Bud and Bud Candy. I haven't used Big Bud or Bud Candy yet. These girls are 5 weeks and 1 day old and starting to grow some buds! I started out with a garbage blurple 1200w King LED. Realizing my potential for failure in flower, I quickly ordered 1 DIY QB288 v2 kit and got it all set up today. I plan on keeping the blurple as supplemental lighting for now, but definitely want to get a few more quantum boards. Do you think it's necessary to even keep the blurple? Is the light even that useful? The penetration is terrible. My setup has been put together week by week and is certainly still less than optimal but I plan on remedying that soon. Check out my pics! I will post updates as the weeks go by. I'm growing 3 White Widow and 1 Cheese (freebie) from Canuk seeds, all Fem Autos. Considering photoperiods soon, whenever I can afford a 2nd room. The close ups on the buds are on the Cheese plant. What do you think?

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I have got a space about 180x100x60 and I have a 600w R+B led like in Ur pic, I have a smaller R+B led as well with an aquarium fluro with 2 tubes .. do u think it sounds enough for 3

 

[Dirtbag4]

I have got a space about 180x100x60 and I have a 600w R+B led like in Ur pic, I have a smaller R+B led as well with an aquarium fluro with 2 tubes .. do u think it sounds enough for 3

I think you will be okay for Veg, not great but just "getting by." the actual wattage used by the r+b lights are significantly less than advertised. For example, my 1200w draws less than 200w actual power. For flowering you might have a hard time with one 600w blurple 1 floro for 3 plants. Especially the cheap ones off amazon.

 

[Mofo83]

I think you will be okay for Veg, not great but just "getting by." the actual wattage used by the r+b lights are significantly less than advertised. For example, my 1200w draws less than 200w actual power. For flowering you might have a hard time with one 600w blurple 1 floro for 3 plants.

So that's probably why this has happened when I hit 12/12 ,,and that's before the 600w blup and the fluro.. geez Im really a newbie haha .that's why I'm here I guess ..cheers

 

[Dirtbag4]

So that's probably why this has happened when I hit 12/12 ,,and that's before the 600w blup and the fluro.. geez Im really a newbie haha .that's why I'm here I guess ..cheersView attachment 4202589

That plant beneath the tall one looks okay. The tall one however is stretched very tall and slender. You just got your 600w and fluro? What did you grow that under before those? Are you using premixed potting soil that has nutrients?

 

[Mofo83]

That plant beneath the tall one looks okay. The tall one however is stretched very tall and slender. You just got your 600w and fluro? What did you grow that under before those? Are you using premixed potting soil that has nutrients?

It's funny they all started at the same time under fluro I then changed to small r+b led panel but that tall one was always taller and kept pushing against the light same pot same environment and there is no npk level on the potting mix I used..( not to say there isn't npk in it) tall girl is pre flowering as It still has pistols coming through . New growth is chewing guts out of the older leaves.. I'm trying pure sun and making it work hard for water .. (roots were short ) still have hope . It's all I got left. I have even studied Lux and lumens and WOW wtf I'm way off what I need to flower