Mish-mash of lights for first grow

[coreywebster]

Right, save your money, don't throw good money after bad.
none of those lights are good.
Work with what you have and stick to a 4x4 canopy.
Once you have a crop done you can think about expanding the next one.

If I were going to spend $300 I would look for a deal on a 630cmh which would illuminate one half of your whole tent on its own.
If you really want to buy an LED that's worth the money for that price range then buy one of these
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/kits/products/260w-qb-led-kit?variant=14546842681393
That will outperform that kind xl 600 and its brand new and cheaper.

I would look around and see what other people are using LED wise. Pick any forum and look at LED grow journals.
Most of us build our own or use white boards or cob or strip based set ups.

I could point you in the right direction if your happy to wire a plug and do some basic shit but im not gona force it on you.

 

[MountainMedic1206]

Very, very good, sir. Thank you for your input.

Can you tell me what the "cmh" designation is? I'm not sure that I have run in to that designation.

I would actually be very interested in what you could point me to. I have a limited budget and don't want to get too deep into lighting as I don't need another "hobby". This MJ thing has me more than busy to get started but if it is simple like wiring a plug, I'm all ears!

 

[MountainMedic1206]

Further, I am going to have two grow tents with a nursery in rotation. So, the nursery for 6 weeks, a veg tent for 6 weeks and a grow tent for 6 weeks and just rotate them through. Those grow times are rough estimates and I have no idea what I am doing so those times can radically change. I'm just trying to learn. Right now, I am just assembling equipment. I really like the link you sent me. I could use the lights I already have in the veg tent and use a couple of the lights that you sent me for the grow tent. Thoughts?

Please feel free to send me further info on building my own lights.

Thank you, again, sir.

 

[coreywebster]

Very, very good, sir. Thank you for your input.

Can you tell me what the "cmh" designation is? I'm not sure that I have run in to that designation.

I would actually be very interested in what you could point me to. I have a limited budget and don't want to get too deep into lighting as I don't need another "hobby". This MJ thing has me more than busy to get started but if it is simple like wiring a plug, I'm all ears!

A cmh is a ceramic metal halide. It has a lovely spectrum and grows amazing quality buds.

Check out this site, he list specific builds for specific size spaces and gives you all the part numbers and where to source from.

Its the cheapest way to build a high quality light. Though his prices are a bit dated and los of the strips can be sourced cheaper currently.


https://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/

 

[coreywebster]

Further, I am going to have two grow tents with a nursery in rotation. So, the nursery for 6 weeks, a veg tent for 6 weeks and a grow tent for 6 weeks and just rotate them through. Those grow times are rough estimates and I have no idea what I am doing so those times can radically change. I'm just trying to learn. Right now, I am just assembling equipment. I really like the link you sent me. I could use the lights I already have in the veg tent and use a couple of the lights that you sent me for the grow tent. Thoughts?

Please feel free to send me further info on building my own lights.

Thank you, again, sir.

The first link is the first version of those lights, the new ones are a bit dearer but I linked that one because I have a few of them and it was in your budget.
Those cover 2x4 each in flower. But you could add to what you have and slowly replace your lighting over a period and demote those other lights to vegging (which they do very well)

Have a good read through that second link and see what you think.
Also worth looking for greengenes and growmau5 on youtube to learn more.
But these days its pretty simple.

If you really are interested in going that route literally anyone in the LED section can help you.

 

[GBAUTO]

Right, save your money, don't throw good money after bad.
none of those lights are good.
Work with what you have and stick to a 4x4 canopy.
Once you have a crop done you can think about expanding the next one.

If I were going to spend $300 I would look for a deal on a 630cmh which would illuminate one half of your whole tent on its own.
If you really want to buy an LED that's worth the money for that price range then buy one of these
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/kits/products/260w-qb-led-kit?variant=14546842681393
That will outperform that kind xl 600 and its brand new and cheaper.

I would look around and see what other people are using LED wise. Pick any forum and look at LED grow journals.
Most of us build our own or use white boards or cob or strip based set ups.

I could point you in the right direction if your happy to wire a plug and do some basic shit but im not gona force it on you.

^^^THIS
What you have is enough lighting for about 10 sq ft of canopy-work with that and grow your crop. I wouldn't sink ANY money in antiquated tech-wait until you can afford current tech lighting.

 

[SPLFreak808]

SPLFreak808... thank you very much for the calculation. I do understand that you are dividing your wattage by the number of square footage you are dealing with but what constitutes your wattage? It may be that you were making an estimation of what you anticipated the wattage to be. What, though, should you ideally use to calculate/represent as your wattage?
Also, what wattage per sq/ft should you be shooting for? What is the threshold for using CO2?
You say that I am at the lower end of optimal. I have the opportunity to buy a Kind K3 XL600 which would provide the following...

I have two buds who both use AP lights, i helped those stubborn idiots set them up so i know what wattage the p150/300 & 600 pull, i had to look up the kind panel though & came up with 550 +/-.

You always go by actual wattage and not equivalent or footprint listed, and always consider the efficiency of the panel, read read read and dont forget ppfd isnt a raw measurment, its usually done in a 4x4.

Its easy to increase or decrease ppfd by using a smaller or bigger footprint with the same amount of light, but whatever the case you still need high ppfd across the whole foliage for gas, which isnt going to happen with anything less than 50w/ft and even that, it better be top notch diodes which aren't cheap.

17w/ft is really low, you might veg some plants with that but flowering would be a headache all for nothing, with those panels i would aim for 45-50w/ft2 or more with gas.

https://growace.com/blog/how-many-grow-lights-do-your-plants-need/

https://www.growweedeasy.com/co2

https://www.lumigrow.com/optimize-cannabis-grow-for-led-temperature-considerations/

 

[Grow for fun only]

MarsHydro has some really good deals on their website and they seem to be good quality but I'm unsure.

Seems mh it's trying to take over Youtube and forums now. , i can see it every where. such an active team .