White Widow, First Grow

[Poobzilla]

My first attempt ever at growing. Decided on White Widow as was the stand out strain when I visited Amsterdam.

I am growing in an 80x80x160cm tent and am using a phlizon 600w. I did not do the proper research on LEDs before starting and will need to upgrade before flower. I am also growing in canna Coco professional with perlite.

I am one week in from seeds sprouting and am using a seed propogator with an undertray reservoir with advanced nutrients. I started 4 and lost one as its head fell off emerging from soil. One of the seedlings has a bit of a deformed leave but hoping it will pull through.

If anybody has any suggestions on lights, preferably LED, or on anything else I am open to all input.

 

[Powertech]

I have a WW as well, following along for the ride

 

[Poobzilla]

Thanks man. Need to get better lighting sorted asap or i fear my plants are going nowhere fast

 

[Powertech]

Thanks man. Need to get better lighting sorted asap or i fear my plants are going nowhere fast

What’s your budget?

 

[Poobzilla]

I kind of got a bit spent with the initial set up but get paid in a week. Could go as high as £400/$500 and tighten the purse strings a but hoping that I could get 1 light to continue veg and then when i get paid again in 5 weeks i can get another and begin the flower if the plant is ready. Was looking at COB lights and have the migro 100 at £240 and the optic 1xl which is $189 on sale currently. Not sure if this is a good option but was thinking the modular nature of COB's may be beneficial to the limited budget and can add more in the future if I expand. Once i have 2 could put he crappy chinese light in the middle.

 

[Powertech]

thought about building your own? For that budget you could make something sweet

 

[Poobzilla]

I have not. Not very experience or skilled with soldering. Not sure if it involves that but sounds like it might lol

 

[f series]

No soldering required

 

[Poobzilla]

No soldering required

Good to know. I have no idea where to even start. Could you help a brother out?
And how the hell do you like a post? lol

 

[Powertech]

I'm currently building my own for my flower tent. I have more than I need probably, but oh well. What would you like, veg and flower capable?

 

[f series]

Fuck I have a post somewhere where I listed everything needed, gimme a day or two I'll find it

 

[Poobzilla]

I'm currently building my own for my flower tent. I have more than I need probably, but oh well. What would you like, veg and flower capable?

Would prefer it if I could do both. Don't want to be using the cheap light unless its for supplemental lighting.

Fuck I have a post somewhere where I listed everything needed, gimme a day or two I'll find it

Would appreciate the help. I will try and look myself if its one of your posts....

Edit: Oh well guess I will just wait on you haha

 

[f series]

Would prefer it if I could do both. Don't want to be using the cheap light unless its for supplemental lighting.



Would appreciate the help. I will try and look myself if its one of your posts....

Edit: Oh well guess I will just wait on you haha

This is the best one I could find I guess, I may have a detailed one on another site but idk sorry

Shit if you got the funds, more power to ya. I don't though
I spent probably 800-1000
50 or so 2 foot strips
Hlg 240, 150, 320 drivers
Matching heat sinks
All aluminum for frames
200 ft 18 gauge
30 ft 12 gauge or 14 forgot
Bolts, washers, nuts, drill bits, hanging loops, wagos (2),(3),(5)
Rapid led dimmers, cable for outlets, water proof junctions, a mitre saw, soft metal blade.

I wanted to list what I remember, because when you diy, you don't just get lights. I have tools and shit so I can easily make more if I want. I have like 5 lights. All different sizes, and spacing. Different ccts, I mainly do 3k, and alternate with 4k or 5k. Ime 4k and 5k give more trichs than 3k. Infact if I could, I probably wouldn't have got 3k if I had experience in leds when I bought them. I don't rely on the "stretch they give" anyways

If you can strip tile, you can build a light, don't under sell yourself, you're over qualified haha.
When you buy 2 ft or 4 ft strips their actual size is smaller, like a 2 by 4 so to speak.
My 2 foot strips are 22 inches long, so you get a 23 inch long heat sink and 1/2 inch angled aluminum. And you're pushing at 23 inches. It's a perfect fit in a 2*4 tent. I'm not trying to convince you lol I'm aware you know what's up etc.

12 lights and sinks at non bulk prices (when I paid) was $17-$18 dollars per strip.
Each strip runs 22 watts.
$216
Bolts nuts and wires for more than one light,I'd say 30 but let's go $44
I used thermal tape. I think it was $14
Driver $62 hlg 240 24b


That's $336

Let's throw on 10% tax and round up.
btw shipping is free on most sites, or you can get at home Depot.
Labor is like 1-2 hours (taking your time)

Total
$380
$318 w/o driver.. didn't even deduct tax

But if you bulk buy, or even just pick different lights, your prices can go down dramatically.

Driver
Watt /price
340 -$86
240 - $62
185 - $58

View attachment 4464098

 

[oill]

Just buy a cmh 315w light... cheap and perfect performance

 

[Poobzilla]

Thanks for getting back with all that info man. Appreciate big time. My cost are going to be increased this way as I have no power tools whatsoever so cannot build frame or drill holes. Any recommendations for DIY kits? seen some about but don't know if they are worth it

 

[Poobzilla]

Just buy a cmh 315w light... cheap and perfect performance

Strongly leaning towards LED's to save on energy cost and replacement bulbs. Would rather put money upfront rather than pay over the long term in electricity and replacements.

 

[f series]

Thanks for getting back with all that info man. Appreciate big time. My cost are going to be increased this way as I have no power tools whatsoever so cannot build frame or drill holes. Any recommendations for DIY kits? seen some about but don't know if they are worth it

Only "tools" youll need
drill motor

For mounting heatsinks to frame
9/64 drill bit for soft metal
#6 washers
#6 machine screws (flat not pointed)
#6 nuts

To hang light
3/8 drill bit for soft metal
1/4 s hooks

A wire stripper too

 

[oill]

Strongly leaning towards LED's to save on energy cost and replacement bulbs. Would rather put money upfront rather than pay over the long term in electricity and replacements.

I have lots of leds too. I love the hlg boards.

How many years does it take for the led to pay for itself? I would guess about 30 years. Electricity saving is minimal as you have to heat the room more.(at least where I am)

 

[Tiflis]

Strongly leaning towards LED's to save on energy cost and replacement bulbs. Would rather put money upfront rather than pay over the long term in electricity and replacements.

HLG ( Horticulture Lighting Group ) sells Quantum Board kits, that you can assemble easily, virtually no tools needed. I don't have all that much experience with them, just about to finish first full run with HLG ( I have 135 V1 kit ), but I've been reading that it's better to run temps 82-85 for LEDs, which is a problem because they don't produce enough heat, so that's something to keep in mind.

 

[Poobzilla]

I have lots of leds too. I love the hlg boards.

How many years does it take for the led to pay for itself? I would guess about 30 years. Electricity saving is minimal as you have to heat the room more.(at least where I am)

I have seen with comparing 2 cob's of around 100W and 2+umol/w with an economical 315w cmh that your costs for both will be the same at around 3 years and bearing in mind quality led's will last longer and run cheaper then after this point you are cheaper running led long term than you are the cmh.
But then again there are other factors such as electricity costs, whether your using renewable, and probably many other things. My space would probably benefit from the extra heat being in the North of UK but my tube heater keeps things within the 70's. The comparisons were done within the UK so hopefully not too wildly different energy costs to what I would be.