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That's hard to do16sq. ft. on that budget unless you go with some lesser quality lights. I did have a joy hydro grow once that did pretty good for the price. It was a 300w model that only used 88w's, I got close to 1/2gpw. It out performed a growpro 260(growpro) whatever.
 
LES7 said:
I wanna buy LED for it.
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Why? If you're in a hot climate or have expensive energy, LED (paying a premium for high-efficiency LED) makes sense. If you're in a small grow box, the Cree LED lightbulbs at Home Depot make sense. But, for all other circumstances, you're better off with T5HO for shorter spaces or ceramic metal halide for larger spaces. If you get LED under those circumstances it's just a "fun to do" thing, not cost justifiable.
 
I have 4x4 place, 3 meters high. I wont buy high end led (I thought for a 2x4 buy something best possible around 800 dollars) but for a year or two prices will drop and I dont wanna regret what I bought... I red a lot about HID and LED + light spectrum, lux, cid... But Im not informed on lightbulbs except that they are used in a small places (It would be fun to use them on 4x4, Il think about it , how much would I need? ), and T5HO, seems good, how big it must be for a 4x4?
 
Hey guys. I need help choosing a light. I have about a $1600 budget. Yesterday I placed an order for a Kind K5 xl1000 and was going to pick it up today but after reading about how it's just a rebrand of cheap Chinese imports, I called and cancelled the order. Glad I didn't get suckered into that. Right now I have 14 healthy seedlings growing under a 4' x 8 bulb quantum badboy t5ho in a 5x5 tent. As you can see with my budget, I have no problem buying higher end lights. I just want to make sure I get some good quality ones that last and don't produce a lot of heat. I'm venting into the attic and the passive intake temps are about 72-75 but I'm still getting 78-80 at canopy level with only 4 of the t5 bulbs on about 10" from the seedlings. What lights would you recommend? I like what I've read about the A51 rw150's and thought about getting 4 of them to fill my 5x5, but if there's better ones than that, I don't mind shelling out the money for them. Would they produce more or less heat than 8 4' t5ho bulbs?

Also since they're only 4 day old seedlings, should I wait until flower to buy LEDs? Is there better tech coming out in the next couple months?
 
LES7 said:
Im not informed on lightbulbs except that they are used in a small places (It would be fun to use them on 4x4, Il think about it , how much would I need? ), and T5HO, seems good, how big it must be for a 4x4?
Click to expand...

Cree LED lightbulbs or Cree PAR38 (spot/flood) at Home Depot: you need about 30-35w/sq ft. It depends on whether you put all the light on top, or spread it around for sidelighting. I spread 22w/sq ft around and it did very well. But, it's some work to spread it around. You can look at my blog (go to my profile, click on the "B") for a couple write-ups about how I do it.

T5HO: Optimal is said to be 40w/sq ft. I don't feel T5HO is good for taller plants. It's a lot of light in terms of surface area, but not a lot of intensity. If you're doing 3' tall plants, I think it would benefit from side lighting. But, if you're going to sidelight, might as well do the Cree lightbulbs.

But, if you're going to do 3' tall plants and don't want the setup hassles of arranging a lot of lightbulbs, then CMH is your best choice (assuming you have a 7' tall tent). I'm not familiar with it. But, a 315w is supposed to be sized for a 3x3 tent.
 
As far as I know, 600 is ideal for 3x3 and 1000 w HID for a 4x4. I guess some light like Mars II , 900w is good for a 4x4 as they say, but some use 1200w so... I dont know. I like the idea of covering 4x4 with 450 w, and Mars II 900w covers that. I would like to use HID but I need 1000w then, and thats too much energy.
 
LES7 said:
As far as I know, 600 is ideal for 3x3 and 1000 w HID for a 4x4. I guess some light like Mars II , 900w is good for a 4x4 as they say, but some use 1200w so... I dont know. I like the idea of covering 4x4 with 450 w, and Mars II 900w covers that. I would like to use HID but I need 1000w then, and thats too much energy.
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You're wrong sorry but it's more about the reflector you use than the wattage of the light. And a 900w mars II wouldn't touch a good 1000w hps those mars lights are junky Chinese lights you need top quality LEDs to compete with HPS not epi-led and epi-star LEDs. A 1000w HPS in an epic or magnium reflector will cover a 5x5 area , my 600w in a blockbuster covers a 4x4 area.
 
Ok :) Thx. Im here to learn. So , what do you suggest, best thing for a 4x4 in HID? I cant afford to spend around 1200 dollars on hi end LED at this moment for a 4x4 place and it seems people grow nice stuff with Mars. I believe its junky but now thats my only LED option
 
LES7 said:
Ok :) Thx. Im here to learn. So , what do you suggest, best thing for a 4x4 in HID? I cant afford to spend around 1200 dollars on hi end LED at this moment for a 4x4 place and it seems people grow nice stuff with Mars. I believe its junky but now thats my only LED option
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Have you considered a monochromatic panel? We have interesting trials going on - huge PAR ratings. We'll see how it pans out - the experts think we might have something..........
 
I used a mars 900 for 18months. It drew 510 or so at the wall. I grew some pretty nice flowers with it in a 2x4 space. When it experienced a meltdown I replaced it with an optic vero 360. The plants are much more lively under the vero lights. I'm only about one month along with the optic lamp so I haven't got anything conclusive. Things are looking extremely promising.

Good luck
 
LES7 said:
I like the idea of covering 4x4 with 450 w, and Mars II 900w covers that.
Click to expand...

MarsHydro uses inefficient epi-whatever diodes. You'll need 50w/sq ft. That's 800w actual.

That's why T5HO or Cree "lightbulbs" are a better choice for short grows, and CMH better for tall. (Unless you're willing to invest in efficient LED, or DIY one.).
 
az2000 said:
MarsHydro uses inefficient epi-whatever diodes. You'll need 50w/sq ft. That's 800w actual.

That's why T5HO or Cree "lightbulbs" are a better choice for short grows, and CMH better for tall. (Unless you're willing to invest in efficient LED, or DIY one.).
Click to expand...

Il grow Indicas mostly, so up to 150 cm I guess. I think Il go with HID.
 
200 watt optic Vero 3k came yesterday. Very good investment.I like the case opens up for servicing/repair.Optics stated coverage area is spot on.This unit will easily do a 2x3.no problem.wholly shakes! These chips are badass.! Only question is heat?and the lenses! They don't flush mount and I am wondering if performance will suffer?
 
4
Andrewjw09 said:
Hey guys. I need help choosing a light. I have about a $1600 budget. Yesterday I placed an order for a Kind K5 xl1000 and was going to pick it up today but after reading about how it's just a rebrand of cheap Chinese imports, I called and cancelled the order. Glad I didn't get suckered into that. Right now I have 14 healthy seedlings growing under a 4' x 8 bulb quantum badboy t5ho in a 5x5 tent. As you can see with my budget, I have no problem buying higher end lights. I just want to make sure I get some good quality ones that last and don't produce a lot of heat. I'm venting into the attic and the passive intake temps are about 72-75 but I'm still getting 78-80 at canopy level with only 4 of the t5 bulbs on about 10" from the seedlings. What lights would you recommend? I like what I've read about the A51 rw150's and thought about getting 4 of them to fill my 5x5, but if there's better ones than that, I don't mind shelling out the money for them. Would they produce more or less heat than 8 4' t5ho bulbs?

Also since they're only 4 day old seedlings, should I wait until flower to buy LEDs? Is there better tech coming out in the next couple months?
Click to expand...
4 optic 200 watt Vero 3k or wait until a51 updated units in June?
 
JimmyIndica said:
4

4 optic 200 watt Vero 3k or wait until a51 updated units in June?
Click to expand...
Idk man. Was thinking of going with 4 A51 RW150's cuz idk if I want to wait until June. Do we know yet if it's early June or late?

Do you think my quantum badboy 4' 8 bulb t5ho will do as good of a job vegging? I never got a chance to use it cuz I quit growing for awhile so i haven't seen how t5's perform in veg.

Edit: I also like that the rw150 operating temp is 77-86f. Whereas the optics operate at 90-110
 
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