Irish Boy's 2011 Spectra Led Grow (Revenge Of Casey Jcnes))

SiRStonedAlot said:

Thanks man + rep.

When I talked to Mike right before I ordered the first 290 I asked if the new 290's are brigther than the old 300w, because on the website said the old 300 is the new 500 and the old 180 is the new 290 etc... he said yes it is going to be brighter than the old 300w (the 290 will be). So the 500 must be fucking amazing. I am so stoked to get it... I need it too, I have a mom that is fucking hogging up the room and more than half of my 1kw (and I have a monster hood) I want to put her under her own 290, or half and half HPS and half LED (she's got quite a wingspan and only 7th day into flowering).

This is 3 DWC buckets under a XXXtreme 8 hood, 40" x 30" the 2 tops in the back left are of another bucket on the floor that you can't see. This bitch better stop stretchin soon, or I'm going to go get some bushmaster... lol only 7th day in 12/12 so I figure she'll stop in about another 10 days. I'll have the LED by Thursday.

I've got about 10 soil plants ready to enter the main stage, but I need that other light - I'm going to add 4 tomorrow (2 in 5 galon buckets, 2 in 2 gal - hopefully can prop them enough to get some light!)

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ya not sure ive never seen the 290's in person, my goal is to trade in my 500's and get 4 x 290's it would be perfect for my setup. all i know is the 500w is insanely bright, i mean crazy crazy bright.

it will be interesting to see the led and HID mixed, but i do like them idea of just doing one monster under the light and that way u can truly see what the leds can do and decided if thats the rout u want to go. no reason not to start off small and see what is what and make sure thats the way route u want to go before investing big money like that.

PetFlora said:

TillthediDIE420: Sales Manager from Sunshine Systems went to work at Apache maybe a year ago. Sorry, I do not recall his name, but their lights sound good. If the price for the Apache is correct, they must have significantly reduced the price to get some sales going. hth

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u have a link to a few grow journals with these lights? its always because to find journals before even considering lights. you already know how it gose ur been around for a while and the leds

ill put it like this ive yet to not get a yield that hasn't paid for either on my lights on the 1st run in savings from buying meds.

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That is something I think a lot of HID growers never consider. That is the way I looked at it for me, sure I just forked over $1,100 for a 395w light - but it will easily grow enough its first run to pay itself off and then some, (I am willing to sacrifice that upfront $$$ for all the benefits of LED in the short and long run). I'm pretty sure even I could get over a pound with it and my 2.5x2.5x6 tent every 4 months if my seeds were always female

Well thats a good way to look at it or even justify it. But as far as how the HID only guys are thinking, they are usually going after the most yield per $ and LED certainly isn't there yet. Shit for $700 you can probably find 3 complete 1kw setups, but its going to be hot as fuck.

I don't have a real heat problem, yet, its 108 outside but I run the internal house AC @ 77-78 all the time (expecting a $375 electric bill), but I was worried about adding another 1kw because of heat (even though I have a swamp cooler in there, the house AC duct, and a 750cfm 8" exhaust running all the time). Plus if my research serves me right these LED's will push more lb'age than HID when matched up Watt for Watt. the 290's pull 305w so 2 of them are 610, so I'd be expecting over a LB and beat a 600hid, around 18-20oz. while I can expect roughly 1.75-2lbs off a 1kw - so the combo together, I'd hope to get 3lbs every 8 weeks PLUS add another 600w HID so 4lbs every 8 weeks - but I'm running perpetual so its going to be VERY difficult to track any results. I will, however, have a couple control plants - same strain, ones of similar size, same medium, and put one under HID one under LED the entire cycle.

Irish, do you have any bug problems at ALL with temps into 105? A few years ago when I was growin' if my room got over 90 I'd get white flies like a motherfucker, and spidermites love hot dry weather.... any bug issues?

the reason I started to look into LED's is to not add anymore heat and try and avoid those bugs - my room is chillin at about 78-85 pretty much always... it hit 88 once (but I had the AC on 81). Whats your humidity like Irish? I heard spidermites explode in RH over 50%, I get my room to about 50-55% but then it drops to 40. I cycle my big exhaust off for 15 minutes every 2 hours to let my swamp cooler put moisture in the air without suckig it out of the room.

/ramble.

Peace

I would first like to say thank you Irish for the hard work in providing information regarding LED lights. I have been keeping up on your journals and one thing I noticed is you have the same problem i had when i built a grow cabinet. I had a Blackstar as the only light source and was running a closed system which was enriched with CO2 but the temps got 100+-3 with Rh 23 +- 4. I built a housing for the led light and also built a fan into the exhaust line going to the light that would provide for the cooling of it. This separation of hot air from the enriched air in the grow box gave me Temps of 86 and RH of 55 +- 4. I have attached a crude diagram to aid in my explanation. I just thought this might be something you might consider giving that you will feel the temps rising in the near future.

demondoce2002 said:

I would first like to say thank you Irish for the hard work in providing information regarding LED lights. I have been keeping up on your journals and one thing I noticed is you have the same problem i had when i built a grow cabinet. I had a Blackstar as the only light source and was running a closed system which was enriched with CO2 but the temps got 100+-3 with Rh 23 +- 4. I built a housing for the led light and also built a fan into the exhaust line going to the light that would provide for the cooling of it. This separation of hot air from the enriched air in the grow box gave me Temps of 86 and RH of 55 +- 4. I have attached a crude diagram to aid in my explanation. I just thought this might be something you might consider giving that you will feel the temps rising in the near future.

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I think I loaded it properly now, thank you for the patients.

i look at the savings like this ive been a long time HID grower and had to shut down on the summer heat because of the heat stress, even though ive never paid for these lights i would not think twice if it made me able to grow in the summer time and get another harvest. this grow right here will tell all of us allot, if these girls can pull it off in 110F temps this can change growing or save allot of money for allot of people that no longer have to run a/c and pay crazy high bills. i for one cant wait to see what happens, i chose to run 1k of leds to push things to the max because most people will never run that and will have 180w-600w of leds so if 1k can do it in the temps then the lower watts will only be that much better. growing is my hobby and i love to learn and love the fact of knowing whats in my meds. i am by no means a true led tester i am just a grower at heart and love these plants and always looking to improve my quality.

now as far as the weight goal most of u have i know this, u can at least yield equal to HID but most cases more watts for watt, the quality is where its at though. HID grows great dank for sure but u have to smoke some good led grown bud to really respect it. the yield is all about the grower and understanding the plant that's more to do with yield them watts or whatever. strains effect allot of this also. ive learned to never expect anything unless u know ur strain.

for the air cooled box, that's just a great idea and ive thought about that, but a few things, its a pain when running a few lights, i also want to do this grow as most will so we can learn if my theory is right about leds and heat stress, i have good exhaust and the leds do raise my room too much above normal temps. the room get hot with lights out, i really dont have a good setup i just deal with what i have to work with.

as far as the bugs i get gnats and spider mites time from time, but when i use the Hot Shot No Pest stripes i get no bugs. my RH% is real low and mites like low RH more, dry and hot is their spot. No Pest stripes are ur best friend

man I would be careful about those no pest strips... very toxic to humans.

please read this!
http://www.nader.org/index.php?/archives/1293-Dont-Buy-No-Pest-Strip.html

I'm hunting for way to combat them, as preperation, and came across these during my research. I would just say use them with caution, and not for long periods of time. I'm not sure I would use them at all though. Its like having a bugbomb going off 24/7. might work for like 3-7 day treatment and use a resporator over your mouth when you go in the room. I wouldn't trust them man. Though you could probably battle the cancer you get from the no bug strips, with the fine cannabis you'll grow

SiRStonedAlot said:

man I would be careful about those no pest strips... very toxic to humans.

please read this!
http://www.nader.org/index.php?/archives/1293-Dont-Buy-No-Pest-Strip.html

I'm hunting for way to combat them, as preperation, and came across these during my research. I would just say use them with caution, and not for long periods of time. I'm not sure I would use them at all though. Its like having a bugbomb going off 24/7. might work for like 3-7 day treatment and use a resporator over your mouth when you go in the room. I wouldn't trust them man. Though you could probably battle the cancer you get from the no bug strips, with the fine cannabis you'll grow

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they dont worry me, i dont live in my room and have good venting. they work the best to get rid on the mites, ive tried all types of stuff and these are the things that kill the mites in 24hrs. their only really bad if u touch them on the yellow stuff or stand in the room for a while with no air moving. in my case its not a worry, but each to their own all i know is i am not losing any more crops to mites anymore.

No, its not to each their own dude (and Cancer of any kind SHOULD worry you), I'm just saying BE CAREFUL with them!!!!(everyone should). You should most certainly AGREE with that, and from some of the tips like don't touch, don't stand in room with no ventelation etc.

Cancer is not something to fuck with, its not something to brush off the shoulder, its life changing and life ending - no reset button on the game of Life dude. One time.

If I use them (because of how great the fn reviews are on them) I'll be getting rubber gloves to handle them, as well as a decent chemical respirator for breathing thru when I enter the room. OSHA approves small levels of this chemical contained in these, but long term exposure is not good - so if you're growing in a closet in your bedroom next to your bed- these are not the choice for you. ( I know you're not, obviously, who can sleep in 105degrees lol) - just WARNING everyone to look into any chemicals you decide to use. Man made cancer.


sorry to rant, I just want people to understand that these things are VERY TOXIC - you need proper ventelation, long term exposure should be avoided with any pesticide.

I plan on getting a couple to have on hold.. since I just switched to 12/12 (and thats when people say most bugs come out of hybernation, at the light change) I may do a 12-18hr session with 1 strip, without me entering the room. My room is fashioned in a way that that there is NO WAY for any air to come out into my main house. Everything gets shot thru the attic out the attic vent to the outside, and that pulls air into my room quickly.

tillthedayidie420 said:

so i am stumped
i have 3 options here.
Spectra 500 - $1400
quantum 600 - $1349
apache at120rb - $999

apache claims and kinda proves they have the most u/mols per watt. At 120watts it compairs to the quantum 600 which is 550w true draw
apache also claims 120lumens per watt... I cannot make my mind up.
Its either 1 spectra 500 and 1 quantum 600 for now
total cost $2749
or
4 apache at120rb
total cost $4000

i will be buying all three models by 2012 but my first choice for 2011 i do not know who to pick :/
apache has nasa using there lights ( dunno how true this is )
and other sources on youtube
most of these sources i noticed did not know how to grow asides from nasa... All there plants were hideous!

Choices are difficult haha

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does nasa grow dope? Then who cares.

SiRStonedAlot said:

No, its not to each their own dude (and Cancer of any kind SHOULD worry you), I'm just saying BE CAREFUL with them!!!!(everyone should). You should most certainly AGREE with that, and from some of the tips like don't touch, don't stand in room with no ventelation etc.

Cancer is not something to fuck with, its not something to brush off the shoulder, its life changing and life ending - no reset button on the game of Life dude. One time.

If I use them (because of how great the fn reviews are on them) I'll be getting rubber gloves to handle them, as well as a decent chemical respirator for breathing thru when I enter the room. OSHA approves small levels of this chemical contained in these, but long term exposure is not good - so if you're growing in a closet in your bedroom next to your bed- these are not the choice for you. ( I know you're not, obviously, who can sleep in 105degrees lol) - just WARNING everyone to look into any chemicals you decide to use. Man made cancer.


sorry to rant, I just want people to understand that these things are VERY TOXIC - you need proper ventelation, long term exposure should be avoided with any pesticide.

I plan on getting a couple to have on hold.. since I just switched to 12/12 (and thats when people say most bugs come out of hybernation, at the light change) I may do a 12-18hr session with 1 strip, without me entering the room. My room is fashioned in a way that that there is NO WAY for any air to come out into my main house. Everything gets shot thru the attic out the attic vent to the outside, and that pulls air into my room quickly.

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bro when i say each to their own their are allot of people that wont use them no matter what and some will. i dont worry because i dont breath it because my venting is good and my room is sealed from my living space. everyone should worry about everything they put on their plants. i use gloves and all that when using them. dosent worry me one bit but i have a proper setup, if in a sealed room or near a living space i would think twice

davoswavos said:

does nasa grow dope? Then who cares.

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thats funny.lol

its been brought to my attion that their is a grower using a few of the 500's and his plants that are 16" from the light look great but the ones that were 22" away were a little fatter. not sure why? maybe better spectrum mixing or something. but it seems the further maybe the better. thought it might help some of u knowing this info?

irishboy said:

its been brought to my attion that their is a grower using a few of the 500's and his plants that are 16" from the light look great but the ones that were 22" away were a little fatter. not sure why? maybe better spectrum mixing or something. but it seems the further maybe the better. thought it might help some of u knowing this info?

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Interesting.... Im curious how this effects the penetration though. Do you know if he is extensively training to keep his plant heights under 20"?

irishboy said:

its been brought to my attion that their is a grower using a few of the 500's and his plants that are 16" from the light look great but the ones that were 22" away were a little fatter. not sure why? maybe better spectrum mixing or something. but it seems the further maybe the better. thought it might help some of u knowing this info?

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that is a good point you brought up.... stick with me for a minute, My one bud on this plant is sticking up higher than the light is. so it is forced to grow along side of the panel case a few inches away off of the corner.... it is the biggest bud in my entire cabinet.

could it be the mix of spectrum's or possibly the reflection of the light. but it is definitely bigger. this is my first flowering plant using my new GLH(new 180 model). i kind of blew it off till reading your post... now i will really have to pay attention

Shwagbag said:

Interesting.... Im curious how this effects the penetration though. Do you know if he is extensively training to keep his plant heights under 20"?

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i dont know, ill try to find out. ive noticed the same thing on the older older lights with my grows. 18" with the 300's seemed to do the trick. i know ive had buds that were 4.5' away from my older 300's and they were good size and nice bottom nugs so i think unless u have a crazy big plant u might be ok? i am trying to keep my girls short this round and i like to lollipop so it should be good for me.

stoneyluv said:

that is a good point you brought up.... stick with me for a minute, My one bud on this plant is sticking up higher than the light is. so it is forced to grow along side of the panel case a few inches away off of the corner.... it is the biggest bud in my entire cabinet.

could it be the mix of spectrum's or possibly the reflection of the light. but it is definitely bigger. this is my first flowering plant using my new GLH(new 180 model). i kind of blew it off till reading your post... now i will really have to pay attention

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i would think its the mixing of the spectrum or maybe just the spectrums too strong for the girls when close and further away easier for the plants to use? IDK their could be way too many things that effect this? thought most would like to know this. i know a few growers that have great results with these lights higher including me with the older models. 18" was magic for me on some grows.

i am going to keep the lights close on this grow for the 1st few weeks for the stretch to keep the nodes closer since i have 106F temps then i will raise them to 18-20" and see how it goes? the more people that use these lights to more we can learn about them and how to use them proper. i have a feeling these lights have no been unlocked yet and we can really do some stuff with them once we learn more, just my theory though. i plan on finding out though.

I hear ya man, I grow perpetually. so there is always another plant a week later. I'm not gonna stop trying different things till I did it all!!!!!! I won't have any more head room to play with until this fall. so i will make do with what i have and hopefully learn a little more along the way!!

we all need to stick together and help each other learn as much as we can.

irishboy said:

we all need to stick together and help each other learn as much as we can.

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I'm just glad your here with us at RIU!! you are a refreshing member to have here that uses LED. I have spent many hours up late reading your posts on the other site and I'm glad to see you are here now!!! i understand a lot of good growers left RIU to hang at RM3's. his site is cool and I'm a member, but RIU just feels more comfortable to me sometimes.

Thanks again for all your patience, time, and diligence in your answers/posts!!! and of coarse +rep!

stoneyluv said:

I'm just glad your here with us at RIU!! you are a refreshing member to have here that uses LED. I have spent many hours up late reading your posts on the other site and I'm glad to see you are here now!!! i understand a lot of good growers left RIU to hang at RM3's. his site is cool and I'm a member, but RIU just feels more comfortable to me sometimes.

Thanks again for all your patience, time, and diligence in your answers/posts!!! and of coarse +rep!

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i tend to go where people respond to my threads, its get old posting pics and updates when no one post. RUI has picked up and thats why i try to stick around here more now. its a legit site and peaceful. thanks for being part of this thread

here 14 days flowering. i think i messed up and made a delay in flowering though? one i left my exhaust fan unplugged for 5 days! stupid me. i also just noticed that ive been only feeding Dyna gro at 2.5ml per 5 gal of water instead of the 2.5ml per gal.lol. that being said the girls are looking great for it almost hitting 106F for a few days straight, all the others days are in the 100F range. girls are looking great and healthy and i am very happy, just not showing too much sings of flowering, but since i caught these things and stopped using the Grow formula and the bloom the less N should help them flower.

heres some pics i just took, also threw in a few with the lights.