LED Grow

MIMA · Jan 29, 2012

rastapasta808 said:
Just subscribed! Im on my first LED grow too. Im so happy to see that someone else is using HTG LEDs. So you can put them that close? Mine are about 2+ feet away from my tops... Im gunna change that tonight. Right now Im using 3x240w 7-band, 1x135w 7-band UFO, and a 120w tri-band. I'll upload some pics. Got some powder mold on the younger ones so theyre still healing. Nice job so far

Sweet bro I cant wait to see the pics you have alot of lighting from what im reading lol. This grow we learned the nodes will be just under and inch apart if you keep the light within 8 inches of the top of the plants if that helps any haha.

BenRound said:
Wow, another person using these 7-band HTGs--- cool.

I wish I could throw you some specs on the optimum spacing on these lights. Thats why I asked MIMA how high he had them set. I wish HTG would produce some specs on distance etc. If they have, I couldnt tell you where they might be found. Maybe we should call them and ask.
I cant really say for sure, but I took a stab at guessing the optimum distance before I set my light up. Based on my previous research on LEDs, the output of these lights etc, I came up with 12" above the canopy. I have had it as close as 2" with no noticeable harm done. I really dont think that its doing much after 30" of travel (like to the bottom stems), thats one reason Im thinking of changing strains for my next grow. I also think anything closer than 12" doesnt give the light much spread for my purposes either.--- If any of this helps.

Maybe between the 3 of us on this thread using these lights we can get a PAR meter, get some readings and/or ask HTG for some research specs on these lights.

I might give htg supply a call between now and next grow to ask them the optimal light distance just so next grow can be perfect.

Phaeton · Jan 29, 2012

Restricting the grow to one specific type of light is not my game either.

This bud is below the cola level on the above plant.

The HydroGrowLED Technology lights have 740 nm red, but nothing shorter than 440 nm blue. The actinic HID fixes the blue.
Nature has UVB from the blue sky scattering, non directional. The Reptisun 10's in the surround fix that, along with more 630 nm - 720 nm from Red Sun & Flora Sun, imitating late afternoon sky.

Everything is 11.5/12.5 at this time.

I spent a few dollars for meters to use in the test room before spending the many dollars necessary for LEDs, very good investment.
The LED's do exactly what they should, as do the other sources of light.

Still new to me. Having a blast.

BenRound · Jan 29, 2012

Phaeton said:
Restricting the grow to one specific type of light is not my game either.

View attachment 2026396

This bud is below the cola level on the above plant.

View attachment 2026397

The HydroGrowLED Technology lights have 740 nm red, but nothing shorter than 440 nm blue. The actinic HID fixes the blue.
Nature has UVB from the blue sky scattering, non directional. The Reptisun 10's in the surround fix that, along with more 630 nm - 720 nm from Red Sun & Flora Sun, imitating late afternoon sky.

Everything is 11.5/12.5 at this time.

I spent a few dollars for meters to use in the test room before spending the many dollars necessary for LEDs, very good investment.
The LED's do exactly what they should, as do the other sources of light.

Still new to me. Having a blast.

Awww hell yeah, we got the science goin on in this thread! :cool:

Everyone on this thread is mixing spectrum.
There is not one of us that isnt running UV. We're running IR, far reds... its like white lab coats and note pads on this thread. I love it!

karr · Jan 29, 2012

Phaeton said:
I spent a few dollars for meters to use in the test room before spending the many dollars necessary for LEDs, very good investment.

Still new to me. Having a blast.

Can you link me to the meters you are using? I was looking to buy some sort of spectrograph for when i get into my led expiments. I have found the cheap ones that use a prism to break apart the light into separate marks on a chart, very low tech. I need to test some 730nm Ir leds to make sure they don't dip too far down towards the visible red spectrum for my photo chrome manipulation experiment. Would love some links!

Thanks and keep updating, looking fun.

Phaeton · Jan 29, 2012

I have been waiting for the weather to change before taking clones. I had to move an oversize plant. I set up a CMH pair I had and put the plants under it. I check light levels when I make changes. I took pictures this time.

800 watts philips CMH.

Solarmeter 6.2, measures UVB, peaks at 285 nm. 1 microwatt.

All these are the same two CMH's.

Solarmeter 9.4, measures blue, peaks at 450nm. 2.2 miliwatts.

CMH and red, hmm.

Solarmeter 9.6, measures red, peaks at 720 nm. 5.1 milliwatts

800 watts CMH and PAR at 12".

Apogee MQ100, measures PAR from 360 nm to 660 nm. 559 umol.

The solarmeters run about $200, the quantum meter starts at $300.

BenRound · Jan 30, 2012

Phaeton said:
Restricting the grow to one specific type of light is not my game either.

The HydroGrowLED Technology lights have 740 nm red, but nothing shorter than 440 nm blue. The actinic HID fixes the blue.
Nature has UVB from the blue sky scattering, non directional. The Reptisun 10's in the surround fix that, along with more 630 nm - 720 nm from Red Sun & Flora Sun, imitating late afternoon sky.

Everything is 11.5/12.5 at this time.

I spent a few dollars for meters to use in the test room before spending the many dollars necessary for LEDs, very good investment.

"Really, I think I might have more spectrum going on than any indoor grower around... unless they have cut a hole in the ceiling or something." ----- I figured I would be eating those words when I wrote them, but thats cool.

Phaeton, I like the way you think. You seem to be going all in the same direction I want to. Thing is, I should have started a few months back when I had some thousands to dump into it. Now? You have have more in meters than I have in my whole grow. But I think my GE red and blue T8s, 7 band LED and halogen have me covered on much of it, even if I cant read what they are doing with a meter.

My halogen likely is something like:

I wouldnt mind a little more UVB in the mix though.

I assume you use some sort of eye protection when you go in the room?

I just switched to a 11.5/12.5 cycle myself. 8 weeks into flower and I want to give them the idea that time is running short now.

Psytranceorgy · Jan 30, 2012

sweet colas bud!

MIMA · Jan 30, 2012

Phaeton said:
Restricting the grow to one specific type of light is not my game either.

View attachment 2026396

This bud is below the cola level on the above plant.

View attachment 2026397

The HydroGrowLED Technology lights have 740 nm red, but nothing shorter than 440 nm blue. The actinic HID fixes the blue.
Nature has UVB from the blue sky scattering, non directional. The Reptisun 10's in the surround fix that, along with more 630 nm - 720 nm from Red Sun & Flora Sun, imitating late afternoon sky.

Everything is 11.5/12.5 at this time.

I spent a few dollars for meters to use in the test room before spending the many dollars necessary for LEDs, very good investment.
The LED's do exactly what they should, as do the other sources of light.

Still new to me. Having a blast.

nice plants man, thats alot of light in your setup too! do you have a grow journal? if so i'd be interested in following it.

BenRound said:
Awww hell yeah, we got the science goin on in this thread! Everyone on this thread is mixing spectrum.
There is not one of us that isnt running UV. We're running IR, far reds... its like white lab coats and note pads on this thread. I love it!

haha i love it too, im suprised no hps users have come here to talk shit on our led's i see it quite a bit in other grows. But then again they have nothing to talk about everyones plants on here look amazing!

MIMA · Jan 30, 2012

Later tonight or very early tomorrow morning I will be posting new pictures of the blue diesel 2 weeks into flowering. Theres so many hairs all over them now its crazy and it seems like the plants are growing out instead of up now which is pretty cool. Everything is going so smoothly right now these plants are awesome for first time growers theyre so easy to deal with. Here are some teaser pics.
Plant A

Plant B

MIMA · Jan 31, 2012

rastapasta808 · Jan 31, 2012

I had a couple questions because we just added a 600 watt HPS! So stoked, just sold stuff on craigslist and got it!
Im having some issues with drainage I think. And my smaller plants were shocked for about a week because I didnt check ppm when I did the second watering (Its my first grow)
How often do you guys water?
What is your ppm schedule like?
Any solutions to drainage problems out there?
Has anyone tried pruning? Some of my plants are stretched and the Growers Bible says clipping the top will cause the bottom to grow

MIMA · Feb 16, 2012

Sorry its been a while guys. I've been really busy with looking to go to school and stuff so I haven't been on here much. But the plants are doing fine they're 4 weeks into flower and they look really good! Plant B is still way behind Plant A it seems so nothing has really changed. I have plenty of pictures to make up for all the time its been since i posted!
These are Plant A pics