Newb LED+Hydro Setup Advice Needed

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Assisted Fulltime with 2 grow previously, HPS 1000W,soil the first time, hydro system second time(used bucket system with 55 gallon reservoir,had a chill king, 8 plants) also used propane tank for CO2

MY OWN FIRST GROW:
Want to start some type of hyrdo system with LED's
Gorilla Tent from 4x4 to 4x8 max
Prefferred LED Brands: KIND LED, BLACK DOG,CALIFORNIA LIGHT WORKS SOLAR FLARE, STEALTH GROW, HYDROFARM
I really like the california light works solarstorm! Thing is good size with 2 t8's to help increase resin and potency( i hope so) . plus its 5w diodes which is one of the highest out right now so good penetration.


Was doing some reading on ideal temps to keep for tent temperature and also the temp for the water. They said 80-90 degrees room or tent temp and 70 degree water temp otherwise you yields will go to hell. I don't know if it will mess with yield badly or not but I need to know what I can do without having to buy a really expensive chiller.

Also what size reservoir would I have for a system with only 4 or 6 buckets for a 4x4 tent or maybe even a 4x8???

My advice. Go soil on your first grow or do 2 soil and 2 hydro if you really want to try hydro. I know you "assisted" someone, but it doesn't sound like you have a very good understanding of hydro even after this experience. You should be able to come up with a resevoir and size of grow area on your own. You should also know what temps you need. If you didn't learn all that while assisting with a grow, I dont think you're gonna have much success on your own. Not trying to be a dick, just my opinion.

I was planning on going hydro my first grow. After getting everything set up and realizing how many variables there were I scrapped it and went with soil. I realized that I should get a good understanding of how the plant works with as few variables that I can fuck up as possible.

I would also go with a standard HPS light unless you have a good reason for going LED.

Good luck whichever way you go.

I was thinking about going soil just to see how I did the first time completely on my own. I am very confident mostly because I have direct contact with someone with 15+ yrs experience and also the guy I assisted who has around 5 yrs experience, personally know a manager at a hyrdo shop and am getting ready to buy Growing Elite Marijuana Book here soon for my own reference. Don't really want to rely on those people for a successful grow though that's why I'm on here trying to do this on my own. I understand hydro but there are a lot of different systems. Just wanted to know what system works the best with an LED setup. My only route as of now is to go with LED, HPS is not an option for me and I personally think it creates too many probs., the heat is my biggest concern. If I want to control the heat I will have to seriously spend some extra$$$ and end up setting up ducting into the lower levels of the site to disperse heat.( too much BS) LED is perfect.
I have read hours and hours about LED and thought I have a pretty good understanding of them. The major things to look at with LED is footprint during veg and flower, the diode strength and configuration for penetration, and the band spectrum. Is there really anything else that is so key to know?? If so please elaborate so I can start reading.

I have seriously considered soil though too. Going soil could really eliminate a lot of BS that could go wrong with Hydro. Soil would get me to a point to where I wouldn't have to worry about controlling my water temp like I would with the hydro. Biggest reason I wanted to go Hydro first time is because I need to maximize my yield the first grow. After that I can play around with whatever system I want. I just thought Hydro would be a better option because everyone i seem to talk to has said that their yields with hydro are extremely different than with soil.

AnxiousGrower said:

Biggest reason I wanted to go Hydro first time is because I need to maximize my yield the first grow. After that I can play around with whatever system I want. I just thought Hydro would be a better option because everyone i seem to talk to has said that their yields with hydro are extremely different than with soil.

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Haven't grown hydro (did use an aerocloner I built for a couple times) so wont comment on whether I think hydro increases yield or not.

But, it will not increase YOUR yield. Im pretty sure you have to have a system really dialed in to see this increase in yield. If you dont have a good grasp on it, you'll probably end up with dead plants before you get to the end or at best the same yield you'd get in soil with a lot more headaches.

check out advanced led. i bought the xml 350. works like a BOSS!!!

Unless the lens are glass, they will prevent > 10% of light from reaching the plants. Also, over time they yellow/fog. Likely more-so with 10w diodes.

Go lens-less and go COBs + reflectors to max your investment

I ordered 2 of these to supplement 180w white ufos


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Amazing-Growth-Reflector-Cup-75W-LED-Light-Grow-Panel-Integrated-COB-Hydro-Lamp-/190958710284?pt=US_Hydroponics&hash=item2c7606ae0c

matt909 said:

check out advanced led. i bought the xml 350. works like a BOSS!!!

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Thanks for the info! So basically most of these "popular LED Brands" are over pricing for a product that isn't even all that great? I mean I love the price difference in all of LED light plant products but it is a HUGE price difference. I mean if these are really as good as you say then I could literally double the size of this grow with half the cost. How are the 2 75W and the 180 UFOs working for you? Also what type of footprint do the 75w have? I will have at least a 4x4 area maybe even up to a 4x8. How would you space and configure the 180 UFO and the 75W together in a 4x4 or even a 4x8?

OK, first, I was gifted the 2 ufos. Round lights make a circular footprint, which leaves huge pie shape gaps when using 2

Square/rectangular provides maximum interface

The 2 @ 75w are actually more like @ 40w x 2, which should be fine in my 2 x 4 set up

Alas, I haven't gotten them yet.

If you were going with A 51, I would say minimum of 3 for a 4 x 8. Their diodes are easily 2xs as efficient as the '75w' I bought, so their 190= ~ 400w cheap lights.

LEDLightPlant sells much bigger lights using multiple 100w cobs. Considering they are running at ~ 2/3, they could be pretty decent options, ESPECIALLY, if you are handy and can replace the cobs with serious cobs later on.

1- 2 of these (6500K @ $173) would be great http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reflector-Cup-150w-LED-High-Bay-Light-Industrial-Factory-Exhibition-Warehouse-/190950302301?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7586625d

plus 2-3 of these @ $283 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-400W-LED-Grow-Light-Reflector-Cup-4x-32x-3w-Integrated-COB-Hydro-Lamp-Panel-/190974355783?pt=US_Hydroponics&hash=item2c76f56947

So for ~ $1000 (the price of 2 A51s) you get get a lot more canopy coverage, though not necessarily the same result, still, should be pretty damned good

AnxiousGrower said:

Thanks for the info! So basically most of these "popular LED Brands" are over pricing for a product that isn't even all that great? I mean I love the price difference in all of LED light plant products but it is a HUGE price difference. I mean if these are really as good as you say then I could literally double the size of this grow with half the cost. How are the 2 75W and the 180 UFOs working for you? Also what type of footprint do the 75w have? I will have at least a 4x4 area maybe even up to a 4x8. How would you space and configure the 180 UFO and the 75W together in a 4x4 or even a 4x8?

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