First time grower, do I have enough light?

[New_dudetoo]

Hello all! My first time trying this and I am just seeing if I have enough light because my plants were doing some weird things. I'll preface this by stating whats in my grow.

- 3x3 Tent
-This "600W" Yintatech Light
-FFOF soil
-Plants have been on pH balanced water util last week when I fed them for the first time with part of the Fox Farms Trio
-24/0 light schedule

I'm going to attach some pictures of the plants, with the light on and off. It is currently 18" from the plants. All the plants have been topped once, last week, with no other training. In the first picture, you will see a circled plant. I call him/hopefully her "Stretch" because it has always been reaching for the light. All 3 of these plants are leaning toward the light, should that be of concern? "Stretch" however, seemed to have the top 2 leaves wanting to "clap" like you or I would do with our hands. I apologize for the picture showing this, as the LED is still on.

tl;dr: Is my lighting sufficient? What is causing the circled plant to "clap"

 

[spek9]

Hello all! My first time trying this and I am just seeing if I have enough light because my plants were doing some weird things. I'll preface this by stating whats in my grow.

- 3x3 Tent
-This "600W" Yintatech Light
-FFOF soil
-Plants have been on pH balanced water util last week when I fed them for the first time with part of the Fox Farms Trio
-24/0 light schedule

I'm going to attach some pictures of the plants, with the light on and off. It is currently 18" from the plants. All the plants have been topped once, last week, with no other training. In the first picture, you will see a circled plant. I call him/hopefully her "Stretch" because it has always been reaching for the light. All 3 of these plants are leaning toward the light, should that be of concern? "Stretch" however, seemed to have the top 2 leaves wanting to "clap" like you or I would do with our hands. I apologize for the picture showing this, as the LED is still on.

tl;dr: Is my lighting sufficient? What is causing the circled plant to "clap"

The lamp is not sufficient. I see in the link that the company tries really, really hard to make you believe that it has 60 10W diodes to say it's 600W, but it isn't. Look deeper:

Working Current: 440mA

So, if you're operating at 120V standard North American voltage, that's 120V x 0.440mA = 52.8W.

Garbage, in my humble opinion. It might get you through a few weeks of veg, but that's all, if that. Sorry to burst any bubbles, but that's the reality of the LED market nowadays.

 

[New_dudetoo]

The lamp is not sufficient. I see in the link that the company tries really, really hard to make you believe that it has 60 10W diodes to say it's 600W, but it isn't. Look deeper:

Working Current: 440mA

So, if you're operating at 120V standard North American voltage, that's 120V x 0.440mA = 52.8W.

Garbage, in my humble opinion. It might get you through a few weeks of veg, but that's all, if that. Sorry to burst any bubbles, but that's the reality of the LED market nowadays.

Thanks for the input. I would rather learn from my mistake and make it correct now, than down the road. What kind of light would you recommend?

 

[spek9]

Thanks for the input. I would rather learn from my mistake and make it correct now, than down the road. What kind of light would you recommend?

That depends on your budget, and your environment. What temperature/humidity do you have in the room you grow in? Do you have A/C to keep things cool at the height of summer? What does your budget look like?

 

[New_dudetoo]

That depends on your budget, and your environment. What temperature/humidity do you have in the room you grow in? Do you have A/C to keep things cool at the height of summer? What does your budget look like?

I would like to stay under $300 if possible. I'm in the Midwest where it is pretty humid. The tent currently stays around 70-80 degrees. I have an a/c unit that I plan to use once it starts getting warmer that is in the room.

 

[spek9]

A "real" 600W HID would work well, and you could get a digital dimmable ballast, a Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodum bulbs, air-cooled hood and a cheap 6" exhaust fan and carbon filter for under $300.

I'm an HID person though, so I'm biased. I'm unsure if there are decent $300 LED/alternate lighting types available for your space. I'm sure you'll get other opinions.

 

[Weouthere]

Look in to HLG lights. For a 3x3 it’ll be really close to and maybe a little over budget, but if you want to run LEDs, then HLG is the way to go.

 

[New_dudetoo]

A "real" 600W HID would work well, and you could get a digital dimmable ballast, a Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodum bulbs, air-cooled hood and a cheap 6" exhaust fan and carbon filter for under $300.

I'm an HID person though, so I'm biased. I'm unsure if there are decent $300 LED/alternate lighting types available for your space. I'm sure you'll get other opinions.

I just looked into the HID lights, do they make them with 4" exhaust? I am currently running a 4" fan with carbon filter

 

[New_dudetoo]

Look in to HLG lights. For a 3x3 it’ll be really close to and maybe a little over budget, but if you want to run LEDs, then HLG is the way to go.

Would a Spider Farmer 1000 or Mars Hydro equivalent work for a 3x3 size tent? or would a 2000 be better?

 

[Weouthere]

I think the 2000 would be better

 

[CannaCountry]

The lamp is not sufficient. I see in the link that the company tries really, really hard to make you believe that it has 60 10W diodes to say it's 600W, but it isn't. Look deeper:

Working Current: 440mA

So, if you're operating at 120V standard North American voltage, that's 120V x 0.440mA = 52.8W.

Garbage, in my humble opinion. It might get you through a few weeks of veg, but that's all, if that. Sorry to burst any bubbles, but that's the reality of the LED market nowadays.

If the OP looks at the specs for his / her light, the wattage is stated at 135 watts (actual power)...so while not the Cadillac of LED's, it could be worse...like 52.8 watts

 

[J232]

I just looked into the HID lights, do they make them with 4" exhaust? I am currently running a 4" fan with carbon filter

A 600w mh is over 3” in diameter, 6” cool tube (or choice of closed hood) with a 4” reducer and hook up to your scrub/fan. I’m with @spek9 on the HIDs, if I was in the USA I would send ya my 6” tube collecting dust.

 

[Gentlemencorpse]

Would a Spider Farmer 1000 or Mars Hydro equivalent work for a 3x3 size tent? or would a 2000 be better?

Definitely at least an SF2000. I have one in my 2x4, which is obviously a little less space then a 3x3, and it worked fine, but I wound up wanting more light and added an HLG 65 to the mix.

If you want to stick to LED your going to need to max out your budget for lights (at a minimum). An HLG 260 would be good in there. @farmingfisherman had some used ones he was selling, could message him to see if he still has any to stay under your budget.

Otherwise I'm with @spek9 on the HID train. Though I'd say you could go with a 400w. Newer growers sometimes seem to struggle getting their environment dialed in with that much light. And I'll be honest, I got the SF2000 as kind of an experiment to see how I liked using it, and I wish I had just bought more HID lights or saved up until I could spring for something nicer like Timber Grow lights.

 

[spek9]

Definitely at least an SF2000. I have one in my 2x4, which is obviously a little less space then a 3x3, and it worked fine, but I wound up wanting more light and added an HLG 65 to the mix.

If you want to stick to LED your going to need to max out your budget for lights (at a minimum). An HLG 260 would be good in there. @farmingfisherman had some used ones he was selling, could message him to see if he still has any to stay under your budget.

Otherwise I'm with @spek9 on the HID train. Though I'd say you could go with a 400w. Newer growers sometimes seem to struggle getting their environment dialed in with that much light. And I'll be honest, I got the SF2000 as kind of an experiment to see how I liked using it, and I wish I had just bought more HID lights or saved up until I could spring for something nicer like Timber Grow lights.

Note that when I mentioned a 600W, I threw in a dimmable ballast. Most have the option to dial down the lamp to 300W and 450W if necessary, so it's kind of upgrade proof a bit. You can grow in a smaller space, but get up to 4x4' with it.

 

[Budzbuddha]

Would a Spider Farmer 1000 or Mars Hydro equivalent work for a 3x3 size tent? or would a 2000 be better?

Actually it’s about the “ least “ you can do instead of your current Light choice .Spider Farmer lights can grow , so can Mars versions , but definitely will out grow your blurple. Not the greatest but step in right direction.

 

[New_dudetoo]

Thanks for all the replies! I’m looking into 600w HID now. As far as setup, combating the smell and keeping the heat down is a big priority. As stated above I do have an air conditioning unit in the room, but what’s the best setup for the light, in-line fan and filter? Do you use the fan to blow across the ballast and into the filter, with the filter located outside the tent?

 

[spek9]

Thanks for all the replies! I’m looking into 600w HID now. As far as setup, combating the smell and keeping the heat down is a big priority. As stated above I do have an air conditioning unit in the room, but what’s the best setup for the light, in-line fan and filter? Do you use the fan to blow across the ballast and into the filter, with the filter located outside the tent?

The most common application is Filter->Fan->Air cooled hood->Outside. The filter/fan should be located at the very top of the tent. That method ensures that all of the air is being pulled through the filter, and that clean air blows over the bulb. Because my basement is consistently 52F, I don't even cool my glass. I just use Filter->Fan->Outside.

 

[New_dudetoo]

The most common application is Filter->Fan->Air cooled hood->Outside. The filter/fan should be located at the very top of the tent. That method ensures that all of the air is being pulled through the filter, and that clean air blows over the bulb. Because my basement is consistently 52F, I don't even cool my glass. I just use Filter->Fan->Outside.

Sounds good! Last question Spek, any brand of lights that you favor or stray away from? I’m currently looking at this Vivosun on Amazon. I’m going to get a reducer so I can attempt to use my 4” fan and filter still

 

[spek9]

Sounds good! Last question Spek, any brand of lights that you favor or stray away from? I’m currently looking at this Vivosun on Amazon. I’m going to get a reducer so I can attempt to use my 4” fan and filter still

That'll be just fine to get started with. I've upgraded to different bulbs and ballasts over the years as I've added tents, but that one is a good balance between price and operation, because it has everything included (even a timer by the looks of it).

Just beware that if the 4" exhaust isn't enough, you'll need to go 6". It's been so very long since I've really looked at my fans that I can't even remember how many cubic feet/min they are.

 

[New_dudetoo]

That'll be just fine to get started with. I've upgraded to different bulbs and ballasts over the years as I've added tents, but that one is a good balance between price and operation, because it has everything included (even a timer by the looks of it).

Just beware that if the 4" exhaust isn't enough, you'll need to go 6". It's been so very long since I've really looked at my fans that I can't even remember how many cubic feet/min they are.

Will do! Hopefully the 4” will get me through until the summer months and then I can upgrade. Thanks for all your help @spek9