• Here is a link to the full explanation: https://rollitup.org/t/welcome-back-did-you-try-turning-it-off-and-on-again.1104810/

CHM Recommendations - Veg

DocofRock

DocofRock

Well-Known Member
What’s up RIU! Just wanted to get some opinions here. I’m looking to possibly purchase a CMH fixture to use explicitly for Veg. I have the following now: QB288 V2 Rspec x4 on two 2100A drivers, and 2x Qb 96 Elite V2 driven by a 54a driver (can’t remember exact driver atm because... well, you know — weed).

That said, I find that QB’s just aren’t my favorite for VEG stage, and my only other option at home is a 4’ 4 bulb H.O. T5 with one of the bulbs dead.

I have had great success growing with the QB’s, but I still feel like there is something about them... missing, for Veg. Almost regardless of my feeding or VPD/environment, I end up with some micronute deficiencies under the QB’s. I’m looking for opinions about maybe getting a 315 CMH for seedling/Veg stage in the future.

What systems/manufacturers/kits would you recommend for CMH —if any. I really don’t want to burn my house down due to shoddy knock-off manufacturing. God knows what’s out there on Amazon - but I don’t trust any of it until running it past other experienced growers.

I’d love any perspective/feedback from you all with some experience, for sure.
 
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Using cmh in both veg and flower.

Seven Sisters

These 'citigardens' reflectors are dreamy. Puts off a nice even gentle spread. Internal ballast. Opening sizes. 18 x 18 citigardens Replacing these. 11 x 13 neutrons - external ballast
www.rollitup.org
 
Bud.

Bud.

Well-Known Member
I have a jank amazon 315 I use for veg. Hasn’t burnt my house down yet and I’ve had it for like a year and a half. Though it did develop a bit of a flicker at the end of my last veg.

It was like $220 CAD so can’t really complain too much

I think it’s a “BloomGrow”
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
I have some nanolux 1kW DE CMH lights in my veg room. The plants love the light and in veg they cover an enormous area. I found that they take a little while to strike an arc but they get there lol. The first bulbs I got with it had one go out in 7 months with a cracked inner arc tube, I tested the other running bulb and after 7 months it had lost something like 30% output compared to a new bulb. The manufacturer said the bulbs were from a bad batch number and replaced them. I should check the lumen maintenance on those...

These clones are on the floor with the light way up high about 7.5 feet off the floor. Those are all under one 1kW CMH and the moms are under my other one.
 

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JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
DocofRock said:
Maybe one of those 315 would be suitable for me in Veg (4x4 space)? Looks like nice gear.
Click to expand...
Doco...to get proper bulb firing and efficiency, the cmh bulb needs to be used with the correct low frequency square-wave ballast they were designed to work with. Dig a little to make sure. I've heard there are some shoddy companies that don't use the correct type of ballast.
JD

PS: Unfortunately the Philips ballast only operates on 220v
 
Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
JohnDee said:
Doco...to get proper bulb firing and efficiency, the cmh bulb needs to be used with the correct low frequency square-wave ballast they were designed to work with. Dig a little to make sure. I've heard there are some shoddy companies that don't use the correct type of ballast.
JD

PS: Unfortunately the Philips ballast only operates on 220v
Click to expand...
Good advice, Hi-par run the correct ballast.
 
DocofRock

DocofRock

Well-Known Member
I’ve also been looking at this grower’s choice GC-630NS, though with the bulbs included it’s like almost $800. I just really want a better option for Veg than I presently have. I also feel like IR and UV missing from Quantum Boards has a noticeable and weird effect. Not to say I haven’t been successful with my QB’s, as my last grow yielded about 17 oz... but I feel like I could have happier plants, especially in Veg.

I don’t know if anyone has experienced this, but I nearly always end up with some micronute problems under QB’s. I’ve tried everything —CalMag at large doses, CalMag omitted, coco coir, soil, higher VPD/lower VPD. It seems that the common occurrence in my grows is that yes, they are healthy and they produce.... but I just feel like I could do better. I’m wondering how much the lack of IR/UV impacts the plants’ transpiration and micronutrient availability.

Yeah, maybe I am being a bit of a perfectionist, but I really do think replicating nature (and especially the light of the sun) as closely as possible indoors helps the plant grow as close to optimally as possible. I love everything I’ve read about and seen regarding CMH lighting, including having some added UV/IR. LEDs slam down the PAR, and at lower watts to boot, but ahhh.... I just can’t help feeling like they are missing something.
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
DocofRock said:
I’ve also been looking at this grower’s choice GC-630NS, though with the bulbs included it’s like almost $800. I just really want a better option for Veg than I presently have. I also feel like IR and UV missing from Quantum Boards has a noticeable and weird effect. Not to say I haven’t been successful with my QB’s, as my last grow yielded about 17 oz... but I feel like I could have happier plants, especially in Veg.

I don’t know if anyone has experienced this, but I nearly always end up with some micronute problems under QB’s. I’ve tried everything —CalMag at large doses, CalMag omitted, coco coir, soil, higher VPD/lower VPD. It seems that the common occurrence in my grows is that yes, they are healthy and they produce.... but I just feel like I could do better. I’m wondering how much the lack of IR/UV impacts the plants’ transpiration and micronutrient availability.

Yeah, maybe I am being a bit of a perfectionist, but I really do think replicating nature (and especially the light of the sun) as closely as possible indoors helps the plant grow as close to optimally as possible. I love everything I’ve read about and seen regarding CMH lighting, including having some added UV/IR. LEDs slam down the PAR, and at lower watts to boot, but ahhh.... I just can’t help feeling like they are missing something.
Click to expand...
I have always liked mixing spectra. I'm flowering with two 315 cmhs and a 600w led.
You don't need to spend $800 on a veg light...that's crazy. I had an unused 400w mh/hps ballast...so bought a 250w mh...dimmed down the ballast...and plants love it. I suppose I have a little over $125 into it.
JD
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
What size of space will you be vegging? how many plants normally?

the MH still kicks ass in veg too and are a nice cheap alternative to CMH. Shit, i still use my t5s for early veg, then my MH for the rest of veg then they move into the flower room under my LEDS, poor plants dont know wtf is going on lol
 
Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
diggs99 said:
What size of space will you be vegging? how many plants normally?

the MH still kicks ass in veg too and are a nice cheap alternative to CMH. Shit, i still use my t5s for early veg, then my MH for the rest of veg then they move into the flower room under my LEDS, poor plants dont know wtf is going on lol
Click to expand...
LOL mine would be confused to.
LED for propagation, CFL for Veg and a CMH for flower.
 
DocofRock

DocofRock

Well-Known Member
I’m definitely all about throwing my girls curveballs every now and then, for sure. I think *some* stress is beneficial for them. Hell, think about how brutal nature can be. Truthfully, I’m sure I could make what I have work.... partially I’m just itching for some new toys.
 
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JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
DocofRock said:
I’m definitely all about throwing my girls curveballs every now and then, for sure. I think *some* stress is beneficial for them. Hell, think about how brutal nature can be. Truthfully, I’m sure I could make what I have work.... partially in just itching for some new toys.
Click to expand...
I know what you mean...I've been planning a reptile light UV supplement...just for fun.
JD
 
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