Lighting questions.. Considering LED over hps/mh combo

jartlow

Well-Known Member
Just like the title says.. I'm about to build my box(4'L x 4'W x 6'T). My goal is to grow about four plants in soil at a time. I originally thought about doing a 750w hps setup to run continuously while using a 1000w MH setup(that can also run a 1000w hps for flowering). Technically I was just going to do a 600w MH/HPS interchangeable setup but I don't want to lower my yield/production potential seeing how I can afford the 750/1000 combo. With that being said I'm also very interested in LEDs. I'm just worried that with my little knowledge and experience I would be wasting my money on LED. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
If your never going to expand stick with the 600..train right and you won't lose any yield and it will be more efficient and easier to cool
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
Unless your already very experienced and going to bush those out hugely, you will never use a 4 by 4 area for only 4 plants
 

smokegreenshlt

Well-Known Member
I got 3 CRAMED in a 5x5 and I only vegged for a month...one lady is all of 4 foot and it was toped other two are around 30-36"
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
Lol hard time believing that..are you trolling..pics? Just because mostly crap comes out of Michigan anyway, four feet in one month is nearly impossible if not completely impossible indoors, and anyway growing monster plants in small areas is inefficient
 

IGROWLED

Member
An immediate advantage of led would be low heat production. You would also cut your energy use if that matters.
 

IGROWLED

Member
Growing with led isnt difficult, In many ways its actually easier a you have fewer drawbacks than HID. If you do decide to look into led heres a link for a place that offers a ton of led grow lights in just about every price range. Throw in a 300-500 watt led light and your yield will go UP, not down. Heres the place ive been getting my led gear http://www.evolutiongrowled.com/shop-evolution.html Its one of the few companies ive seen that is actually based in the U.S. Ive ordered several light from them and have always been happy.
 

BigEasy1

Well-Known Member
Apache, Area 51, or Hans panel for LED - anything else is a gamble imo.
I have a BlackStar Chrome 270 and it grows the hell out of some plants. As my technique gets better so does my yield. Last yield was 80 grams off one plant dried and cured. As a personal stash guy I'm very happy with it. In hindsight though I probably should have bought the Area 51 but only because I've read so much good shit about it. The BlackStar does a fine job and until it takes a shit I'm sticking with it.
 

jartlow

Well-Known Member
Growing with led isnt difficult, In many ways its actually easier a you have fewer drawbacks than HID. If you do decide to look into led heres a link for a place that offers a ton of led grow lights in just about every price range. Throw in a 300-500 watt led light and your yield will go UP, not down. Heres the place ive been getting my led gear http://www.evolutiongrowled.com/shop-evolution.html Its one of the few companies ive seen that is actually based in the U.S. Ive ordered several light from them and have always been happy.
I wouldn't say price is a problem but basically that's what I'm going for. I really wanna start this grow room right so if you're recommending LED and suggest it's something i could easily do I'll do it!


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Rollitup mobile app
 

jartlow

Well-Known Member
If your never going to expand stick with the 600..train right and you won't lose any yield and it will be more efficient and easier to cool
I would eventually want to convert it to a 2 chamber system. I just want to master growing first. I don't mean to sound stupid but are you suggesting 600w mh/hps combo over higher wattage hps/mh & LED??

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Rollitup mobile app
 

jartlow

Well-Known Member
I have a BlackStar Chrome 270 and it grows the hell out of some plants. As my technique gets better so does my yield. Last yield was 80 grams off one plant dried and cured. As a personal stash guy I'm very happy with it. In hindsight though I probably should have bought the Area 51 but only because I've read so much good shit about it. The BlackStar does a fine job and until it takes a shit I'm sticking with it.
With LED do you have to manually adjust the color spectrum etc..? Or do they come grow ready? I know veg I want blue spectrum and flower I want red.. I just have never grown and I don't want to invest on LED without more of an understanding.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Rollitup mobile app
 

smokegreenshlt

Well-Known Member
Lol hard time believing that..are you trolling..pics? Just because mostly crap comes out of Michigan anyway, four feet in one month is nearly impossible if not completely impossible indoors, and anyway growing monster plants in small areas is inefficient
OK dill hole let me break out my tape measure and camera phone...it was 24" b4 I put out to bud...u know they do stretch....1391627743018.jpg
1391627908138.jpg
1391627997621.jpg
The Last pic is showing u that I super cropped so if they were left straight they'd be well over 4 foot. Just cuz u can't do something doesn't mean no one can
 

rwbrock

Active Member
I suggest you go to the LED section and see what some of the guys are doing there. 600w HPS is a good size for your grow area 4x4. I just bought an area 51 LED ($500.00) and it covers a 2x3 area and is a replacement for my 400 HPS. Guys who are getting results comparable to a 600 in an area like yours are running (2) LED. So the upfront cost is going to be much more. LED is nice as it will run less than half the power, way less heat, less fans, less noise. Also take into account with HPS you need a new bulb each year so factor that in. If you have experience and think you are going to grow for a while and get into the hobby it is worth the investment. If your just getting going maybe take the cheaper upfront cost route. A lot of people get into this hobby get a couple grows in maybe not as successful as they had hoped and end up selling all their gear and not growing anymore.
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
OK dill hole let me break out my tape measure and camera phone...it was 24" b4 I put out to bud...u know they do stretch....View attachment 2985590
View attachment 2985597
View attachment 2985605
The Last pic is showing u that I super cropped so if they were left straight they'd be well over 4 foot. Just cuz u can't do something doesn't mean no one can
Lmao!!! So before it was one is four feet vegged only a month and now its one was four feet after it was chopped but it was only two feet when flipped, big difference! You made it sound like it grew four feet in one month...also your pictures don't show the whole plant or where the ends of the tape measure are, I still don't see anything to support that a two foot vegged plant, or three of them, is pulling you a pound and a half or whatever you had said...but you don't have to prove anything to me anyway your original comment just sounded a little too impressive to believe
 

kermit2692

Well-Known Member
Plus my main point was its very hard to fill a 5x5 area fully with only four plants and I can't tell that you have made an effective canopy over that area with only three plants either
 

smokegreenshlt

Well-Known Member
I just have camera phone and couldn't hold tape and step back far enough to get the hole thing in the pic. And ur right I need not to prove anything but u asked me to and I did the best I could as quick as I could...
 
Top