Lighting questions.. Considering LED over hps/mh combo

monkeychief

Well-Known Member
yeah the 4ft duel tubes im gonna run over and grab 2 new bulbs in 2 hrs. this will be straight up on 1 side of plants for side lighting. i think i have 3700k bulbs for it. i can also grab another. i have enough top penetration with the led to get into 1/2 of the plant that is why im using side cfl and florescent to fill in. i want the lower buds to grow bigger those will be used for hash and honey oil. i want to get 1- 2 oz of decent buds for smoke and 1-2 oz for hash/oil(including leaves)
From the pic it looks like your smaller indica's lower canopy has some serious shading from the big fan leaves so might want to to some LST to bend in sideways into an L-shape and tie it to a stake making sure that it stays within the coverage footprint. This allows the lower shoots to receive direct light contact forming a row of colas. The two bigger ones really needs some LST to control it's height, open the inner canopy to expose to direct light coverage and also prevent it from shading your smaller indica after it finish stretching and complete it's secondary canopy development. I would also remove some of those big fan leaves on that big bush that's shading the inner shoots and nodes that will need as much direct light contact as possible to develop into it's maximum genetic potential, otherwise u're gonna end up with some junk airy cottonballs. From the looks of your girls I don't think you will have any problems hitting your yield expectation, but I think u might even be pleasantly surprise as long as u get them exposed to the light. I really don't like to estimate yield numbers since there's endless variance that could affect the final outcome. I noticed u have your CFL along the outer edges reflecting off your mylars which will further weaken your already weak source. A better approach would be to drop the CFL's from the top and strategically position them towards the outer edges but from inside the footprint so you can take advantage of the CFL's 360o light dispersion to radiate the inner canopy rather than relying on half of it's light being reflected of the walls. This will prevent lost of precious intensity and also enable u to control the exact height and position of coverage that u can use to spot boost the intensity in the lower shaded areas.
 

DCobeen

Well-Known Member
From the pic it looks like your smaller indica's lower canopy has some serious shading from the big fan leaves so might want to to some LST to bend in sideways into an L-shape and tie it to a stake making sure that it stays within the coverage footprint. This allows the lower shoots to receive direct light contact forming a row of colas. The two bigger ones really needs some LST to control it's height, open the inner canopy to expose to direct light coverage and also prevent it from shading your smaller indica after it finish stretching and complete it's secondary canopy development. I would also remove some of those big fan leaves on that big bush that's shading the inner shoots and nodes that will need as much direct light contact as possible to develop into it's maximum genetic potential, otherwise u're gonna end up with some junk airy cottonballs. From the looks of your girls I don't think you will have any problems hitting your yield expectation, but I think u might even be pleasantly surprise as long as u get them exposed to the light. I really don't like to estimate yield numbers since there's endless variance that could affect the final outcome. I noticed u have your CFL along the outer edges reflecting off your mylars which will further weaken your already weak source. A better approach would be to drop the CFL's from the top and strategically position them towards the outer edges but from inside the footprint so you can take advantage of the CFL's 360o light dispersion to radiate the inner canopy rather than relying on half of it's light being reflected of the walls. This will prevent lost of precious intensity and also enable u to control the exact height and position of coverage that u can use to spot boost the intensity in the lower shaded areas.
Bro im not gonna go with led. check out CMH and it covers the whole spectrum. that is what i want. more ac and watts but gonna grow some dank shit.
 

monkeychief

Well-Known Member
Bro im not gonna go with led. check out CMH and it covers the whole spectrum. that is what i want. more ac and watts but gonna grow some dank shit.
They will definitely do the trick and bring u a bucket load of bud as long as u don't mind the old school magnetic hum. I would still rather opt. for the HPS with the E-ballast to take advantage of the 15% wattage gain and flex. of running MH and different wattage since most E-ballasts now can run at different wattage settings. But then again, for your small app. it's probably the most efficient. The quality will be an interesting discussion topic as leds produce some of the best quality meds I've grown and tasted. I know the CMH puts out a lot of UV-B but so does the leds if u choose that option. Another nice feature of leds is u might have the option to turn off the UV while in the grow area. Good luck.
 

DCobeen

Well-Known Member
They will definitely do the trick and bring u a bucket load of bud as long as u don't mind the old school magnetic hum. I would still rather opt. for the HPS with the E-ballast to take advantage of the 15% wattage gain and flex. of running MH and different wattage since most E-ballasts now can run at different wattage settings. But then again, for your small app. it's probably the most efficient. The quality will be an interesting discussion topic as leds produce some of the best quality meds I've grown and tasted. I know the CMH puts out a lot of UV-B but so does the leds if u choose that option. Another nice feature of leds is u might have the option to turn off the UV while in the grow area. Good luck.
Man i was drunk last night woot woot and scored some blueberry smoke for some meat i had in my freezer. that light will work perfect i need it too cover 2'x3' is all. then i can grow 6 plants in my flower room. I cant wait to get back to work. winter is great but being broke sucks. Here is the new setup right now in flower room.
Day48 Flowerroom (1).jpg Day48 Flowerroom (2).jpg
Edit in 2nd pic look close you see down low curled dark gree leaves. is that too much ferts?
 

monkeychief

Well-Known Member
Man i was drunk last night woot woot and scored some blueberry smoke for some meat i had in my freezer. that light will work perfect i need it too cover 2'x3' is all. then i can grow 6 plants in my flower room. I cant wait to get back to work. winter is great but being broke sucks. Here is the new setup right now in flower room.

DRUNK IS GOOD, YOU'RE ENJOYING LIFE. "MEAT IN THE FREEZER". U HUNT? THAT LIGHT'S IDEAL, ESPECIALLY DURING COLD WINTERS TO KEEP GIRLS WARM. BROKE SUCKS, BUD. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, UNFORTUNATELY...
View attachment 3009762 View attachment 3009763
Edit in 2nd pic look close you see down low curled dark gree leaves. is that too much ferts?
ONLY IF THE TIPS ARE BURNED, OTHERWISE; IT COULD BE LOW pH OR LOW HUMIDITTY. THE PICS ARE TOO FAR AWAY AND NOT LIT ENOUGH SO I CAN BARELY TELL A FEW LEAVES ARE "EAGLE CLAWING" BUT CAN'T TELL IF THEY ARE DAMAGED IN ANY WAY FROM THE LACK OF DETAILS.
 
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