Please help.. Which TOP LED grow light for my small space? Sterilite cabinet grow at seedling/veg

Buddy McNugs

New Member
Hi all, I am currently building out my small cabinet for my first grow. I was going to I was going to do 8 23w CFLs for veg but think LED may be a better choice. I was going to do LED for flowering anyway, but I think I may buy a smaller LED for veg. I am using a Sterilite Storage Cabinet from Walmart that measures 26"(W) x 18"(D) x 36"(H).

http://www.mars-hydro.com/led-grow-light-100-3w.html - TOPLed 100x3w

or

http://www.mars-hydro.com/reflector-led-grow-light-48-3w-74.html - TOPLed 48x3w

Both are around the same price. The first one above says it is an older model 300w and the second is a newer model reflector but says 150w. Since the second is a newer model with reflector does that mean it may be as good or better than the other higher stated watts older model light? What does everyone think between those two choices? Anyone have any experience with either or advice on which would be best for my space. I am hoping to veg 3-4 plants and end with 2-3 in flower.

I would like to make the purchase by tomorrow morning, so any advice, experience, or comments would be appreciated.
 

Buddy McNugs

New Member
I wanted to update my lighting question above, I am looking for a LED for only the Veg period. I will be using a different LED I get later for flowering and will also be flowering in a different taller cabinet. So I am trying to find out which of those two above are best for Veg. I would not be using it at all during flowering. So, if I got the one with the switch, I would probably not turn the flowering part on until late in Veg before going to flowering. This has me leaning towards the 100x3w unless someone advices otherwise.
 

Buddy McNugs

New Member
Well, I have been told that my cabinet is not tall enough for a LED since the LED would need to be around 18" from the plants. Back to CFLs, I hope 8 23w CFLs will be good enough.

I have another question for anyone that knows about using CFLs. I read that when using CFLs for Veg, you want to get 6500k. I have looked at my local stores and have only been able to find 5000k CFLs. I assume these would work but just won't be as good as the 6500k? Is that right? Should I just go ahead and get those 5000k ones or keep looking around until I find the 6500k CFLs somewhere? Is it that big of a difference? This is only for Veg.
 
I just got a SuperStar from SuperCloset and it's dope. It came with a Kind LED XL300, which is a new model. They have a 450 and 600 as well. I'm growing Do-Si-Do
I'm going to be starting a journal very soon.
The first pic is what the plants looked like when I got them from my buddy. All stretchy.
The second and 3rd are after some time under the Kind LED. Nice and tight and bushy.
IMG_3181.jpg image2.jpeg image1 (2).jpeg
 

KobraStrike

New Member
Buddy,
I too own the superstar cabinet that the guy mentioned above as well as some other Supercloset products. I am quite familiar with 300w equivalent LEDs as I have the L300 Kind as well as their newer XL300. I would highly recommend you consider Kinds XL300. My grow space in the cabinet for the veg/flower chamber is around 24 inches from the top of the hydro system but using the scrog method I am able to harvest a substantial amount from a smaller space while using LED and getting that amazing quality. My harvest out of my cabinet was a little over 6 and half ounces of amazing quality herb. I grew white buffalo which I would say is a lower yielder and I still crushed it. The quality difference from cfl to the led alone should sway you towards it. Not to mention leds produce almost no heat and have a far greater spectrum. Here is some pics of my harvest so you can see quality as well.

Cheers!!harvest 1.jpg harvest 2.jpg harvest 1.jpg
 

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