I don't really care if you bash me for spending money on these blackstars. I would have 100% gotten something else if I COULD have. What else could I have spent an almost $5k gift balance on (No, that's not what I spent on the leds). I got 6 of them. They cover a supposed 4x3 area. (The question is *I* could have spent, I do not have use for what others would have bought with that money like game consoles, tvs, laptops, etc. I am pretty set on personal items.)
So one for my veg tent (4x2), and 4 for my flowering tent. haven't bought the flowering tent as I am still looking for the optimal dimensions by as of now I plan to get a 6.5x6.5x6.5 one. 8x4 would had been perfect, but it wouldn't had fit in my desired grow space (the way I wanted it). That's 5 leds that would be in use at all times, and a spare should one blow or something.
As far as plants go, I can fit 8 within my veg tent. One space would be for my aerocloner, and a second for a mother of my "best" strain. I *MIGHT* end up expanding to a second 4x2 veg tent, and have only my mothers in one tent, and have seedlings in the second. So in the beginning I would have 6 in the veg tent at all times, and 12 in the flower tent at all times. Should I get the second veg tent going, I would have 8 in veg, and 16 in flower.
NOTE: These are all ESTIMATES. I do not plan to have this up and running in full force in the beginning. Most likely start with 4 at first (one of ea strain). Once again this will be a perpetual grow.