Ditching Spectrum King SK400+'s and buy latest LED - Worth it?

Justin Freidman

Justin Freidman

Well-Known Member
Hey Guys,

I've just finished my latest grow and to be honest, as a first grow it went well and I have some nice bud. For this grow I used 2 x Spectrum King SK400+ in a grow space of 4' x 8' with 8 plants. The only thing I was disappointed with was the density of the bud, it wasn't as compact as I hoped for.

I felt I did everything correctly with regards to the environment and nutrients. I grew in a humidity controlled air conditioned room with C02. (1200ppm until stretch had finished, then dropped down to 350ppm until end of grow) Humidity and temp were 65% / 30 degrees C until stretch and then reduced down until 25% / 21 degrees C for last four weeks of flower. I grew in a flood and drain system and the nutrients were fed perfectly.

I'm going to start my next grow shortly and I'm a bit of a perfectionist with OCD so I'm wondering if these lights are holding me back? I'm sure I read somewhere that these lights lack some of the red spectrum.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if it's worth buying new lights, maybe the latest V2 QB's or Cree CXB3590's for my next grow and if they would make a huge difference?

Thanks,
J.
 
HitemwiththeHine

HitemwiththeHine

Well-Known Member
If it was me I would go with 5 HLG 320XL v2 just on price alone. Sounds like a killer setup.

Edit:sorry, I looked at the price of the 602 by mistake, but I'd still take at least 4 320s over specking)
 
HitemwiththeHine

HitemwiththeHine

Well-Known Member
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/all/products/320w-xl-qb-led-kit

It depends on what you value more. For a 4x8, I mean, I guess it depends on how many cobs you want to get the spread you like. Boards are going to give a better spread in my opinion, and I don't know of anything that makes more light for wattage than lm301b diodes right now.

You can do 4 of those fixtures, that's six QBs per 4x4; you can do 5 and really smash tf out of it, and you said you run c02. You probably wouldn't even have to run them full blast.

I've never done a grow as large as yours so listen to me accordingly, I guess lol
 
Justin Freidman

Justin Freidman

Well-Known Member
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm going to order 4 which should be plenty to cover my area. :)

My plants are side by side in that area. So really i need to cover (4x4) (4x4)
 
growin-Jables

growin-Jables

Well-Known Member
I mean if you are already using an ac and co2 supplemented environment. why are you using lights usually used for people who don't want yo have to use ac. if your wanting all star results and big dense buds. You can do it much more easily with hps or cmh. I've seen guys growing huge buds with just a 315w cmh. personally it's what I use for flower. kicks my 600w hps ass all day long. that and fixtures now are only $200 for a 315w
 
Justin Freidman

Justin Freidman

Well-Known Member
growin-Jables said:
I mean if you are already using an ac and co2 supplemented environment. why are you using lights usually used for people who don't want yo have to use ac. if your wanting all star results and big dense buds. You can do it much more easily with hps or cmh. I've seen guys growing huge buds with just a 315w cmh. personally it's what I use for flower. kicks my 600w hps ass all day long. that and fixtures now are only $200 for a 315w
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I'm using AC because I live in a tropical climate where the outside temperature averages about 38 degrees C.

I've never heard about CMH before - I'll start reading about it. So you think even with modern LED's, I'd still get better buds using HPS or CMH?

I guess I could always use the Spectrum King's for the Veg stage and switch to HPS/CMH for flower?
 
Johnny Lawrence

Johnny Lawrence

Well-Known Member
Justin Freidman said:
I'm using AC because I live in a tropical climate where the outside temperature averages about 38 degrees C.

I've never heard about CMH before - I'll start reading about it. So you think even with modern LED's, I'd still get better buds using HPS or CMH?

I guess I could always use the Spectrum King's for the Veg stage and switch to HPS/CMH for flower?
Click to expand...
I mix CMH with 3500K COB LEDs in one of my flowering rooms with fantastic results. I run 4 CMH lights in another room - they're great little lights.
 
SwiSHa85

SwiSHa85

Well-Known Member
If you have to run AC to keep everything in temp then QB's are your best friend. The v2's (lm301b diodes) are pretty much top of the class. Sure HPS/MH/CMH have the lumens but they are not very efficient and create more heat.
 
SwiSHa85

SwiSHa85

Well-Known Member
HOLY SHIT! I just looked those lights up and damn thats alot of money. Well over $1000 for 2. For that kinda cash you could have filled the entire tent with QB's.
 
growin-Jables

growin-Jables

Well-Known Member
yeah that's the nice thing about 315w cmh. each fixture puts off small amount of heat. less than 400w hps though.. That and they have very good growing benefits all around.

1. great par values. very efficient light.. yields are definitely pretty dang good for only 315w.

2 full spectrum as it gets pretty much. probably the single most consistent fixture with the fullest spectrum. what I mean Is all cmh lamps no matter what kind or what reflector you run. you will have a very full spectrum. Your not going to find any REAL full spectrum led for a fair price.

3. price. fixtures are 150 bucks. bulbs are 60. can't beat a $210 if your on a budget .

4. UV output. This is one of the biggest benefits I see. healthy plants all through flower
 
HitemwiththeHine

HitemwiththeHine

Well-Known Member
I don't think I'll ever be anything but an LED guy, but I have to admit if I was forced to pick a bulb for lighting I would love to try CMH.

With that said, I don't think you'll be dissatisfied in the least with HLG, quite the opposite.

Don't forget to update us!
 
Kingrow1

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
growin-Jables said:
yeah that's the nice thing about 315w cmh. each fixture puts off small amount of heat. less than 400w hps though.. That and they have very good growing benefits all around.

1. great par values. very efficient light.. yields are definitely pretty dang good for only 315w.

2 full spectrum as it gets pretty much. probably the single most consistent fixture with the fullest spectrum. what I mean Is all cmh lamps no matter what kind or what reflector you run. you will have a very full spectrum. Your not going to find any REAL full spectrum led for a fair price.

3. price. fixtures are 150 bucks. bulbs are 60. can't beat a $210 if your on a budget .

4. UV output. This is one of the biggest benefits I see. healthy plants all through flower
Click to expand...
So what they run cool then?
And the light that hits the leaves is also cool as well?

HPS puts out very little heat but a ton of light so im not sure what your on about here, is a 400watt light a good heater of air because maybe i should switch my house radiators and central heating system for a few 400watts and save a ton on the thermodynamics and costs of physics....

Fake news dude, no bright light is cool and lights are inefficient warmers of air FACT!
 
R

Ryante55

Well-Known Member
Justin Freidman said:
Hey Guys,

I've just finished my latest grow and to be honest, as a first grow it went well and I have some nice bud. For this grow I used 2 x Spectrum King SK400+ in a grow space of 4' x 8' with 8 plants. The only thing I was disappointed with was the density of the bud, it wasn't as compact as I hoped for.

I felt I did everything correctly with regards to the environment and nutrients. I grew in a humidity controlled air conditioned room with C02. (1200ppm until stretch had finished, then dropped down to 350ppm until end of grow) Humidity and temp were 65% / 30 degrees C until stretch and then reduced down until 25% / 21 degrees C for last four weeks of flower. I grew in a flood and drain system and the nutrients were fed perfectly.

I'm going to start my next grow shortly and I'm a bit of a perfectionist with OCD so I'm wondering if these lights are holding me back? I'm sure I read somewhere that these lights lack some of the red spectrum.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if it's worth buying new lights, maybe the latest V2 QB's or Cree CXB3590's for my next grow and if they would make a huge difference?

Thanks,
J.
Click to expand...
Not worth it. there are better lights but if you have those already get another grow or 2 in. You probably didn't let the plants finish enough it's hard to tell if the plants done till you grow a few times. If your using co2 grab an hlg 260 to throw in the middle of the lights you already have. And since you clearly have a large budget I recommend a par meter to help set the height of the lights.
 
growin-Jables

growin-Jables

Well-Known Member
Kingrow1 said:
So what they run cool then?
And the light that hits the leaves is also cool as well?

HPS puts out very little heat but a ton of light so im not sure what your on about here, is a 400watt light a good heater of air because maybe i should switch my house radiators and central heating system for a few 400watts and save a ton on the thermodynamics and costs of physics....

Fake news dude, no bright light is cool and lights are inefficient warmers of air FACT!
Click to expand...
uh.....I'm confused what your even getting at here lol. 400w hps will raise my tent temps by 6-7 degrees during summer.....meaning I usually pushing 80 degrees plus during lights on. with a 315w cmh. I only see a about 2 -3 degree difference. Less wattage . less heat. what's your arguement ??
 
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