I'm looking for advice on whether or not I need to add more light to my 3x3

[Ohwolfie]

Just as the title says, I am wondering if I need to add more light to my 3x3 flowering tent. Currently, I have 200 watt worth of Cree CXB 3590 3500k COBs from Timber LED, and a HLG 65 3000k light. That gives me about 265 watts of LED light. I have read that you need about 300 watts for a 3x3 at least. So my question is do I need more light, and if so, what should I be looking into?

My budget is under $200. I've considered a few options, such as ordering an HLG 100, and swapping it out with my HLG 65, or perhaps buying a Grow Mau5 puck from Rapid LED, or maybe the Chibi from Timber? I am not dead set on any of those options, and am open to advice. The only requirements are that I don't want to have to DIY it, it has to be LED, and it has to be efficient.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[BigHornBuds]

Your @29.5 watts a square ,
I’d say just do a run and if you think your losing on the outer edge of the tent , then bump it up.

 

[bullfrog84]

Do you have an fla/lux meter? Just pick one up for around 25$ and test it.

 

[Ohwolfie]

Your @29.5 watts a square ,
I’d say just do a run and if you think your losing on the outer edge of the tent , then bump it up.

I've been growing this way for about the last year or so, and the results have been good. But I think they could be better.

Do you have an fla/lux meter? Just pick one up for around 25$ and test it.

I don't but I will order one.

 

[Ohwolfie]

Do you have an fla/lux meter? Just pick one up for around 25$ and test it.

Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/URCERI-Illuminance-Handheld-Temperature-Measurer/dp/B075DC6X25/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549408695&sr=1-3&keywords=Light+Meter

 

[Chip Green]

Yup, that will do it.
I have a Dr. Meter brand, it has proven invaluable in my DIY LED toolkit....

 

[PSUAGRO.]

What are you trying to improve? Yield?



Htg supply raw is the cheapest prebuilt efficient Sammie board that I know of @ 99 bucks

 

[Ohwolfie]

What are you trying to improve? Yield?



Htg supply raw is the cheapest prebuilt efficient Sammie board that I know of @ 99 bucks

Yes, I am trying to improve yield. Granted, throwing light at the plants is not going to guarantee that. I just think that I need to add more light.

 

[Ohwolfie]

What are you trying to improve? Yield?



Htg supply raw is the cheapest prebuilt efficient Sammie board that I know of @ 99 bucks

Do you have a link for that?

 

[PSUAGRO.]

Yes, I am trying to improve yield. Granted, throwing light at the plants is not going to guarantee that. I just think that I need to add more light.

Yep, high yielding strains, dialed in environment,training, hydro can bump your numbers up without adding more wattage........personally I think you might have enough? putting up a pic of your light(s) layout would help?

 

[PSUAGRO.]

Do you have a link for that?

www.htgsupply.com/products/agromax-raw-65-full-spectrum

 

[Ohwolfie]

Yep, high yielding strains, dialed in environment,training, hydro can bump your numbers up without adding more wattage........personally I think you might have enough? putting up a pic of your light(s) layout would help?

I don't have a pic of it right now. My lights will be on in the next half hour. Basically, I have a homemade square pattern fixture with the 4 cobs on the corners, and there was a bit of a gap between the fixture and the front of the tent. In that gap, I put the HLG 65. I will take a picture later this evening.

 

[Ohwolfie]

According to the data sheet, the 4 Cree COBs will cover a 2x2, and the HLG 65 a 1x2, so I think I am close. I just think I need a little bit more light. I am just trying to decide what route to go.

 

[Ohwolfie]

www.htgsupply.com/products/agromax-raw-65-full-spectrum

Hey thanks. Any difference in quality between that and the HLG 65? I would have bought another HLG 65 in 3000k, but they only sell them in 4000k now.

 

[Airwalker16]

If anything, you need to fill out the EDGES of your tent. Use 2'/560mm strips and throw like 100-200watts through the 4 of them.

 

[Ohwolfie]

If anything, you need to fill out the EDGES of your tent. Use 2'/560mm strips and throw like 100-200watts through the 4 of them.

Is there someone that sells a decent plug and play strip like the ones you've suggested?

 

[BigHornBuds]

I would add a couple strip around the edges, adding two of the units above would be problematic.

 

[PSUAGRO.]

Hey thanks. Any difference in quality between that and the HLG 65? I would have bought another HLG 65 in 3000k, but they only sell them in 4000k now.

I've flowered with 4000k before, worked fine.........

Do you have reflective material around your grow? No reflectors/lenses on the cobs right?

 

[Ohwolfie]

I've flowered with 4000k before, worked fine.........

Do you have reflective material around your grow? No reflectors/lenses on the cobs right?

Yes, my tent is a Secret Jardin tent. I do have lenses for the COBs, but don't use them. I took them off.

 

[bullfrog84]

Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/URCERI-Illuminance-Handheld-Temperature-Measurer/dp/B075DC6X25/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549408695&sr=1-3&keywords=Light+Meter

That's the one I have and it works great. If you don't have a PH tester I would grab one of those too as it can be a great help sometimes.