Micro-growbox IKEA Kallax: is a 65 watt Kingbrite overkill for a 1' by 1' ?

[GrowerGirl-eu]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie grower making plans for my first miniature grow box and I could use some lighting advice.

I plan to use a vertically placed IKEA Kallax cabinet with two compartments, giving me an internal area of 1.1 x 1.1 x 2.2' (33.5x38x70cm).

I want an affordable yet reliable LED grow light go match this setup. I've learned that I will need at least 30-40 watts, but also that many LED grow lights are unsuited or bad quality. Budget options from brands like Spider farmer, Mars Hydro, Kingbrite, SpidarVectra are often suggested. The problem is that these brands do not seem to offer many low wattage options. Usually they start at 100 watts which seems overkill.

One option I found is the Kingbrite 65w quantum board. This brand seems to get good reviews and comes with a dimmer.
Sadly shipping costs to my country are very high: €45 for the board itself plus an additional €45 of shipping, essentially doubling the price to €90. It's a little more than I'd like to spend.

My questions are:
1) Is this 65W Kingbrite board still too much?

2) Should I instead spend that amount on a brand with higher base price + lower shipping cost and will that get me better/more reliable quality? (suggestions welcome!)

3) Are there any cheaper alternatives that would work just as well or better? I'm especially interested lighting from the sides via led bars, but haven't found a suitable and short-enough combination yet below €100 (spider farmer, AC infinity and Secretjardin supplemental bars seem too high cost/low wattage).

The objective is to get an affordable beginner setup, to get the most out of my small personal grow.
Any tips would be highly appreciated!

 

[coreywebster]

I'd look at what 1ft Samsung or bridgelux strips are available and see if you can build one .

I looked at the smallest light phlizon make and it's 100w but dimmable, it's very cheap £59 but at 13.4inch mich be too big for you.

I looked at migro's smallest light, it's 65w but too long for your space.

 

[coreywebster]

Pardon our interruption...

 

[coreywebster]

I'd probably hit amazon or Ebay and search 65w grow light or 50w , the above is one result.

Can't say it's going to match hlg in quality or the guarantee will mean much, but at that price...

 

[coreywebster]

To answer the original question, 65w with your height restrictions is overkill and I wouldn't buy it if it's not fully dimmable.

 

[GrowerGirl-eu]

I'd look at what 1ft Samsung or bridgelux strips are available and see if you can build one .

If this means manual assembly and/or soldering, I'm sorry to report that's beyond my knowledge level.

I looked at the smallest light phlizon make and it's 100w but dimmable, it's very cheap £59 but at 13.4inch mich be too big for you.

If you mean this PL-1000 , then actually I think that may just fit because the cabinet is slightly deeper than it is wide.
I could not find many reviews of Phlizon LEDs though. Do they compare in quality to something like Kingbrite? What's important for me is safety (waterproof+overheating+shockprotection+longevity) and the right light spectrum. If the Kingbrite is better in that regard I don't mind spending the extra for it. But if the Phlizon is about equal, then it seems interesting for sure.

 

[GrowerGirl-eu]

To answer the original question, 65w with your height restrictions is overkill and I wouldn't buy it if it's not fully dimmable.

Thank you. What wattage would you suggest I use instead? I also really like these AC Infinity led bars, with four bars that combined together draw 48 watts and even come with a programmable timer included. I could perhaps put one bar on each side of the box so there's wide coverage. Do you think that would work well/better? Or are these 'supplemental bars' only useful as supplemental because each individual bar is relatively low wattage?

 

[coreywebster]

Thank you. What wattage would you suggest I use instead? I also really like these AC Infinity led bars, with four bars that combined together draw 48 watts and even come with a programmable timer included. I could perhaps put one bar on each side of the box so there's wide coverage. Do you think that would work well/better? Or are these 'supplemental bars' only useful as supplemental because each individual bar is relatively low wattage?

Unfortunately they are 16"

 

[coreywebster]

If this means manual assembly and/or soldering, I'm sorry to report that's beyond my knowledge level.




If you mean this PL-1000 , then actually I think that may just fit because the cabinet is slightly deeper than it is wide.
I could not find many reviews of Phlizon LEDs though. Do they compare in quality to something like Kingbrite? What's important for me is safety (waterproof+overheating+shockprotection+longevity) and the right light spectrum. If the Kingbrite is better in that regard I don't mind spending the extra for it. But if the Phlizon is about equal, then it seems interesting for sure.

Kingbrite is the king of alibaba , been around a long time , especially known in all the diy ledd circles of being g one of the most trusted vendors on Ali.
But I still wouldn't pay any mind to warranty..

Phlizon are a sponsor here and offer good value for money.
They ship worldwide.

I own 3 of their bigger lights , but I own a lot of other brands too.

If it fits and it's dimmable, I'd double check before buying, then it would be a good option.

 

[coreywebster]

Please don't underestimate just how difficult it is to grow on a micro level.

It's really really hard to do well

In all honesty, if possible revise your plan to give you more height.

 

[GrowerGirl-eu]

Unfortunately they are 16"

Yes, but I thought I could perhaps place them vertically along the sides as opposed to lighting from the top? The height of the box is about 27.5 inches.

Phlizon are a sponsor here and offer good value for money.

Do you know anything about how Phlizon matches up with regards to safety? I'm mostly worried about getting shocked or potential fire hazards.

In all honesty, if possible revise your plan to give you more height.

I'm tempted to, because the Kallax cabinets come with three compartments too, so I could easily increase the height by 50%. But I'd rather keep it small and easily movable if possible. I also worry that increasing the height means I kind of need more width as well?
I thought I could start with a small two compartment Kallax and then later on upgrade to a bigger one if it turns out to be necessary.

 

[coreywebster]

Yes, but I thought I could perhaps place them vertically along the sides as opposed to lighting from the top? The height of the box is about 27.5 inches.



Do you know anything about how Phlizon matches up with regards to safety? I'm mostly worried about getting shocked or potential fire hazards.



I'm tempted to, because the Kallax cabinets come with three compartments too, so I could easily increase the height by 50%. But I'd rather keep it small and easily movable if possible. I also worry that increasing the height means I kind of need more width as well?
I thought I could start with a small two compartment Kallax and then later on upgrade to a bigger one if it turns out to be necessary.

You can grow in a 1x1, it's just 2ft height is nothing. I have nearly that clearance between plants and light.

As for safety, they will be certified properly for any country they sell in, which is probably more than kingbrite

 

[coreywebster]

The vertical idea is interesting.

 

[GrowerGirl-eu]

The vertical idea is interesting.

Yes it seemed like a good way to maximize interior height for plant growth whilst at the same time providing more light coverage from all sides.

Do you think if I used those AC Infinity 48W led bars (four bars of 12W each) with one placed on each of the four interior sides (so no light from above), it would work well for a grow like this? Or would you still recommend the Phlizon?

Because that included programmable timer would really help in saving space, since with other options I'd need to include a bulky socket+timer myself

 

[sunni]

if you do with ac or philzon both have riu codes from being sponsors we also have spider farmer too

 

[GrowerGirl-eu]

if you do with ac or philzon both have riu codes from being sponsors we also have spider farmer too

Oh, that sounds interesting. Could you please point me in the direction of where I might find those?

 

[medidedicated]

This sounds a lot like something I already did. Heres a link to the journal I grew a few plants in there.

The Space Cabinet

Need a place to dump photos of grows via the space cabinet I built. 3000k 40w cob led strip light and ufo fecida 65w led that will dim to almost off during later stages. Overall 45~ watt grow with 500w dehuey running minimally, in small space. Half gallon ffof to be top dressed when needed...

www.rollitup.org

Idk how shipping would be for a fecida led light 65w ufo for like $50 if you can get one of those for less.

I had the light dimmed to pretty much off but with actual grow light led’s thats enough to get a lot of light down the whole plant. If grown properly of course, allowing light down the plant.

I had typical decrotive led strip lights typically with a double sided tape that comes with them. I spiraled it up the box, when buds close enough they do work.

Its good to have a stronger form of light than that though Id say its worth it. Im in a legal state and in middle of yet upsizing my grow even more so yea this project died out long ago.

 

[GrowerGirl-eu]

This sounds a lot like something I already did. Heres a link to the journal I grew a few plants in there.

It looks very similar indeed, thanks for pointing the thread out I'll have a look!

I had typical decrotive led strip lights typically with a double sided tape that comes with them. I spiraled it up the box, when buds close enough they do work.

I'm curious to know why you chose to rely on the decorative lights rather than the actual grow light? Should I consider adding such supplemental lights too? I was hoping one lamp would be sufficient.

 

[medidedicated]

It looks very similar indeed, thanks for pointing the thread out I'll have a look!



I'm curious to know why you chose to rely on the decorative lights rather than the actual grow light? Should I consider adding such supplemental lights too? I was hoping one lamp would be sufficient.

Yea I just saw afterwards that I thinks yours is 2’ tall? I have a tent that big too but its 2’ wide for two small plants. Il add a thumbnail of those.

The fecida is a after market type light its pretty good considering youll probably only need them dimmed all the time anyway.

The lights around the plant help a lot as with indoor growing light penetration isnt like outdoors. Need much more shallow canopy. Side lighting works with full size tents too.

They can be ornimental lights or bar lights, its nothing to overthink because plant will be real small. So a 12” canopy is really tough to make and plants too close get photon readings measurable of over that of the sun.

Its possible and usually a beautiful site if you can make a canopy concentrated to just a square 12” and only be a few inches deep.

Its hard to do but just allowing the plant to grow and somewhat have a verticle grow with the cheaper lights helps accomedate more vigorous growing strains.

The journal shows one run that it bacially overgrew and failed. Not sure what youre after, just fun and descreetness or yield but I find its easier to grow a plant with a 2.5’x2.5’ canopy, anything less gets harder and harder.

But possible is mostly what I came here to say.

 

[GrowerGirl-eu]

In all honesty, if possible revise your plan to give you more height.

I just wanted to report back, to say that I've decided to follow your recommendations. I will be using a cabinet which is about 50% taller and have ordered the Phlizon PL-1000 QB to go with it. They upped the discount and I got another 9% coupon, and with free shipping it ended up being €55, so I'm quite happy with that. Thanks for the recommendations!