The Battle of the LED's BD450 vs GSL 600w Quantum Vs GLH Spectra 500 vs 357MagLED+

postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
So having grown with my cousin for the past 6 months, I've decided to get my caregiver license and grow on my own. I don't need to grow a ton and will be growing out of 3 - 2'x3'x7' tents. I've been using
600w MH/HPS with my cousin in 4x4 tents in DWC bubblers. I will be growing 2 plants in each of my tents under a scrog in waterfarms. Now I was pretty sure that I was going to go the CMH route because I know they work but after tons and tons of research, I'm truly convinced on LED grows. The trick that I think people are missing is getting the correct amount of wattage per sq ft coverage, and not going off of what the companies recommendations. I will have 15 sqft over 2 plants. With TRUE wattage (not led wattage) I'm going to need at least 300w, but I am going to def go over what I need. The price tag doesn't scare me because with the right quality light, I will get dense buds with better THC quality than with HID. It'll pay for itself in the long run, especially since *get ready for this* I don't really smoke. My cousin does that job. Not that I don't smoke at all, but I hardly smoke. I'll smoke a few bowls on a new harvest just to see how well I did but that's about it.

So, the lights I'm bent on getting....


Black Dog LED BD450
Description $1249
  • LED Qty: 216
  • LED Type: 3W Single Chip
  • LED Wattage: 648 (288x 3W)
  • Actual Power Draw: 432 Watts
  • Real Watt per LED: 2


Grow Stealth LED - 600w Quantum LED - $1149
Description


  • LED Qty: 288

  • LED Type: 3W Single Chip
  • LED Wattage: 864 (288x 3W)
  • Actual Power Draw: 550 Watts
  • Real Watt per LED: 1.9

Grow LED Hydro - Spectra LED 500 - $1300


  • LED Qty: 252
  • LED Type: 3W Single Chip
  • LED Wattage: 756 (252x 3W)
  • Actual Power Draw: 500 Watts
  • Real Watt per LED: 1.9

357MagLED - 357 Magnum Plus - $1200




  • LED Qty: 230
  • LED Type: 3W Single Chip
  • LED Wattage: 690 (230x 3W)
  • Actual Power Draw: 357 Watts
  • Real Watt per LED - 1.55


Now the simple thing to do would be to divide the actual power draw by the number of leds and call the one with the highest number the winner but there are other things to take into consideration obvioulsy, like light angle and spectrum and/or spectrum control, how well the heat sink design is, ect. ect. ect. If I had my way, I'd get the Lumigrow but holy smokes is that expensive.

So far my favs are the 357 Magnum Plus and the Black Dog LED....

I'm open to feedback on owners of a line or all around opinions since I'm not buying for another 2 weeks.
 
The Dawg

The Dawg

Well-Known Member
Whats Up Brother Postnothrills.Im Subbed With Popcorn For Your Grow.You Are Going To be Amazed At How Simple Growing In A Waterfam Is And Feel Free To Ask Any Questions.Peace And Happy Growing bongsmilie
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
Haha I did, well just drilled the extra 1/4 inch holes and bought a larger water pump per Scottyballz advice :-) My gut tells me to just run with CMH but I am convinced that these higher quality leds will perform.
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
PS. I only have the individual waterfarms. I don't have them hooked up to a controller or larger reservoir. I don't have room for all of that extra stuff right now so I have to run them individually. I will get them connected together after the summer when I get some more room in here.
 
The Dawg

The Dawg

Well-Known Member
Yea If This Is Your First Run Go With The CMH You Will Love It.In The 70's All We Had Was MH Then Hps Comes Along I Didnt Like It.Was Too Freaken Hot.Ive Got A Nasty Scare From It.When I Decided To Start Growing Again The CMH Made Perfect Sense.I Do Plan On Buying A Led In About A Month And Stick It My Cab For My Next Grow.ON Which Led To Buy Dont Be In A Hurry Do Your Research.I Will Provide You With A Spectra Grow Journal.Peace And Opposum Grease :peace:

https://www.rollitup.org/led-other-lighting/500763-im-offically-led-grower-spectra.html
 
The Dawg

The Dawg

Well-Known Member
wyteberrywidow said:
That thread with that led will turn alot of people off to led lights
Click to expand...
When I Started Donig My Research.I Found Every Bad Led Grow And That Didnt Turn Me Off.Their Are Led Light's That Do Work Rather Well The Spectra Is One Thats Not Performing Up To Par.What Led Light Are You Using?I Plan On Going With the Area-51 Led.Peace And Happy Growing :weed:
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
From my research, Spectra is one of the better LEDs. The problem this guy had was almost 800 watts in that little enclosure. Obviously he's gonna burn the shit out of his plants. Like I said, the key is the right wattage per sq.ft and LED angle. 90 degree is going to give you better penetration but keep the lights up a bit, 120 will let you get closer. While this guy had his lights up a bit higher, he still had close to 800w radiating in that cab.

As for what you're saying with me starting with CMH.....I'm thinking about it. The thing is, until my roommate moves out in August, I have to keep this tent in my room and that magnetic ballast is going to get annoying to have to hear. I already have tinnitus from my time in Iraq. To have to hear that soft whine is going to kill my ear. But, if I just tough it out for a couple of months it could be worth it. It's not like I'm saving a ton going LED if I'm running CMH because its still only 400 watts. If anything I'd have to run an inline fan but I'm going to anyways to hook up a carbon filter. We shall see.... One of the main reasons I want to go LED is because of the better bud production...meaning quality in taste and high, but since CMH doesn't run as hot as HPS maybe it won't burn off as much.
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
The point of this thread was to get people discussing these lights and whether or not people have tried any of them. There are plenty of threads out there with people talking about HID and waterfarms so lets get back on topic a little bit.

Anyone have experiences with these lights? Any opinions?
 
T

testtime

Well-Known Member
Sorry on the CMH comment (as opposed to LED), but I've got the experience to respond the the CMH comment.

My flowering chamber has 4 x 400 watt lights in cool tubes.

It went from CMH to magnetic ballast HPS to ultraviolet burn finishing light to digital HPS.

I would rotate the plants around based on "need". If a plant wasn't showing enough green leaves I'd shift it under the CMH. This would trigger wide/fat/thick/dark green growth. I'd then shift it under HPS for a month or so, and then UV burn/HPS for the final couple of weeks.

I would not attempt to "finish" under CMH as compared to the other 2, not nearly the same trichome development, and the final taste/power was not as good.
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
Really? Hmm that's interesting. I've seen a few CMH journals and never heard a complaint. I'll look into that more though. I know right now I wouldn't be able to run HPS
 
puffenuff

puffenuff

Well-Known Member
Out of the choices you listed, I would either go with the blackdog or mag +. Personally, I would try the solarstorm from california lightworks before any of those.
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
right now after more research and following a few grows from this dude at thcfarmer.com that pulled 16oz dry twice with the mag+ in a similar size set up, BUT...the solarflare does look nice. that solarstorm is way more than i need.
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
Here is a spectrum reading done by some guy on his own and he compared it with a 1000w hps. The reds are phenomenal but the blues aren't all that great. But since you can switch between veg/flower/full spec, I wonder if you'd get more blue

attachment.jpg
 
The Dawg

The Dawg

Well-Known Member
postnothrills said:
'
Yup here is his grow....https://www.thcfarmer.com/community/threads/purple-kush-under-led-2nd-grow.32535/page-7#post-606308
He journaled it here too.

Oh and it wasn't the Magnum Plus, it was 2 Magnums that draw 180w each, so his set up would be 3 watts more than a magnum plus
Click to expand...
Well Their You Have It Post A Mag+Waterfarm Scrogg Grow.Sounds Real Grovey To Me I Will Bring Popcorn To The Show. :hug:Peace And Up On the Shelf In The Shed Kenny's Little Creature On Display
:hump:
 
postnothrills

postnothrills

Member
I think that is what is going to happen Dawg! Just gotta pic a strain that I want to grow. I have a friend that has a sour diesel mother plant ;)
 
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