Question for the Experts

[Subbie]

Below is a picture of my grow tent. This is my first and only grow environment so I do not know anything other than the equipment that is in it.

4x6 tent
2 600 LED's

My question is, other than shit canning the LED's, they do an ok job with veg, its flower power I have a concern about. I may at some point put 2 600w HPS's (or bigger dimables), but for now, how would u suggest I supplement more lighting, and how much more.

I forgot to mention, I have a freebee 300w LED would this add anything useful to the party?

Thanx!

 

[SpicySativa]

What are the spectrums of your different LEDs? I'd say adding that 300 could only do you good, so long as you don't mind footing the bill... You could also consider supplementing with UV?

Honestly I dont know much about LEDs, but if I had another light, had room for it, and could keep it cool (prob not a problem with LED), I'd give it a try. If they respond well, you're stoked. If not, flip the switch.

 

[hotrodharley]

T5

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/358190-led-without-leds-my-first.html

 

[MichiganGrows]

Maybe start off buy getting one 600 and put the leds on one side of the tent and the 600 on the other. Switch the plants around weekly so they get both spectrums

 

[Subbie]

The 2 600w have 6 bands and the 300w has 5.

Isnt there a light I can just hang inbetwwen the LEDs from the ceiling that doesn't have a hood? Would that even help? Not sure if u can combine hps light with LED.

What are the spectrums of your different LEDs? I'd say adding that 300 could only do you good, so long as you don't mind footing the bill... You could also consider supplementing with UV?

Honestly I dont know much about LEDs, but if I had another light, had room for it, and could keep it cool (prob not a problem with LED), I'd give it a try. If they respond well, you're stoked. If not, flip the switch.

 

[Subbie]

Something to think about doing, have to change all the ducting to cool the lights, LEDs don't need that.

Maybe start off buy getting one 600 and put the leds on one side of the tent and the 600 on the other. Switch the plants around weekly so they get both spectrums

 

[geekmike]

Throw a vented 600 HPS right in the middle.... that's what I would do

 

[nugbuckets]

^^^^^^^yepper!

 

[Subbie]

OK, so you guys concur on the 600w hps. There is def a pain in the ass factor to air cool a light in the space I have. I'm assuming I have to air cool? Right now the room is perfect in the low 70's with the lights on.

I think it would be a good idea if I got a 1000w and dimmed it down for now, and later because you know I have to (g), expand I'll have a 1000w.

So this is what my hydro shop recommends, will pick it up tomorrow

1000w
SolisTek MATRIX Digital Ballast
Radiant 6" Air Cooled Reflector (comes w lens)
Eye Hortilux Super HPS Bulb

My guy suggested taking the lens out and trying it dimmed to 600w without air cooling. If it gets to hot then at least the hood I have can be rigged with air. So maybe 2200w in a 4x6 is a tad to much.

If its worth doing its worth over doing! Just ask my checkbook.

Whatcha all think?

p.s. I would only turn this light on for the flowering cycle and I do not plan on running in the summer.

 

[Subbie]

Ok got a wild hair and went and bought the stuff. LiL different hood and bulb brand, will see if I can set it up tomorrow.

Thanx guys for the guidance.

 

[nugbuckets]

she will almost certainly be too hot without the lens.......i would keep it on, dim it for now, and air-cool it........good luck!

 

[THC...MATOES]

just throwing this out there because no one else has suggested it. you could make a couple cheap and easy 4-8 cfl adapters and hang them to the sides of the plants, or above in between the led's for some extra light outpoot. A 600 watt would do the trick for sure though.

 

[Subbie]

Just eating breakfest, will get to the room shortly. Gonna def vent the light, do it right the first time.

 

[dbkick]

OK, so you guys concur on the 600w hps. There is def a pain in the ass factor to air cool a light in the space I have. I'm assuming I have to air cool? Right now the room is perfect in the low 70's with the lights on.

I think it would be a good idea if I got a 1000w and dimmed it down for now, and later because you know I have to (g), expand I'll have a 1000w.

So this is what my hydro shop recommends, will pick it up tomorrow

1000w
SolisTek MATRIX Digital Ballast
Radiant 6" Air Cooled Reflector (comes w lens)
Eye Hortilux Super HPS Bulb

My guy suggested taking the lens out and trying it dimmed to 600w without air cooling. If it gets to hot then at least the hood I have can be rigged with air. So maybe 2200w in a 4x6 is a tad to much.

If its worth doing its worth over doing! Just ask my checkbook.

Whatcha all think?

p.s. I would only turn this light on for the flowering cycle and I do not plan on running in the summer.

why would he suggest dimming the 1kw to 600 watts when that throws off a excellent spectrum from an excellent lamp, the matrix will do any lamp from 400-1000 watt. glad to see you bought nice stuff but dimming makes no sense.

 

[MrGreenTooth]

since I went with a cool tube I have been very happy.

 

[GreenSanta]

I find my 600watts LEDs to be as good as 1000watts HIDs for nugs density and size, resin production and overall flavour might be enhanced with the right spectrums but I would need to do some side by side to be sure. Either way, 300watts extra is 300 watts extra, if you are at peace with slight increase in power bill you should use it.

 

[Subbie]

Well here it is, couple of things to still clean up, wanted to get the lights back on. So I set it to run at 600w to see room temp.

2200w isnt to much for a 4x6! lol. This light will answer some questions I have had, so now I'll know if it has been my newbisum or the LED's, probly both.

 

[dbkick]

I find my 600watts LEDs to be as good as 1000watts HIDs for nugs density and size, resin production and overall flavour might be enhanced with the right spectrums but I would need to do some side by side to be sure. Either way, 300watts extra is 300 watts extra, if you are at peace with slight increase in power bill you should use it.

I would certainly be interested in seeing some photographic proof of that. again op, why dim a 1000 when you should have just bought a 600 watt lamp?

 

[Subbie]

I got the 1000w for future expansion. If the tent will remain cool enough and I can stomach the electric bill then ya, I'll run it to 1000w.

I would certainly be interested in seeing some photographic proof of that. again op, why dim a 1000 when you should have just bought a 600 watt lamp?

 

[dbkick]

should have got a 600, I got this info from a "scientist" at sunpulse ...

this from a "scientist" at sunpulse...

1000w lamps are too much for plants and causes photo-inhibition, stopping photosynthesis. At around 5500 footcandles photosynthesis stops, in nature. You can push up to 7000 indoors, but that's max, and still causing some plant shut down. If you back the light up to 2', then you lose 3/4 of the lamps energy, a 1000w light will only put out 250w of usable energy at 2 feet, its called inverse square law - its just the physics of light.