3000K or 3500K for flowering only (or 3000+5000 mix)

BOBBY_G

BOBBY_G

Well-Known Member
was going to go with 3500k but was wondering what you guys like better (3000K or 3500K)

also was thinking of a hybrid system using a lesser wattage of 5000K to 'blue up' the 3000K, and then using that lesser wattage of 5000K to veg in same space

something like:
veg: 5000K @ 500 ppfd
flower: 5000K @ 250 ppfd + 3000K @ 750 ppfd

with the design being the 5000K run soft (efficient) in flowering and harder (for a limited time) in veg

thoughts? on this vs two completely separate systems of
veg:5000/5700/6500K @ 500 ppfd
bloom:3500/4000K @ 1000 ppfd

almost feel that im over thinking it and 'kinda red' and 'kinda blue' at the best efficiency/output/bin i can get will yield similar results

also consider DB bin availability of the 5000K and only CB of 3000K
25% DB 5000K + 75% CD 3500K would be 5-10% more lumens/watt than using the CB bins
 
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BadInfluence

Well-Known Member
I just started getting my head around LEDs so i could be wrong. Have a look at the efficiency, as far as i know the COBs are less efficient under 3500K (more heat/fewer lumens). From what I've seen in different videos and here in the forum the 3500K should be fine for flowering.
However, if you build your own you could use a mix with some higher K values and only use the higher K LEDs for vegging.
 
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PurpleBuz

Well-Known Member
BOBBY_G said:
was going to go with 3500k but was wondering what you guys like better (3000K or 3500K)

also was thinking of a hybrid system using a lesser wattage of 5000K to 'blue up' the 3000K, and then using that lesser wattage of 5000K to veg in same space

something like:
veg: 5000K @ 500 ppfd
flower: 5000K @ 250 ppfd + 3000K @ 750 ppfd

with the design being the 5000K run soft (efficient) in flowering and harder (for a limited time) in veg

thoughts? on this vs two completely separate systems of
veg:5000/5700/6500K @ 500 ppfd
bloom:3500/4000K @ 1000 ppfd

almost feel that im over thinking it and 'kinda red' and 'kinda blue' at the best efficiency/output/bin i can get will yield similar results

also consider DB bin availability of the 5000K and only CB of 3000K
25% DB 5000K + 75% CD 3500K would be 5-10% more lumens/watt than using the CB bins
Click to expand...

if yu want to mix'm like this suggest using the coolest white and the warmest white that you can get. 6500k , 3000k or 2700k.
Put the warm white cobs on a dimmer.
Also consider using a smaller cob for the blues like a 3070s or vero18s to lower cost.

I like having a light setup with "a red light control" so that it works for veg at reduced wattage, and goes into full power mode for flowering.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
So are you saying you basically Wana run each 25% of cobs (ie your vegging 5000-6500k cob amount) on their own driver? Using dimmable ("B" version meanwells) to dim your flowering cobs during veg and then for flower full power and dim your veg cobs?
 
BOBBY_G

BOBBY_G

Well-Known Member
you got it. or alternatively you can think of the veg cobs being run at 'nominal' during flowering and 'overdriven' during veg (but you get the idea, its all relative.
 
hillbill

hillbill

Well-Known Member
It's all good but may have more grams later on the lower end of 3000k--5000k average. Flower only needs nothing over 3500k. But I have different k's comin out my ass, and reds to. I move and change them depending on what's under them at the time or even just because.
 
BOBBY_G

BOBBY_G

Well-Known Member
thats exactly the ratio i came up with
10 3500s run at 0.7A nom 1.4A max (590-1190 ppfd)
4 6500s run at 0.7A nom 1.75A max (250-550 ppfd)
 
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PurpleBuz

Well-Known Member
BOBBY_G said:
is there any difference in weight/quality/density etc between say a 2700k and a 3500k
Click to expand...
if your mixing cool whites with warm whites, better to go opposite ends of the spectrum.

I would mix 6500K with either 3000K or 2700K as opposed to 3500K or 4000K
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Yes. There's not enough blue on 2700 & 3000K. You can use them, but you want to supplement some 5000k CFLS or some 2'-4' t5,8,12's. That also gives your babies some UVB they like.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
PurpleBuz said:
if your mixing cool whites with warm whites, better to go opposite ends of the spectrum.

I would mix 6500K with either 3000K or 2700K as opposed to 3500K or 4000K
Click to expand...
Very true, but you get no UVB from white cobs even on the 5000,6500k ones. So it's always a good idea to throw a few flouros in with them too.


I'm using 6 3500 & 2 4000. Just for shuts n giggles. But I have flouros in there too for the extra frostiness.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Some is better than NONE. And I use Spiral CFLs because apparently they give you more. But a reptile bulb from the pet store is your beSt bet for UVB
 
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PurpleBuz

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
Some is better than NONE. And I use Spiral CFLs because apparently they give you more. But a reptile bulb from the pet store is your beSt bet for UVB
Click to expand...
dude .....,

if you want UVB just use reptile bulbs, standard household CFLs have hardly any UVB.

did you not look at the SPDs that were posted earlier ?
 
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