Do I need LED?

OldMedUser

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Another thing you have to consider is the low height of your grow tent. 5.1ft isn't much vertical height to play with and most LEDs need to be 18" or so above the canopy or they burn the tops.

T5s might be your best bet and you don't need to buy the fixture at a high priced place like a grow store. Regular tubes will work if you get 6500K for veg and 2700K for flowering. Hortilux makes some new killer T5 grow lights with extra UV etc specifically for plant growth. http://www.eyehortilux.com/products/power-veg.aspx

I would recommend growing ScroG style to keep the canopy low no matter what lights you choose. Can easily double your yield with little effort.

Good luck!

:peace:
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
OldMedUser said:
Another thing you have to consider is the low height of your grow tent. 5.1ft isn't much vertical height to play with and most LEDs need to be 18" or so above the canopy or they burn the tops.

T5s might be your best bet and you don't need to buy the fixture at a high priced place like a grow store. Regular tubes will work if you get 6500K for veg and 2700K for flowering. Hortilux makes some new killer T5 grow lights with extra UV etc specifically for plant growth. http://www.eyehortilux.com/products/power-veg.aspx

I would recommend growing ScroG style to keep the canopy low no matter what lights you choose. Can easily double your yield with little effort.

Good luck!

:peace:
Click to expand...
are those bulbs available in F24 T5 HO ? I have only seen then in 4 foot tubes.seems a new grower would be better off starting with a standard 6500k/3000k mix until they learn to grow. I think we all remember that first grow.(unfortunately :):):) )and the OP seems to have his heart set on LEDs. I grow with T5s and found a great deal on P@A bulbs http://www.ebay.com/itm/261229975287?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=560206106299&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT they are selling them as roseate bulbs but when my first order arrived the bulbs were marked P@A and when fired up they look exactly like the zoo med P@A bulbs.all T5s contain some UV andP@A bulbs contain a little more but those HORTILUX bulbs contain a lot of UV.is it safe to run them continuously or do you need to run then a few minutes each day?
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Not all LEDs are the same. In fact there's no other light source with as large an efficiency spread which can go from near CFL performance to over 1.5x DE performance. Both DIY and commercial lamps can be built/found with an ideal height above canopy of less than 18 inches. A 5 foot ceiling is plenty of space for a successful grow under LED.
 
S

Skylan01

Active Member
Information overload... I didn't have my heart set on LED - it just seemed to be the majority response. I'm really open to anything I just want to make sure that I don't overheat in such a small space. Cheaper would be better :)
 
CryBby247

CryBby247

Active Member
No way all the leds are the same you talking about grams who cares whoopee
Have you seen the led bulb grows they aresoawesome looks just as good as my ecosunlite grows
The new t5 looks wayyyy cool!!!! Please post a journal if you try them!!!!
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Skylan01 said:
Information overload... I didn't have my heart set on LED - it just seemed to be the majority response. I'm really open to anything I just want to make sure that I don't overheat in such a small space. Cheaper would be better :)
Click to expand...
The more efficient the LEDs are the less wattage needed = less heat. The coolest solution will be high efficiency LED. I (among others) sell pre-built units but if the price is an issue you could look into DIY cob lights. You can get kits and mount them on a frame you build yourself.
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
for that space this may be a good option http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-HO-Grow-Light-2-ft-8-Lamps-DL8208-Fluorescent-Hydroponic-Fixture-Bloom-Veg-/322044404615?hash=item4afb57a387:g:JRcAAOSw0QFXCxpe $100 with free shipping and plenty of light for that grow space. many of us grow with T5s . check out the club T5 thread.the LED "star chamber" is very vocal here and a lot of false or misleading information is being published by LED grow light makers but many have got great results using T5s or even CFLs. http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/guide3.shtml. your a right there is a lot of information for a new grower to digest. walk away from it for a while. take a few tokes and relax. sleep on it and things will become clearer.take time to think things thru before you make a decision.​
 
S

Skylan01

Active Member
mauricem00 said:
for that space this may be a good option http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-HO-Grow-Light-2-ft-8-Lamps-DL8208-Fluorescent-Hydroponic-Fixture-Bloom-Veg-/322044404615?hash=item4afb57a387:g:JRcAAOSw0QFXCxpe $100 with free shipping and plenty of light for that grow space. many of us grow with T5s . check out the club T5 thread.the LED "star chamber" is very vocal here and a lot of false or misleading information is being published by LED grow light makers but many have got great results using T5s or even CFLs. http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/guide3.shtml. your a right there is a lot of information for a new grower to digest. walk away from it for a while. take a few tokes and relax. sleep on it and things will become clearer.take time to think things thru before you make a decision.​
Click to expand...
at the risk of offending the LED supporters, I like the look of this one. It has 2 switches that control 4 bulbs each, does that mean you request 4 red 3000k and 4 blue 6500k and then flip one switch or the other depending on veg or flower?
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
T5 is 92 LPW, 28% efficient with heavy reflective losses.
192w lamp at 28% efficiency = 54 par watts

Common LED solutions will be between 140-160 LPW or higher with little reflective loss.
150w lamp at 50% efficient = 75 par watts. Less heat, lots more light for less energy.

No offence taken (from me at least). I hope the information I provide is not construed as false or misleading but I also suggest not rushing into a purchase and encourage people to do their own research.
 
MrTwist1

MrTwist1

Well-Known Member
Skylan01 said:
at the risk of offending the LED supporters, I like the look of this one. It has 2 switches that control 4 bulbs each, does that mean you request 4 red 3000k and 4 blue 6500k and then flip one switch or the other depending on veg or flower?
Click to expand...
It will grow, but not as well as decent LED. Efficiency is not comparable.
 
mauricem00

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
spectrum is as important as luminous efficiency and their is a difference between luminous efficiency and radiant efficiency I use blue bulbs (6500k) for veg and then ad red(3000k) for flowering. use both in flowering check out youtube and other threads on this site and you will see some amazing T5 and CFL grows. the new CMH bulbs also seem to be very good and the better spectrum produces better tasting product.don't worry about offending anyone. you can't please everybody and it's your medicine your the one who will be using it. there is no one right way to grow. we all find what works best for us. I have a collection of LEDs gathering dust in my shed. (mars hydro. DIY cobs vero18.s cree 3070s citizen leds) and was not impressed by any of them.in my environment with the strain I grow T5s work best for me.you will find conflicting opinions here and companies promoting their products. it can be confusing.
 
Olive Drab Green

Olive Drab Green

Well-Known Member
My second Tasty T1-2100 should be arriving soon. I like using the T1s because they're a single COB driven at a slightly higher amperage than the multi-light units. It is more expensive to do, outside of a closet grow. But definitely effective. Trichomes on 2-3 day old seedlings, leaves are larger than I've ever seen using other lights.
 
Olive Drab Green

Olive Drab Green

Well-Known Member
TastyLED uses better parts than Johnson, IMO. One 89w T1-2100 has about the same PPFD as a 400w Super HPS in an 18x18 at 14-16 inches. You could probably move it closer for the light of a 600w, but honestly, it's already in that sweet spot of ~850 for a single plant at the paramaters I stated in the beginning.
 
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