Flowering under low PPFD levels

Rahz said:
Hmm, so for everyone that's ran 450-600 PPFD, if you had unlimited space would you still want to get the PPFD over 800 or chill at 500?
Click to expand...

I'm currently running right in the above range, and I'm doing my COB LED project specifically to get over 800 PPfD.
 
I think the gains from 500 to 800 are substantial. I totally understand and like 800+ myself.

Just thinking though, the super efficient garden...

3590s at .35 amps and 500 PPFD. 70% efficiency would only need 350 watts to achieve PPFD of 500 in a 5x5... 15% more light than a 600w HPS plus less reflection loss. I won't guess at what GPW might be but I think such scenarios will push 3 GPW before high PPFD does.

I'm not crazy enough to build it, but several posters here are... they just need to quit messing with soil and go hydro and 3 GPW will become a reality. ;)
 
Rahz said:
I think the gains from 500 to 800 are substantial. I totally understand and like 800+ myself.

Just thinking though, the super efficient garden...

3590s at .35 amps and 500 PPFD. 70% efficiency would only need 350 watts to achieve PPFD of 500 in a 5x5... 15% more light than a 600w HPS plus less reflection loss. I won't guess at what GPW might be but I think such scenarios will push 3 GPW before high PPFD does.

I'm not crazy enough to build it, but several posters here are... they just need to quit messing with soil and go hydro and 3 GPW will become a reality. ;)
Click to expand...

if you want that much efficiency gains, it would probably be better to mix in some monos, than trying to run the pricier cobs at ultra low current. For example I build out inexpensive flowering lights (passive long 1.5" heatsinks) with Royal blue\deep red\UVA monos to turn on when in flowering and a full canopy. It doesn't take much to supplement a good COB light.
 
Bonjour
Is there similar system,but cheaper?
Is it old?
Do you have it since a long time?
Is it easy to use?
What did you use before this octopot?and did you improve your yield a lot with it?
Could you put nutes in the tank?
Which size and how many do you use for your grow box?
Do you put 60% soil and 40% perlite in it?
Thanks
Have a great day™
 
littlejacob said:
Bonjour
Is there similar system,but cheaper?
Is it old?
Do you have it since a long time?
Is it easy to use?
What did you use before this octopot?and did you improve your yield a lot with it?
Could you put nutes in the tank?
Which size and how many do you use for your grow box?
Do you put 60% soil and 40% perlite in it?
Thanks
Have a great day™
Click to expand...

I've been using the 6 gal size for a few grows now and was a homemade soil guy before these. My main reason for the switch was to automate my feed and watering. I've documented their use in my threads,any questions should go there.
 
PurpleBuz said:
if you want that much efficiency gains, it would probably be better to mix in some monos, than trying to run the pricier cobs at ultra low current. For example I build out inexpensive flowering lights (passive long 1.5" heatsinks) with Royal blue\deep red\UVA monos to turn on when in flowering and a full canopy. It doesn't take much to supplement a good COB light.
Click to expand...

Curious what emitters you are using. I looked around a bit and like the Luxeon MZ but availability seems to be zero.
 
Rahz said:
Curious what emitters you are using. I looked around a bit and like the Luxeon MZ but availability seems to be zero.
Click to expand...

the luxeon royal blues are supposed to be one of the most efficient. also like the luxeon M 12 watt royal blues for more punch.

also using the cree royal blues and the cree photo reds as they have a high max voltage. I used them to fill out a cob string running at 1050ma.

I'm using some semileds available at rapidled for UVA
 
Hi,

I have been running about 520-540 ppfd for 2-3 years, of Osram Oslon RBW leds (ISled) ;

Theoretically, 500ppfd is proportionally better yielding than 800 or more, but it can actually translate into lower density, and a lot of popcorn bud if you don't do your trimming right. Height of plants is also quite critical here. In my experience and setup, don't expect much goodness 40cm+ under the canopy, if your canopy is very full/dense

Having big dense nugs that are easier to trim is a big + and imo worth losing a little bit of gpw.

How much a PITA it is to run under low ppfd can be strain dependent ime.

I believe most tropical sativas like higher ppfd, and can make better use of 1000+ ppfd than say indica plants.

my 2 mBTC
 
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PurpleBuz said:
the luxeon royal blues are supposed to be one of the most efficient. also like the luxeon M 12 watt royal blues for more punch.

also using the cree royal blues and the cree photo reds as they have a high max voltage. I used them to fill out a cob string running at 1050ma.

I'm using some semileds available at rapidled for UVA
Click to expand...

Was reading the product module, Luxeon M has more output than MZ and less intense focal point... seem backwards since the MZ has no optics. I would really like to get ahold of some of the 6V Ms, I think that was the availability problem with the MZs though I have found some 6V Ms that are on order and hopefully available in the next week or so.
 
EfficientWatt said:
Hi,

I have been running about 520-540 ppfd for 2-3 years, of Osram Oslon RBW leds (ISled) ;

Theoretically, 500ppfd is proportionally better yielding than 800 or more, but it can actually translate into lower density, and a lot of popcorn bud if you don't do your trimming right. Height of plants is also quite critical here. In my experience and setup, don't expect much goodness 40cm+ under the canopy, if your canopy is very full/dense

Having big dense nugs that are easier to trim is a big + and imo worth losing a little bit of gpw.

How much a PITA it is to run under low ppfd can be strain dependent ime.

I believe most tropical sativas like higher ppfd, and can make better use of 1000+ ppfd than say indica plants.

my 2 mBTC
Click to expand...

Having run at 400 to 600 PPfD a lot lately, I agree with your conclusions. Six hundred makes a big difference in yield, far too much to pass up in search of a sexy gram per watt number.

I'm planning a big COB LED build that promises 824 PPfD so I can hold power consumption relatively constant between many different light sources and see how the additional PPfD will affect growth.
 
Rahz said:
Was reading the product module, Luxeon M has more output than MZ and less intense focal point... seem backwards since the MZ has no optics. I would really like to get ahold of some of the 6V Ms, I think that was the availability problem with the MZs though I have found some 6V Ms that are on order and hopefully available in the next week or so.
Click to expand...

I prefer the wider spread for supplements, allows me to use as few as possible for wide coverage.
 
I do too, I just associate domes with tighter beams and brighter center. Surprised it's the opposite with the M series. I also don't get how they get more output using a dome as opposed to using nothing at all.
 
Rahz said:
I do too, I just associate domes with tighter beams and brighter center. Surprised it's the opposite with the M series. I also don't get how they get more output using a dome as opposed to using nothing at all.
Click to expand...

maybe something else different in the chips.

Perhaps the 150-180 degree sideways light lost is enough of a factor to make up for the loss in transmittance ?
 
That Octopot is interesting, I have been thinking about doing something like that my self. I think you could DIY a pot systems like that pretty easy, I am currently using cloth pots, and you just need a big container under them to achieve something like that. This is very attractive because it would make it easy to flush the plants without having to move them.
 
coolbreez1 said:
That Octopot is interesting, I have been thinking about doing something like that my self. I think you could DIY a pot systems like that pretty easy, I am currently using cloth pots, and you just need a big container under them to achieve something like that. This is very attractive because it would make it easy to flush the plants without having to move them.
Click to expand...
I like it too, and it look easy to replicate, but there must be something
specific in it regarding to the price!
75 $ for a sheet of tissu and a piece of plastic looks overpriced...!!
Have a great day ★
 
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