The age old question HPS, MH vs LED

MidwestGorilla219 said:

How is light penetration?

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I replaced a 8 x 20 room that had 6-1000 hps, I packed it full of 6000 watts of 280 quantum boards with a 315 cmh in between each double panel. So where I had 6 lights before I know have 10, with 5 being double panels. Same wattage from the wall. Its fucking lit up, very bright. I grow SOG with a couple toppings early in veg, I shave her legs before flower and again after 2 weeks when most the stretch is mostly gone. So to answer your question about penetration, I cant judge. All tops over here, brother. But the few sights that are lower seem to be very hard and dense just like the tops.

One thing to note is that my feedings had to change, I was seeing cal-mag deficiency at about 30 days using the same feeding program I have used for years with no such deficiency in sight. So I do know they need more cal-mag with LED and CMH.

Another, which is purely cosmetic, is the beautiful fall colors without even flushing, reds, oranges, and purples on almost every strain I have put in the room. With HPS they would remain dark green and slight yellow after a week or so of flush but nothing like this.

Here is a pic of one of the lowest flower sights of the bunch, this is lava cake and she is rock hard.

kgp said:

Long time HPS grower here. Just recently switched a room to CMH and LED and fucking killed it. The plants grow different. Not as big of colas but more stacking, harder, denser nugs, and the taste and smell has improved along with dried weight.

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Why did you switch to both CMH and LED instead of just one or the other. I got a similar setup but HPS with quantums so im just wondering?

booms111 said:

Why did you switch to both CMH and LED instead of just one or the other. I got a similar setup but HPS with quantums so im just wondering?

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That's correct. I was reading a lot about LED's and the advantages and disadvantages. The VPR and heat seemed to be an issue with LED how they lack IR and UV which heat up the leaf temps. I ran CMH in veg and will never try anything else, so I figured what LED lacked, the CMH excelled in. The combo of the 2 seem to cover the spectrum and really works well with each other. I gave it a run and am highly impressed. This is coming from someone who would have never gave LED a chance a year ago. I am convinced that they are good lights, maybe even as supplemental but I am very happy and plan on converting my other lights and rooms in the near future to the combo.

I really don't know if LED by itself would have made the impact it did or just that the CMH is really a kick ass light by itself. But heat, VPR, and spectrum seem to be in range and the quality of the buds and weight makes me satisfied. The terp profiles are shining too, seems much tastier smoke than the HPS rooms.

This is under a bestva 600w reflector. This post is so funny. Most people on here hop on the band wagon and are afraid to like so called “blurple” led. However Bestva has some of the best LEDs on the market. Before you give someone false info why don’t you ask your self if you can even give plausible advice. I will happily post more pictures if you want. This is week 6

kgp said:

That's correct. I was reading a lot about LED's and the advantages and disadvantages. The VPR and heat seemed to be an issue with LED how they lack IR and UV which heat up the leaf temps. I ran CMH in veg and will never try anything else, so I figured what LED lacked, the CMH excelled in. The combo of the 2 seem to cover the spectrum and really works well with each other. I gave it a run and am highly impressed. This is coming from someone who would have never gave LED a chance a year ago. I am convinced that they are good lights, maybe even as supplemental but I am very happy and plan on converting my other lights and rooms in the near future to the combo.

I really don't know if LED by itself would have made the impact it did or just that the CMH is really a kick ass light by itself. But heat, VPR, and spectrum seem to be in range and the quality of the buds and weight makes me satisfied. The terp profiles are shining too, seems much tastier smoke than the HPS rooms.

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May I ask what your veg room lighting is? I run 600 MH's but I'd replace them all with CMH's. Is a single 315w CMH equal to a 600MH in veg?

If you want the best bud drenched in resin and want to see the best characteristics of your pheno’s I would definitely consider adding or switching to Bestva smart series or the Bestva refector series. I’m currently seeing the best results under 2 600w Bestva reflector series. With both switches on in flower for 12/12.

LoL

cheap blurples have their place but that place is seedlings and clones only imo and they can be found cheaper than t5s sometimes

just my input only read part of first page i know it wasnt the main topic

booms111 said:

May I ask what your veg room lighting is? I run 600 MH's but I'd replace them all with CMH's. Is a single 315w CMH equal to a 600MH in veg?

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I run all CMHl in the 41k spectrum. I would recommend getting the 315's to be honest. When the 630's go out, I will replace them with new 315's. I like the smaller lights spaced out. The overlapping cones can penetrate from different angles.

I can't say for certain but I would believe that 315 watt of cmh would come close to a 600mh in terms of vegetative growth. They are a great lights that is often overlooked.

iDab666 said:

View attachment 4443567
This is under a bestva 600w reflector. This post is so funny. Most people on here hop on the band wagon and are afraid to like so called “blurple” led. However Bestva has some of the best LEDs on the market. Before you give someone false info why don’t you ask your self if you can even give plausible advice. I will happily post more pictures if you want. This is week 6

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they can and will grow but yields suffer and light penetration is shit many better options out there

evergreengardener said:

they can and will grow but yields suffer and light penetration is shit many better options out there

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Agreed. An opinion is an opinion and can be shared but when you talk like you work for the company and claim the best, people don't want to listen. Many can kill a grow with any equipment. And what works for some doesn't always work for another.

Blurples are the reason I never tried LED until now. Many would brag but the results did not speak. I have seen good things with some of the HGL and COBS recently. Enough for me to invest several thousand dollars to give it a try.

Haters hate. Players play. The bud speaks for itself. Iv run multiple set ups over the years. These are quality and give off barley any heat at all. It’s very clear that you haven’t tried these.

Some of the most potent and fastest runs on these. The only thing cheap about these is the electric bill.

Houstonhydro said:

I will be adding to my lights and have an opportunity to aquire numerous 1000w hps/MH fixtures..my current home is in a state that is VERY HOT in the summer so heat is an issue. I want maximum yield for my effort and wiling to spend $$ on HVAC...My question is are the new LED lights even close to as efficient as traditional lighting fixtures I understand that you have to add much more LED to acquire the same results but if I want to do commercial grows should I stick with the traditional? I have attached a picture of a unit with great reviews...I was gonna put 6 of these in a15x8 room...what do the experiance growers have th day? Thank you for your help in advance! View attachment 4443448

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I vegged 1 side hps and 1 side mh. The hps side vegged larger taller and wider the mh side stayed smaller. The mh side did not veg bushier like many years of regurgitated information. It grew slower and overall just small plants. I veg with hps and bloom with hps.

I saw videos of LEDs seriously performing but these are expensive

Take my advice. Get cheap hps
Get only enough that can be cooled. No hand tricks, canopy 73 degrees day. 68 room temp at night. Find your sweet spot for humidity based on the strain your strain. 50% for veg.
Steam your soil. Haven't seen a bag that didn't have 1 of the big 3 root aphids, thrips, or spider mites. Instead of just fighting them in your garden. You never get them out completely. Add the organics back. If you can get a proper led you can afford a sterilizer.
Genetics. Do this the plants take it from here and grow themselves with a splash of nutrients here and there.

Aside from HVAC all this is cheaper than the LEDs I saw that works. You skimp on pest control. Light leaks, humidity, and temps. YOU WILL grow boof every single crop.
And each box you don't check a little bit of yield is left on the table.

If you want to talk shit bro post picture right now of today with the lights your using. Other wise shut it down LOL

kgp said:

Agreed. An opinion is an opinion and can be shared but when you talk like you work for the company and claim the best, people don't want to listen. Many can kill a grow with any equipment. And what works for some doesn't always work for another.

Blurples are the reason I never tried LED until now. Many would brag but the results did not speak. I have seen good things with some of the HGL and COBS recently. Enough for me to invest several thousand dollars to give it a try.

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i know guys doing hlg cobs etc the quantum boards are looking like nice leds but im in a cold spot and benifit from the extra heat generated by hps and im all personal so initial cost vs monthly savings just isnt there yet for me

toomp said:

I vegged 1 side hps and 1 side mh. The hps side vegged larger taller and wider the mh side stayed smaller. The mh side did not veg bushier like many years of regurgitated information. It grew slower and overall just small plants. I veg with hps and bloom with hps.

I saw videos of LEDs seriously performing but these are expensive

Take my advice. Get cheap hps
Get only enough that can be cooled. No hand tricks, canopy 73 degrees day. 68 room temp at night. Find your sweet spot for humidity based on the strain your strain. 50% for veg.
Steam your soil. Haven't seen a bag that didn't have 1 of the big 3 root aphids, thrips, or spider mites. Instead of just fighting them in your garden. You never get them out completely. Add the organics back. If you can get a proper led you can afford a sterilizer.
Genetics. Do this the plants take it from here and grow themselves with a splash of nutrients here and there.

Aside from HVAC all this is cheaper than the LEDs I saw that works. You skimp on pest control. Light leaks, humidity, and temps. YOU WILL grow boof every single crop.
And each box you don't check a little bit of yield is left on the table.

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Led lights cost upfront but you will save money on the bill

iDab666 said:

If you want to talk shit bro post picture right now of today with the lights your using. Other wise shut it down LOL

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who are you referring too? also bestva is trash any light that doesnt advertise at the actual wattage is trash and just trying to get over on noobs a 600w bestva only runs at 125w at best and will not outperfom a 400w hps as claimed

evergreengardener said:

who are you referring too? also bestva is trash any light that doesnt advertise at the actual wattage is trash and just trying to get over on noobs a 600w bestva only runs at 125w at best and will not outperfom a 400w hps as claimed

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I think he’s referring to my LoL comment.

iDab666 said:

If you want to talk shit bro post picture right now of today with the lights your using. Other wise shut it down LOL

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Well I take it you are referring to me. Your lights are junk, migro just did a test and said it’s probably one of, if not the worst LED out right now. Settle down now shooter and smoke a doob.