I'm using a 2.5 x 2 .5 tent with two 150 CFM fans, one for input and one for output. I'm split between choosing a 250 HPS or TGL Star 100, I think the HPS would give me the best yield, however I don't know if I have enough ventilation for a 250 HPS, could the temperature be an issue here? Therefore I'm considering TGL Star 100, a COB LED 105W. According to specifications the TGL Star 100 should be enough power for flowering in a 2.5 x 2.5 tent. So, what advice would you people give me? Will temperature be an issue with the 250W HPS? Will the TGL Star 100 provide sufficient power for my space?
250 watt hps is a terrible choice. More a heater than a grow light. I'm not familiar with that cob but they are generally pretty hot also. This is what I'd put in there QB132 V2 Quantum Boards HLG-240H-36A MEAN WELL USA Inc. | Power Supplies - External/Internal (Off-Board) | DigiKey
Agreed that a quantum board is your best choice, niemiled.com also has well priced quantum boards if you want to take a look at them too. Can't go wrong with JoshuaE's advice though
I do not live in the US, I know it's possible to get my hands on QB but delivery would take too long. My plants has just began to flower and I need sufficient light as soon as possible. I'm currently using a shitty blurple so every day without enough REAL light reduces my final yield :/
HLG 100 V2 - Todogrowled LED grow light tgl star 100 Compared to eachother, would the QB outpreform the TGL?
Pre-assembled 240w Lm301h Uv Ir Cree 660 Kingbrite Quantum Board V3 Led Plant Grow Light With Separate Radiator - Buy Quantum Board,Kingbrite Quantum Board,Samsung Quantum Board Product on Alibaba.com 2.5 x 2.5 = 6.25 sq ft. 35 watts per square foot is a good ballpark design figure. It's always better to run a little higher and just dim the lights down. That comes to 218.3 watts to fill the space so I would go with a 250 watt kit. If you go with separate heatsinks you can arrange them in a square shape to fill the space best with the light footprint. I would order 4k whites if you plan on doing start to finish growing with it. They have options for different K ratings on the white section. Anyone below 30 watts per square foot is going to skimpy on power for flower in the space. You need that minimal level for even high efficiency leds if you want large colas.
I really appreciate all the help but is it really not possible to grow decent bud without custom made lightning? I need to order domestic for safety + delivery speed. I have 4 plants which just entered flower and I need my lights asap. My choices are COB 100W LED, (I guess I'll need two of these then), 250W HPS or 300W CFL 2700K. My budget is $200 and I want the lights which will provide bigger yield, without temperature issues
@Tbone Shuffle .....I guess I don't really "understand" the watts per square foot thing......the reason I say that is this....I am currently using 2 207 actual watt blurples....if I put just one plant under both of those lights....my plant gets pretty good size......now if I put 4 in there and spread the pots out evenly so they all get about the same amount of light....those plants wont grow as big as the 1 I did.....but my wattage didn't change.....so what gives?
Watt per square foot works out pretty well actually you just have to know your lights and where they sit in the chart. HPS lights like 50-70 watts per square. Lower end burples like about 40-50 watts per square. High end efficient leds can get away with 28-35 watts per square depending on your grow style. It is easier to get better yeild on a smaller scale IMO. When you step up to a larger size garden it takes more proficient practice and understanding of training to get the canopy right especially with higher plant counts.
The kits I linked are pre assembled. I have also heard that delivery is quick from this site. There is cheaper options if you don't like that one.
Those were flower light levels. My veg area gets away with way less power. Between 150-250 watts depending on how large the plants are for a 4x4. That's 250/16 sq ft = 15.6 watts per square. A little less then half of what I use in flower. My flower setup is capable of almost 1000 watts but I run it dimmed to about 600. I flower in a 4x4 area.
So is that how you would explain my 1 plant vs 4 plant question? That the 4 plants would grow as good as the 1 plant under the same light as long as I knew how to train them correctly?? I just wanna "understand this"
Heres my current lightning. Lvjing Greenhouse Full Spectrum Ufo 300w Led Grow Light For Plant - Buy Ufo Led Grow Light,300w Led Grow Light,Ufo Grow Lighting Product on Alibaba.com As you can see it's a chinese massproduced shitty blurpe and won't do shit in flowering. I'm growing autoflowers and if I order the one you linked I risk being without proper light for up to 14 days. 14 days with no real lightning in flower phase is gonna stunt the hell out of my autoflowers. What would you guys do in my situation?
More plants under the same amount of light is a complete change in grow style. For ultimate success it has to be approached differently. You certainly have to flower earlier because for best yield you fill the light footprint wall to wall. With 4 plants that would happen twice as fast in theory. There's probably a lot of factors. I have to tell you I have done 1,2,3,4,5,and 6 plants in my space. My best yield was with 4 plants but I did 75% as good with a single plant in the same space. Each plant count takes a certain veg time and training/lollipopping in my garden to fill the space. These are my last two monster single plants pics closest to harvest. First is wonder woman, 2nd is blueberry, both in 10 gallon fabric pots of promix/perlite GH fed. 3rd pic is my current bloom crop at 2 weeks from flip with 5 plants. 4th pic is my whole garden veg and bloom. It's a 4x8 split into two 4x4 areas.
Order a light that's going to make you happy in the end and I don't think it would take 14 days from what I've seen. I'll guess 7 days. You'll do fine with that light until the other one shows up and the next crop will thank you for waiting for the best light you can get your hands on. Lights pay for themselves over and over. It's not all about this one crop. It's about many future crops coming up and getting the most out of them when you get a new light. Don't skimp.
New crop every 4 months or so max. With autos way faster. Worry about the next one coming up and having the best setup for that.
Thanks alot Tbone for the help, I will go with your advice and buy quantumboards. Probably going to buy the one you linked since it is a very good price.
Is it not better if I order the 3000 or 2700K version? Will the 240W 4000K version be alright for flowering 2.5 x 2.5? Or is it mainly made for veg phase?
The boards I linked have supplemental deep red and infrared diodes to boost the red output. If you plan on using the single light for veg and bloom you would want at least a 3500k white to give you more blue to balance out all the red in the light. If you're more concerned with bloom then 3500k is a good balance but with all the reds in the light I think 4k whites would also be okay. Your choice if you want a more compact plant go with more blue leaning whites. More red would give you more overall growth but at the expense of stretch and compactness of buds.