(2) 300w LED or (1) 600w HPS - Which light should I get

I'm upgrading after my first successful grow using (4) 4ft CFL t5s for 3 plants in 5gallon buckets. Soil grow. yielded 6oz. Which I was very pleased with. I know I can get much higher yields so have upgraded to DWC in 5 gallon buckets. Sativa in GH flora trio - I have room for 6 buckets, but currently only have 4 set up.

I'm looking at upgrading my lights from the CFL t5s which are rated at 54w each. so currently at ~200w total.

This is for my home basement so heat and fire safety are a concern. I'm not looking to spend much more $. This is for personal consumption so i don't think I will ever need to have huge production.

After some research I'm debating these two options. does anyone with more experience care to make a recommendation? I like these ease of the LED and low heat/ not needing an inline ventilation system. But i want something that will feel like a noticeable upgrade improvement from the CFLs. I could continue to use the CFLs along with whatever I end up getting. thanks!

(i cant post links, but these are both on amazon)

option A: (2) 300w LEDs
VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 300W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum $84.00 each = $168.00

or option B: (1) 600w MH/HPS
Apollo Horticulture GLK600LS24 600 Watt Grow Light Digital Dimmable HPS MH System for Plants Air Cool Hood Set $159.99 & inline ventilation $50+ = >$209.99

Believe it or not, I use both option A & B- Separately in 2 tents- I have had fantastic growth with both- currently running 4 Vipars in 5 by 5 tent & 2 600's in 4 by 8. The vipars have smaller footprint as Led have more direct focus, but produce far less heat. The 600's get larger coverage but produce more heat, so cool tube with ducting and exhaust fan is needed.Bucket reservoirs heat up so reccomend hydroguard( have had buckets running~ 75 deg. with no rootrot issues ever. Depending on basement wiring- just try not to push over 80 % of amp. rating per circuit- had to run separate 20 amp. for 2 600's-as 1200 watts was over that for 15 amp. Try to run lights off 1 circuit & extras(pumps, fans, etc.) off another. Grew 4 w/widow auto's to 55" under 2 vipars for 12 oz. yield & 4 Pineapple Kush to 60" under 600's for 22 oz. Hope this helps.

OPTION B for the WIN!!!!

I gotta go with option b as well. No science behind my decision, just personal preference.

Antisocial Extrovert said:

I gotta go with option b as well. No science behind my decision, just personal preference.

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That 600 watt bulb will BLOW AWAY any blurple china panel,, easy,, cobs are the only thing that would come close to a 600 watt HPS,, but that would set him back 500 easy,, so the bulb wins hands down,, no contest

Tim Fox said:

That 600 watt bulb will BLOW AWAY any blurple china panel,, easy,, cobs are the only thing that would come close to a 600 watt HPS,, but that would set him back 500 easy,, so the bulb wins hands down,, no contest

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That.

I use a single 600 watt MH/HPS for my grows and average 4 to 6 ounces per plant. I just top them once and that's it. No scrog, no nothing.

W/W grow under BURPLE & end results

Pineapple Kush under 600's

Just get a 1000 watt dimmable ballast. Hps all the way.

The only reason those cheap LEDs will produce less heat is because they are not actually near the wattage they are named. For example 2x 300w vipar is only 136w each panel so your only using 272w compared to a 600w HPS. The 272w of vipar will not come close to a 600w HPS, in fact 600w of vipar wont come close either.
The HPS wins this fight every time.
I'm an LED guy... But Quality cost money and HPS provides great results at an awesome price.

TacoMac said:

That.

I use a single 600 watt MH/HPS for my grows and average 4 to 6 ounces per plant. I just top them once and that's it. No scrog, no nothing.

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What's your veg time?

coreywebster said:

What's your veg time?

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I usually veg 5 or 6 weeks then flower for 11 or 12. I grow White Widow exclusively for my personal needs.

Steer clear of General Hydroponics and Botanicare products.

The 400w adjustable digital HPS/MH lamp is very reasonably priced at HTG Supply. If heat is a concern I'd go with the adjustable 400w over the 600w. There is a member on this board that pulled a pound with a 400w HPS, I'm sure that light is capable of a pound and a half.

$0.02

thanks for the input! a friend just told me he'll give me a 1000w ballast. I may just get one of those LEDs to try out with the money that saves. Will report back what i find. thanks.

Ask some members on here what LED setup they are using. They will be able to give you some insight.

I'm still waiting on LED's to come up a bit more, it's been a decade already.

At this rate I may die before building a rig, heh.

I wouldn't trust that apollo horticulture junk, I've had a ballast fail on me before.
Would cost a little more but I would check out the 260 watt quantum board kit.
That's real LEDs

A vero 29 array will out perform 600 watt HPS. And save you money and have less heat. HPS is old Tech

Racer501x said:

A vero 29 array will out perform 600 watt HPS. And save you money and have less heat. HPS is old Tech

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Might as well be carrying around an old Nokia brick phone

I'm personally an LED-COB user. Never tried the HPS route. But, those hid lights will give you way better results than a viparspectra.

Im getting back into growing myself. After 4 days of research, I came to the conclusion that Leds (specifically Quantum Boards) are the way to grow. Viparspecrta, mars hydro, (basically blurples) are complete utter trash, and HIDs are OLD tech, thats proven to work. I dont want HID ( power consumption/electric bills) I suggest you go with C) Quantum Boards from HLG ( horticulture lighting group). Hope you took a previous posters recommendation! peace!