New to LED, Warming up with freebies.

Hey all, a short introduction.

Been quite a few years since I've grown but I'm excited to knock the dust off!

Last time was some organic closet grown Super Lemon Haze from GHS. Turned out bomb under my 1000w Hps.

This time around I'm going to be trying something new, growing in a tent with a 1200w ie led. Just for fun, got it cheap.
I dont know much at all about LEDs, I've been thinking I should supplement it with some florescent lighting for a better spectrum. It is a CHEAP no name led after all.
Any advice on this would be much appreciated. (I have a few other lighting options available.)


Anyways, here's what's happening.

I ordered 10 reg Killer Queen from Grimm (saving those for a proper setup) as well as 5 fem Acapulco Gold from Barney's (too much Kush where I am these days, need me a sativa dom strain). With this order I received a 5 free (reg?) Grimm Mix and 1 fem original amnesia. (a couple others as well but the names escape me and they're at least 25 feet away from my couch).

I had originally planned to hold off for a bit (planning on moving soon), but I don't know, I just had that itch. I really couldn't help myself once I had the beans.
I decided I would germ just one, just for fun you know? (the Original Amnesia)
Germ'd in under 48 hours, I didn't have the tent set up, and I work quite a bit so it ended up by the window for a day or two. Oh well, what's a couple inch of stretch anyways.

Now it's in its own pot and in the tent, been in there two days.

Then today I decided I would just "look" at my other beans, you know, just to make sure they were still alright and safe in there breeder packaging..
My eyes caught the Grimm mix. What the heck I figured, what's a few more? Why have this tent and light for just one?
Into the jiffy they went!

Oh boy now I'm really excited!

Real pics once the next five are in.

All comments welcome.

Did it say how many actual watts the light was. Like Amazon lights say like 1200 watts. Then in the description says actual power drawl is 350watts. Just an example.

Reason I ask is I know it's not 1200 watts. But it's pretty damn bright. Was just wondering what the actual watts were

whytewidow said:

Did it say how many actual watts the light was. Like Amazon lights say like 1200 watts. Then in the description says actual power drawl is 350watts. Just an example.

Reason I ask is I know it's not 1200 watts. But it's pretty damn bright. Was just wondering what the actual watts were

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No it didn't say, I'm going to assume it's pretty low efficiency because I went for the cheapest option I could find, bought off AliExpress haha.

I'm not sure if this is great for veg, but it sure makes the heat manageable in these summer months.

Yeah, very bright though, can't open the tent without shades. Back in the day I never wore shades... Big mistake.

Unfortunately we lost the original amnesia this week.

But the 5 Grimm Mix are doing just fine.

I'm supplementing the blurple with this t5 I had laying around. Not even sure what spectrum the bulb is tbh.



I'll take some non blurple pics when it's worth it lol.

Edit: how's my light height look?

Just over a week old.

We have a clear winner, sure hope it's a female.


Definitely thinking I'm gunna have to get something else going in this tent..

Oh well, we'll see how she goes.

Id say you can bring that light down to 12 inches from the top of the plant with no problems

mossyrocks123 said:

Id say you can bring that light down to 12 inches from the top of the plant with no problems

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Thanks I appreciate that tip, heat is obviously no issue but I was worried about bleaching since theyre so small. Is that nothing to worry about?

CanadianDank said:

Thanks I appreciate that tip, heat is obviously no issue but I was worried about bleaching since theyre so small. Is that nothing to worry about?

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I wudnt worry about bleaching until u see buds, the leaves can take it.

Week 2:

The winner has excelled, while the others aren't looking so good.



Well, it would make a good mother if it's female.
Either way I'm not going to waste time, I'm germinating 5 fem Acapulco Gold from Barney's farm now.

Tagging along. Good luck!!

Any updates? Which is the strain that made it. I have an Amnesia going myself --auto though

Also tagging along. Fill us in with an update friend!

Hey sorry guys I've been super busy with work (and a little fam vacation to Montreal)!

Invisighost said:

Any updates? Which is the strain that made it. I have an Amnesia going myself --auto though

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Frig, the amnesia didn't make it, and the Grimm mix also had a rough start. Ive never grown with led and I think I had the light way to close too soon, maybe my soil was a bit hot too. Rookie mistakes I guess but it's been about 5 years for me.

NugHeuser said:

Also tagging along. Fill us in with an update friend!

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noobzilla said:

Tagging along. Good luck!!

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Happy to have y'all along for the ride though, here's the nice indica leaning pheno of Grimm mix fimmed and lst'd. Took the light and hot soil well, also has a nice skunky smell in veg.
This was taken right before I tied the new growth down.


I have five AG seedling going so I'm probably going to kill the other not so great looking grimm mix and use this as a mother. Should be able to get a few clones off her in the coming weeks.

Here's a quick shot of the tent.
That's a tomato plant in the 2l hempy haha. Just was doing a little experiment.



Humidity has spiked, that's highest I've ever seen it, it's usually in the high 50's.

And here's my homemade Aero cloner, I'll let you guys know if it works soon!



Made a bit of a mess with the glue, might clean it up or I might not

Any advice or input is appreciated, I'm just having fun here trying out a few things. Never grown led but seems to be doing a fair job. Still thinking about a CMH in the near future though!

Buy one it will be 20x better than that thing you have now. Cmh is my next addition to my rooms

apollo4201982 said:

Buy one it will be 20x better than that thing you have now. Cmh is my next addition to my rooms

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Man I've been hearing alot of good things about them. What's a good place to shop for one or a good brand to look at?
Wouldn't mind checking them out.

CanadianDank said:

Man I've been hearing alot of good things about them. What's a good place to shop for one or a good brand to look at?
Wouldn't mind checking them out.

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I cant really say i have only smoked what was grown under one compaired to a hps and i coul see a nice difference

Hate to hear you lost the Amnesia. So far its been the strongest plant I've grown (smell and density wise). Should only have about 2 wks max left. Your plant that made it is looking fantastic though. I was thinking about putting some tomato plants under mine as well as I grow them every summer myself.

If I had to guess I'd say your soil was too hot b/c the plants can take a ton of light from LED's. That's all I use with excellent results so far. I'll never use anything else b/c of the lack of heat and $$$ savings. If your going to spend the money I'd go with a higher end led over the cmh. Less heat and better savings long term. The Optic 4 or Optic 6 are gaining a lot of notoriety for the par/lumen outputs they are achieving so def check into some of those before deciding. Keep the updates coming, lookin nice so far...

Invisighost said:

Hate to hear you lost the Amnesia..

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Yeah it sucked, I'd heard some great things about it and I love my sativa dominant strains.
To be honest I was pretty sure it was the soil too, but I'm new to LEDs and I've heard mixed things. Damn near threw my 400w MH in.
Those lights you mentioned look mint, will definitely be looking into those. Pricey though with the Canadian conversion will have to do some research.

Do you have a journal going on? Would love to check it out.

CanadianDank said:

Yeah it sucked, I'd heard some great things about it and I love my sativa dominant strains.
To be honest I was pretty sure it was the soil too, but I'm new to LEDs and I've heard mixed things. Damn near threw my 400w MH in.
Those lights you mentioned look mint, will definitely be looking into those. Pricey though with the Canadian conversion will have to do some research.

Do you have a journal going on? Would love to check it out.

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Yea the price will definitely nut punch you, hence the reason most people have issues with them--the upfront costs. The long term savings can't be disputed though from bill to cooling costs to longevity. They all work good as long as you take care of the plants though so just do what makes you comfortable I say. There is no 1 way to grow..people forget this is why you always see so many arguing and fighting over which is better. Just do some research--outweigh the pros and cons for what you can afford/have space for, and do YOU...we can only give you basic guidelines so never take just 1 method into play when asking questions because what works for one person may not work for you.

I currently have 3 Led lights which are lower end that I've collected over the last few years. An Apollo 400/Viparspectra450/and an Apollo 240w that I run them 'All' in a 2ft x4ftx5ft tent in my room with Excellent results. My bill went up $25 running them for 18hrs straight daily. My summers are hot as f^k here, right now its 104 outside and inside my tent with all 3 lights running it gets up to 85 degrees max. I do have a/c in my room (not the tent) but just a regular unit. This benefits me so I'll use nothing but LED's for the rest of my grows. They are convenient for me and easy to use but like I said you may find something better suited to you.

I don't have any journals but I'll send you a few pics when I get the chance