**ULTIMATE LED TEST** *GLH Spectra 290* VS *Blackstar 500* VS *Hydro Grow LED 336X*

WeJuana

Active Member
which light is the 3rd plant under? and how would you rate the light this time around? you think the 900 BS I purchased is enough for a 4x8 tent I have 3
Id say 2 900w Blackstars could handle a 4x8, but I would have suggested 3 if you want ideal lighting. I think you will have one heck of a grow on your hands!

Tent 1 - Spectra
Tent 2 - Blackstar
Tent 3 - Penetrator
 

dickkhead

Active Member
I think 3 900's will kick some ass
sure hope so!

Id say 2 900w Blackstars could handle a 4x8, but I would have suggested 3 if you want ideal lighting. I think you will have one heck of a grow on your hands!

Tent 1 - Spectra
Tent 2 - Blackstar
Tent 3 - Penetrator
How would you rate them 1st to last? yea the guy at Lighthouse hydro said to run 3 900 in the 4x8, he said 2 will be good but 3 will blow it outa the park! I have 2 4x8 tents to flower in one with HP aeroponics and the other one is canna bitoerra soil and the full bio lone of nutS:). planning on scrogging 4 HP aero plants in 4x8, and then scroging 4 soils 2 of them will be in 10 gal airpots for in the other 4x8. I want to make sure the blackstars are where its at beofore i buy any more
 

dickkhead

Active Member
I miss the thread that used to be about led grows.

Hey Wejuana, have u used other tents or just the lighthouse? I've heard they are good quality but I have no experience with tents. Some day when I upsize my grow I was considering those. Any other suggestions ?
I have 4x4 from light house and I like the ceiling height and it's a nice tent. But I also have 2 home box tents and the durability of the material and framing I think is better then the LH tent. Just my .02
 

WeJuana

Active Member
sure hope so!



How would you rate them 1st to last? yea the guy at Lighthouse hydro said to run 3 900 in the 4x8, he said 2 will be good but 3 will blow it outa the park! I have 2 4x8 tents to flower in one with HP aeroponics and the other one is canna bitoerra soil and the full bio lone of nutS:). planning on scrogging 4 HP aero plants in 4x8, and then scroging 4 soils 2 of them will be in 10 gal airpots for in the other 4x8. I want to make sure the blackstars are where its at beofore i buy any more
I wouldn't make a judgement on the light until round 2. Each plant, although going through similar issues in round 1, got different levels of severity of the deficiencies. Round 2 should produce much more accurate results as to what the lights can do. Being only 13 days into flower so far which is much too early to tell.

They all are looking great, what are you doing different from round 1, and cal/mag???
Thanks hippie!

Besides subbing cal mag I am keeping the PH constantly changing between 6.3-6.9.. nothing different otherwise. I am quite confident the steady PH and lack of calcium was the issue in round 1. The Trinity Kush plant is coming down in 7 days and is on flush and has had not one issue. Ill put some pics up in a little bit.
 

hippy132

Well-Known Member
Happy to hear better luck this round, I also, but much room for me to improve. How much Cal/mag and do you use it with each watering or only when you feed with nutes. I am getting ready to give straight water, added some kelp and nitrogen to green them up. Hoping for the best still vegging at 32 days and still some yellowing and the occasional dead leaf.
 

dickkhead

Active Member
I wouldn't make a judgement on the light until round 2. Each plant, although going through similar issues in round 1, got different levels of severity of the deficiencies. Round 2 should produce much more accurate results as to what the lights can do. Being only 13 days into flower so far which is much too early to tell.



Thanks hippie!

Besides subbing cal mag I am keeping the PH constantly changing between 6.3-6.9.. nothing different otherwise. I am quite confident the steady PH and lack of calcium was the issue in round 1. The Trinity Kush plant is coming down in 7 days and is on flush and has had not one issue. Ill put some pics up in a little bit.
you ever consider running canna bio line of nutrients they have a high ph range
 

WeJuana

Active Member
you ever consider running canna bio line of nutrients they have a high ph range

I have, but so far I am pretty impressed with what I have seen Dyna-Gro do under the appropriate conditions. I also like that Dyna-Gro has such a slow PPM with the base nutes it allows for a good amount of additive supplements.

Here is a video of the Trinity Kush coming down in about a week using Dyna-Gro > [video=youtube;o4eidhMyi84]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4eidhMyi84&list=UUuA8RYAF1X8uVjPsQHD3yNw& feature=plcp[/video]
 

maxpesh

Active Member
Hey Wej, how's it going ? I hope your grow goes better this time around. My grow with the 2 x 500watt blackstars seems to have slowed right down at 30 days. Plenty of buds and looks great on photo but in reality not what I would be hoping for and I know I'd be doing better under HPS. Never mind it's just an experiment and hopefully the calm before the explosion :-) Been doing a lot of research and I'm now convinced that all these LED companies have done none at all, seems as if they just jumped on the led bandwagon to make a quick buck (variations on a bad design) ! My design is now however finished and I can't wait to get started, just the old story of finances getting in the way but will get there in the end. Imagine turning led haters into led lovers ? Gonna be so funny :-). Anyway good luck my friend and I hope you get lots of weed this time around ;-)
Oh just before I go,,,my final research and specs have answered why HPS has always produced much more yield, that is of course about to change. Peace bro !
 

puffenuff

Well-Known Member
Hey Wej, how's it going ? I hope your grow goes better this time around. My grow with the 2 x 500watt blackstars seems to have slowed right down at 30 days. Plenty of buds and looks great on photo but in reality not what I would be hoping for and I know I'd be doing better under HPS. Never mind it's just an experiment and hopefully the calm before the explosion :-) Been doing a lot of research and I'm now convinced that all these LED companies have done none at all, seems as if they just jumped on the led bandwagon to make a quick buck (variations on a bad design) ! My design is now however finished and I can't wait to get started, just the old story of finances getting in the way but will get there in the end. Imagine turning led haters into led lovers ? Gonna be so funny :-). Anyway good luck my friend and I hope you get lots of weed this time around ;-)
Oh just before I go,,,my final research and specs have answered why HPS has always produced much more yield, that is of course about to change. Peace bro !
Please share your research findings max!
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Just saying that my Philips greenpower was by far the best yield/quality that I had compared to all other HID's. I hope that LED's are good for more than just personal grows though. I hope that we are looking for alternative to HID for all grows including commercial, otherwise, what's the point ? Tell you what though, I just had a look at the specs of that Philips Elite Agro,,,looks promising :-)

P.S. just had another thought ;-) Out of all the led companies and the minefields of info, and the arguments of what works and what doesn't work, I think I would be inclined to believe the LED R&D of Philips as they've been in the horticultural lighting industry for a lot longer than anyone else with many resources around the world, just saying !
Yeah, I agree with many of your points.....Do I believe that leds are the future of horticultural lighting???? I dunno, But I do know that their getting better and better...
For household use they absolutely have hit the mark....Well philips anyways. I have all philips (led)light bulbs in my house because "ecosmart led" bulbs fail after a couple months. So yes i think philips R&D is the best right now with led tech. Just like our expensive grow equipment, it's a better option to spend a little more and get a better warranty and quality components.
Next year will also be interesting for led commercial lighting because not only will "cycloptics technologies" release the all bright, their also releasing an led array with their patented reflection hood(with a new philips led engine).....Might be the "one" to wait for.

Anyways, sorry WEJuana for going off topic.......great grow brother and everything looks healthy; keep it up:)
 

maxpesh

Active Member
Yeah, I agree with many of your points.....Do I believe that leds are the future of horticultural lighting???? I dunno, But I do know that their getting better and better...
For household use they absolutely have hit the mark....Well philips anyways. I have all philips (led)light bulbs in my house because "ecosmart led" bulbs fail after a couple months. So yes i think philips R&D is the best right now with led tech. Just like our expensive grow equipment, it's a better option to spend a little more and get a better warranty and quality components.
Next year will also be interesting for led commercial lighting because not only will "cycloptics technologies" release the all bright, their also releasing an led array with their patented reflection hood(with a new philips led engine).....Might be the "one" to wait for.

Anyways, sorry WEJuana for going off topic.......great grow brother and everything looks healthy; keep it up:)
Yep ! looks like you have your eye on the ball and you're taking in all the correct info. Philips are the leaders and their R&D is second to none. My findings are taking me down a different route to other LED companies and they "sort of echo" Philips findings and I am hoping to take LED grows to the next level :-)
 

WeJuana

Active Member
Hey Wej, how's it going ? I hope your grow goes better this time around. My grow with the 2 x 500watt blackstars seems to have slowed right down at 30 days. Plenty of buds and looks great on photo but in reality not what I would be hoping for and I know I'd be doing better under HPS. Never mind it's just an experiment and hopefully the calm before the explosion :-) Been doing a lot of research and I'm now convinced that all these LED companies have done none at all, seems as if they just jumped on the led bandwagon to make a quick buck (variations on a bad design) ! My design is now however finished and I can't wait to get started, just the old story of finances getting in the way but will get there in the end. Imagine turning led haters into led lovers ? Gonna be so funny :-). Anyway good luck my friend and I hope you get lots of weed this time around ;-)
Oh just before I go,,,my final research and specs have answered why HPS has always produced much more yield, that is of course about to change. Peace bro !
What are you using for a finisher? And have you started adding it yet? The second round of flowering induced by the finisher is where the real size and weight comes in and I start adding it around day 30-40 depending on how long I plan to flower, and how the growth is coming along. Usually when flowering begins to slow is a good time to begin using whatever your preference of finisher is.

I am excited to see what your new design can do.
 

dickkhead

Active Member
What are you using for a finisher? And have you started adding it yet? The second round of flowering induced by the finisher is where the real size and weight comes in and I start adding it around day 30-40 depending on how long I plan to flower, and how the growth is coming along. Usually when flowering begins to slow is a good time to begin using whatever your preference of finisher is.

I am excited to see what your new design can do.
what do you mean finisher? what are you using?

how are the 900 doing can u post a pic? thanks man
 

WeJuana

Active Member
what do you mean finisher? what are you using?

how are the 900 doing can u post a pic? thanks man
I'm using Bloombastic from Atami. If you use a finisher the last 3-4 weeks of your flower period, it induces what is almost like a "second flowering" and your buds continue to bulk up and harden. I suggest checking into either Bloombastic (which I prefer) or as an alternative Shooting Powder is pretty good. I prefer the Bloombastic because its organic so I use it a little longer than I would use the shooting powder. I usually flush for 1 week with using Bloombastic or 2 using Shooting Powder.

I'll definitely snap some shots of the 900 tent, but I have only used it for a veg light thus far so I am not sure how it does on flower. The 500w is holding its own thought so I think its kick some ass, especially 3.
 

Endur0xX

Well-Known Member
I have a new Philips CMH bulb and used it for one bloom cycle, the website was supposed to be doing a grow journal, 2 of them against 1 x 1000watt hps 2 years ago and it never happened, then they suddenly started giving away an hps for every CMH bought,,I wonder why ? Anyway my 600watt Philips greenpower blew it out of the water. Yes the CMH was only 400watts but the hype about spectrum was stating that it was the next big thing, not a little fizzle. So IF, UV produces so much resin and the UV emitted from LED fixtures is so small, why do led's produce a good amount of resin anyway. Not arguing any points. I just like proof and results :-)

Sorry if I sound like a tech head or a pain in the arse, but here is just 1 great example of why I know most led companies have done nearly zero research and just went along with the flow . http://www.photobiology.info/Gorton.html If anyone can be bothered to read for half an hour, I promise you'll be a bit wiser than before you started reading this article :-) Peace all
To come back to the UV ray discussion, I cannot say whether the reptile lamp or the diamond 100W or the strain is responsible for it, but my Afghan Kush, which is the plant in my scrog that gets the most UV and the most LED light, has the smallest buds bud damn they are frosty, the pictures are a couple days ago and it seems like its getting frostier by the day. Personally, I had to deal with the heat when I first installed my 2 400W, adding the reptile lamp made no difference on the room temps, definitely too hot for a grow cab though. Next grow I will not use the HIDs in the room so I am looking forward to see how the LEDs will do with the kick of the reptile lamp.

DAY 28 Flowering

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BTW, nice looking plants Wej!
 
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