Any HLG Scorpion R-Spec grows and harvests?

Trich-o-matic

Active Member
I want to take the dive into HLG and go right for the Scorpion R-Spec for my 5x5 tent. I've tried HPS, CMH, and cheap Blurples. Naturally, I now have to try a QB light. Can anyone show me some pics or direct me to journals of HLG Scorpion R-Spec grows and harvests? Maybe let me know your experience with the scorpions, if you have one? Thank you!
 

Dape Green

Well-Known Member
On my first run with one, first run with LED from CMH. I had to add a heater so that pretty much ruined any cost savings. The light is a friggin beast though. I find they looked happier under cmh but I understand I have to learn the proper LED environment. Once I cranked my temps the growth was incredible but I think I pushed them too hard for a bit too. One thing that surprised me was how much they drink now, I’m in 3 gal and have to feed more than daily by end of week 3. With cmh I’d peak at daily from like day 30-40 but mostly every two days.
 

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Trich-o-matic

Active Member
I sprouted a few seeds about a month ago. I tossed them under a T5 for 2 weeks and then into 2 gallon bags under a 600W MH in a 3x3 for 2 weeks and they are already creeping roots out the few bag holes. I dont know how you guys grow a full plant in a 3 gallon pot! I am going to throw my ladies in 5 gallon fabric pots to let air pruning take care of the roots. Anything smaller than 5 gallon fabrics are a waste, IMHO.
I loved the CMH but I ended up with airy buds for two grows, because the heat was tough to control on a dual bulb 630W CMH with no dimmer inside a 5x5 tent and even with venting in cold air, 20°F, from a window in the winter. Would probably be great in a more open area but it was running hotter than my HPS lamps, because the CMH was an open hood fixture and the HPS hoods I have are air cooled. Great quality and flavor from the final harvest, but they just didn't have the density and I think it was from heat stress. Regardless, the girls were happy under the CMH and didn't show any stress other than not bulking up.

My main fear is that an HLG Scorpion will generate more heat in a 5x5, when compared to an air cooled 1000W DE HPS, forcing you to use more aggressive cooling, and causing higher total energy consumption, even though the Scorpion is much more efficient.
 

Trich-o-matic

Active Member
On my first run with one, first run with LED from CMH. I had to add a heater so that pretty much ruined any cost savings. The light is a friggin beast though. I find they looked happier under cmh but I understand I have to learn the proper LED environment. Once I cranked my temps the growth was incredible but I think I pushed them too hard for a bit too. One thing that surprised me was how much they drink now, I’m in 3 gal and have to feed more than daily by end of week 3. With cmh I’d peak at daily from like day 30-40 but mostly every two days.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Is there any benefit to have the UV bar on before the final weeks of flower? My old blurple led lamp with UV and IR diodes seemed to always hermie the plant that was under it. Maybe just a coincidence, but I stopped using it. I feel like it just blasted the plant too hard and stressed it out. Another stress I couldn't see until it was too late. No more nanners!!
 

Dape Green

Well-Known Member
I sprouted a few seeds about a month ago. I tossed them under a T5 for 2 weeks and then into 2 gallon bags under a 600W MH in a 3x3 for 2 weeks and they are already creeping roots out the few bag holes. I dont know how you guys grow a full plant in a 3 gallon pot! I am going to throw my ladies in 5 gallon fabric pots to let air pruning take care of the roots. Anything smaller than 5 gallon fabrics are a waste, IMHO.
I loved the CMH but I ended up with airy buds for two grows, because the heat was tough to control on a dual bulb 630W CMH with no dimmer inside a 5x5 tent and even with venting in cold air, 20°F, from a window in the winter. Would probably be great in a more open area but it was running hotter than my HPS lamps, because the CMH was an open hood fixture and the HPS hoods I have are air cooled. Great quality and flavor from the final harvest, but they just didn't have the density and I think it was from heat stress. Regardless, the girls were happy under the CMH and didn't show any stress other than not bulking up.

My main fear is that an HLG Scorpion will generate more heat in a 5x5, when compared to an air cooled 1000W DE HPS, forcing you to use more aggressive cooling, and causing higher total energy consumption, even though the Scorpion is much more efficient.
I ran both singles and double 315s. The scorpion puts off very little heat. I’ve run a 1k hps and the heat isn’t even comparable. Light comes on in 3 hours, I’ll shoot the heat sink with the infrared thermo but seems to me it’s around 90f (88-93f if my broken memory isn’t failing me) I have to heat the room to maintain 80+, with the 630 I had to cool the same room then heat during lights off.

I’m waiting until they get a little more ripe for the UV bar. I just had it on for the pic.

It’s definitely a learning curve, this is probably my worst run in 10 years but I’m not blaming the light. If HLG didn’t fuck up my shipping I would have flipped a week earlier and been fine I think. I just can’t water them enough manually so I guess this will force my hand to add a second watering using drippers.

If I were to do it again I would run a known cut with known nutes for the first run with the new light and run them short. I’m pheno hunting, trying new nutes with a new light and flipped too late. Recipe for disaster.
 
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Norml56

Well-Known Member
I sprouted a few seeds about a month ago. I tossed them under a T5 for 2 weeks and then into 2 gallon bags under a 600W MH in a 3x3 for 2 weeks and they are already creeping roots out the few bag holes. I dont know how you guys grow a full plant in a 3 gallon pot! I am going to throw my ladies in 5 gallon fabric pots to let air pruning take care of the roots. Anything smaller than 5 gallon fabrics are a waste, IMHO.
I loved the CMH but I ended up with airy buds for two grows, because the heat was tough to control on a dual bulb 630W CMH with no dimmer inside a 5x5 tent and even with venting in cold air, 20°F, from a window in the winter. Would probably be great in a more open area but it was running hotter than my HPS lamps, because the CMH was an open hood fixture and the HPS hoods I have are air cooled. Great quality and flavor from the final harvest, but they just didn't have the density and I think it was from heat stress. Regardless, the girls were happy under the CMH and didn't show any stress other than not bulking up.

My main fear is that an HLG Scorpion will generate more heat in a 5x5, when compared to an air cooled 1000W DE HPS, forcing you to use more aggressive cooling, and causing higher total energy consumption, even though the Scorpion is much more efficient.
I have a hard time believing you weren't able to keep a 5x5 tent cool if you were pulling in 20 degrees air while just running 2 CMH. Were you pulling directly into the tent or just letting it into the room? I pull around 4-5 Oz in a 3 gal pot. I prefer that size for ease of moving them and the cost of soil.
 

Norml56

Well-Known Member
On my first run with one, first run with LED from CMH. I had to add a heater so that pretty much ruined any cost savings. The light is a friggin beast though. I find they looked happier under cmh but I understand I have to learn the proper LED environment. Once I cranked my temps the growth was incredible but I think I pushed them too hard for a bit too. One thing that surprised me was how much they drink now, I’m in 3 gal and have to feed more than daily by end of week 3. With cmh I’d peak at daily from like day 30-40 but mostly every two days.
I think this is more common than the LED group cares to admit.
 

Trich-o-matic

Active Member
I have a hard time believing you weren't able to keep a 5x5 tent cool if you were pulling in 20 degrees air while just running 2 CMH. Were you pulling directly into the tent or just letting it into the room? I pull around 4-5 Oz in a 3 gal pot. I prefer that size for ease of moving them and the cost of soil.
The daytime/nighttime temperature fluctuating was the tough part. Thats what led me to buy a tempature regulator to turn the fan on and off as needed. But then I ran out of room for my 5x5 and stopped gardening for a year or so....
 

Trich-o-matic

Active Member
it all depends on environment and location. for me, using leds means I only have to run the AC for 2-3 mos instead of 8.
Well, thats definitely saving some money! I chose the garage this winter for my 3x3 600W HPS and just exhaust in the garage to raise the temp a little. Run through the night time colder temps. If I get the Scorpion, I may have to install a dedicated circuit on a 15A breaker to my basement. The garage will get too cold and too warm for LEDs.
 

ilovereggae

Well-Known Member
Well, thats definitely saving some money! I chose the garage this winter for my 3x3 600W HPS and just exhaust in the garage to raise the temp a little. Run through the night time colder temps. If I get the Scorpion, I may have to install a dedicated circuit on a 15A breaker to my basement. The garage will get too cold and too warm for LEDs.
yup I know a few ppl that just use led in summer to save on the AC costs and then use the heat from hid bulbs to get temps up in winter. its whatever works!

leds are dope for being able to customize your space too. im growing in a small apartment so my space is limited so low hanging height was one of reasons I bought my first board. I eventually went into ocd overkill mode w my fixtures lol. I grabbed like 14 of the qb288 v1 boards when they were on clearance, as well as have a collection of v2s I bought new + some CL scores. I built all my lights so each board is only at 50W so they are at max efficiency, and I have a crazy spread of diodes so I can be like 2" away from colas w no light burn. I actually just sold a couple of those to a buddy and am making a new light now with bridgelux vestas that has tuneable colors so I can do clone to harvest under the same light in a SIP. hps was never this much fun ;)
 

Trich-o-matic

Active Member
yup I know a few ppl that just use led in summer to save on the AC costs and then use the heat from hid bulbs to get temps up in winter. its whatever works!

leds are dope for being able to customize your space too. im growing in a small apartment so my space is limited so low hanging height was one of reasons I bought my first board. I eventually went into ocd overkill mode w my fixtures lol. I grabbed like 14 of the qb288 v1 boards when they were on clearance, as well as have a collection of v2s I bought new + some CL scores. I built all my lights so each board is only at 50W so I have a crazy spread of diodes and I can be like 2" away from colas w no light burn. I actually just sold a couple of those to a buddy and am making a new light now with bridgelux vestas that has tuneable colors so I can do clone to harvest under the same light in a SIP. hps was never this much fun ;)
The Scorpion is (6) 288 boards that are diffused, i believe to bring them closer to the canopy, and using the newer inventronics driver. I can get one for about $800 right now. DIY for the same project may run me around $100 cheaper... maybe 200? but I think it's a steal at this price with a warranty and legendary customer service. I see a lot of videos and journals of the HLG 550 V2 R-Spec, but not much about the Scorpion.

That sounds like an awesome light hobby! I want to get into more of this QB tech, but I have to start somewhere and I want to start close to the top with the HLG Scorpion! I've considered several smaller lights, but this spread and convenience is really tough to pass up.
 

ilovereggae

Well-Known Member
The Scorpion is (6) 288 boards that are diffused, i believe to bring them closer to the canopy, and using the newer inventronics driver. I can get one for about $800 right now. DIY for the same project may run me around $100 cheaper... maybe 200? but I think it's a steal at this price with a warranty and legendary customer service. I see a lot of videos and journals of the HLG 550 V2 R-Spec, but not much about the Scorpion.

That sounds like an awesome light hobby! I want to get into more of this QB tech, but I have to start somewhere and I want to start close to the top with the HLG Scorpion! I've considered several smaller lights, but this spread and convenience is really tough to pass up.
if you have the cash I would buy the pre-built one especially for your first time. but dont worry you will "come to the light" soon enough and have diy qbs everywhere in your house like the rest of us. only a matter of time ;)
 

Norml56

Well-Known Member
People care more about building the LED's then actually using them. It is turning into a DIY building hobby that is making folks like HLG super-rich. I still have my original 288 V1's and I can guarantee that the plants don't know the difference and neither does my electrical bill.
 

ilovereggae

Well-Known Member
People care more about building the LED's then actually using them. It is turning into a DIY building hobby that is making folks like HLG super-rich. I still have my original 288 V1's and I can guarantee that the plants don't know the difference and neither does my electrical bill.
nothing wrong with that tho either. i have learned a lot about electronics and science that I didn't know before I started learning about LEDs. I do really enjoy the process of designing and building light fixtures.
 
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Norml56

Well-Known Member
nothing wrong with that tho either. i have learned a lot about electronics and science that I didn't know before I started learning about LEDs. I do really enjoy the process of designing and building light fixtures.
Nothing wrong with that. I enjoy growing weed so that's where my focus is. I do have to point out that one of the big things that LED users like to talk about is how they don't have the cost of replacing HID bulbs but then turn around and buy new LED's every time something "new" is put on the market. Anyone who started buying and using LED's since they hit the market with the blurples has spent more on new lighting setups than I will on bulbs in the next 10 years. The R-spec - B-spec - Diablo - Scorpion - added UV etc all seems like a marketing gimmick to me.
 

ҖҗlegilizeitҗҖ

Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with that. I enjoy growing weed so that's where my focus is. I do have to point out that one of the big things that LED users like to talk about is how they don't have the cost of replacing HID bulbs but then turn around and buy new LED's every time something "new" is put on the market. Anyone who started buying and using LED's since they hit the market with the blurples has spent more on new lighting setups than I will on bulbs in the next 10 years. The R-spec - B-spec - Diablo - Scorpion - added UV etc all seems like a marketing gimmick to me.
My LEDs pay for themselves in a year, so if I replace them every two years, I can essentially get my new ones for free
 

Norml56

Well-Known Member
My LEDs pay for themselves in a year, so if I replace them every two years, I can essentially get my new ones for free
In areas where electric costs are super high, I can see that. I still haven't seen the return on my $600 LED investment. In my situation, I only had the savings of the few hundred watts of extra electricity from the switch. I never ran A/C so I only saw a $12 monthly savings. My point is the new ones aren't any better than the old ones. I would love to see a side by side with original QB boards the V2 and the R-spec
 
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