Help with lighting

Hugo Phurst

Well-Known Member
Hmmm...I have no idea? I'd think that the sun would be different lux, depending on the time of year etc. But...I really know nothing about all of this. I'm still a complete noob.
Light meter came.:-P
After poking around the interwebz the consensus seems to be:

5,000–7,000 lux for clones and seedlings, 15,000–50,000 lux for veg, 45,000–65,000 lux for flower & 75,000 lux max.

OK - In a 3ft 10 in X 4 ft tent.

315w CMH
64in = 3740 Lux
35.5in = 6400 Lux
16.75in =27,400 Lux

110w Led
60in 4740 Lux
35.5in = 7240 Lux
16.75in = 33,500 Lux

So it seems that our new LED's are quite efficient.

Now I'm looking at a 460w :P
 

A_String

Well-Known Member
Light meter came.:-P
After poking around the interwebz the consensus seems to be:

5,000–7,000 lux for clones and seedlings, 15,000–50,000 lux for veg, 45,000–65,000 lux for flower & 75,000 lux max.

OK - In a 3ft 10 in X 4 ft tent.

315w CMH
64in = 3740 Lux
35.5in = 6400 Lux
16.75in =27,400 Lux

110w Led
60in 4740 Lux
35.5in = 7240 Lux
16.75in = 33,500 Lux

So it seems that our new LED's are quite efficient.

Now I'm looking at a 460w :P
Amazing! Thanks so much for the info!
 

Detroitwill

Well-Known Member
I would avoid both of those lights. If I only had $100 to spend I'd buy that Wal-mart light or a mars hyrdo. I've yet to hear anyone crap on Mars but just know for $100 you're not getting a great light.
What Spider Farmer and Mars Hydro light you seeing for $100? I don't think they'd be 1000 watt drivers on them. The biggest driver I know meanwell makes is 600 watts and it's 250-300 bucks.
In a 3x2 grow space the 100 watt driver would probably be max. Pretty hard to lose out at $100 for the walmart one; the driver is worth that.
I just recently purchased 2 of the mean well 600w a/b drivers for $240. And without a rebate it was $270.
 
I have a 3x2 grow tent that is 5 feet tall. I have a budget light in it that I bought at a Home Depot hardware store. Last season, I grew a single plant (My very first successful grow). It was....okay. I got about 14 grams, final product, from the plant. I KNOW, if I had better lighting, I could have increased that.

So...I'd like to get a new, better light. It would still be in the 3x2x5 space and would only ever house 1 plant. I don't want to go over board and, given the height restriction, I really have to make sure I'm not over doing it. lol.

I'd like to keep it just around or under $100, CDN. I've seen TONS of light that everyone is recommending but, to be honest, I know nothing and a lot of them seem like WAY too much light for the space.

Long story short? What do you guys recommend that will help increase me yield, work in a small space and not break the bank.
You get what you pay for. When you buy the crappy "Blurple" lights they don't produce quality bud. Not even close. Cheapest good LED is the Spider Farmer SF1000. $159.00.
 

A_String

Well-Known Member
You get what you pay for. When you buy the crappy "Blurple" lights they don't produce quality bud. Not even close. Cheapest good LED is the Spider Farmer SF1000. $159.00.
Check out the one I wound up buying. It is crazy good for my small tent. In fact, I had to drop the dimmer way down as it was producing too much light. Also, for the record, it's a brilliant white and not "burple" in any way.
 

A_String

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the confirmation, guys. Well...sad days. I only have room for one plant in my tent so....time to cut him down and start sprouting a new one. Hopefully what I've learned here with the lights and fert will aid me, going forward with the next plant.

As always, you guys are amazing and I can't thank you enough for all the help you have given me!
 

The Monarch

Member
Thanks for the confirmation, guys. Well...sad days. I only have room for one plant in my tent so....time to cut him down and start sprouting a new one. Hopefully what I've learned here with the lights and fert will aid me, going forward with the next plant.

As always, you guys are amazing and I can't thank you enough for all the help you have given me!
another noob here, but would it be the worst thing to grow the male somewhere else to harvest some pollen? You could fertilize a bud site or two for seeds.

where did you go with lights? I missed the resolution.
 

A_String

Well-Known Member
another noob here, but would it be the worst thing to grow the male somewhere else to harvest some pollen? You could fertilize a bud site or two for seeds.

where did you go with lights? I missed the resolution.
Hmmm...I know nothing about harvesting pollen or if using it on a female plant will ruin the whole plant? I'm totally new to growing.

I got a light that was recommended to me, on the first page here. I'm quite happy with it:
 

The Monarch

Member
Looks great, happy farming! Ignore the pollen question please - if the sacs burst the pollen can get everywhere - I’m too excited about the prospect of breeding.
 
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