BlueCollarBob- Bumbling Through My First Grow

[BlueCollarBob]

I highly recommend trying GC again, if you are out of seeds, I have left over seeds, I can get you going with what ever I have left (minus 1, wanna grow Green outdoors next year).

Let me know, I might need your ship to address.

Definitely, plan to give them another go. I have them in my cart, but might try the photoperiod, next time.

 

[BlueCollarBob]

Sorta wavering on doing a full grow with MH/HPS. I can see the plants are small and some grams/watt ratings have been catching my eye and haunting me. I haven't done a deep dive research on lights, yet. I have been trying to soak up comments you guys share about your lights, though.

Original Plan: Get a grow or two under my belt in this 2X4 and start forming opinions on what I think I'll want in a dedicated grow space. Hold of on upgrading the light until I can get something properly sized for the future space. I was thinking, why spend money on a quality light that won't be suitable for an eventually larger space.

Current Ponderings:

• The 2X4 could potentially see continued use for veg. Maybe, I can find a decent light, now, that will also suit for veg later.
• I notice that some lights can be daisy chained. If I find and like a light suitable for a 2X4 - 3X5 space, maybe I could add lights in a bigger space.
• Would it make sense to add some supplemental lights to the MH/HPS set up?
• Should I start watching Marketplace and try to pick up a fairly priced used LED light that may not get me where I want to be, but improves on current set up?
• Stick to my original plan and learn what I can from growing under MH/HPS.

Speaking of Marketplace: Someone recently posted a never used Mars Hydro set up with tent, light, exhaust fan, etc. Not a great deal, but I don't see many listings near me and I researched it a bit. The light is and SP3000. I've seen some negative comments about Mars Hydro's lights. Elsewhere, I've read more favorable reviews on their newer lights. In my head, a Mars light with Mars Adlites sounds interesting, if they're making decent lights, now. For all I know, there's no advantage to running their Adlites with their grow lights versus any other brand of grow light. I also don't know if their Adlites are good supplemental lights.

Since I'm already using ACI's UI, are there advantages to going with an ACI light? Or, should I forget about the brand UI and supplemental lights and focus on trying to find the best possible grow light?

Just for kicks I looked up a comparison between the Mars Hydro SP3000 and FC4000. Is it the Samsung diodes, light spread, both, or something different entirely that earns the FC series the better yield rating?

 

[steamroller]

I have old and newish Mars hydros.
I run the TSL 2000 and was just looking for a replacement. Don't need it just they are the oldest of my lights.
It is a space thing and the SP3000 got a hard look.
Kind of leaning towards just keeping the TSL [ I have 9 ] or maybe an ACI ionfrome evo4.
It is only 2 fixtures that need to fit in a 36x18 inch foot print.
The ACI would fit lovely. There is a large price difference even with the ACI on sale.
Almost double.

 

[BlueCollarBob]

I have old and newish Mars hydros.
I run the TSL 2000 and was just looking for a replacement. Don't need it just they are the oldest of my lights.
It is a space thing and the SP3000 got a hard look.
Kind of leaning towards just keeping the TSL [ I have 9 ] or maybe an ACI ionfrome evo4.
It is only 2 fixtures that need to fit in a 36x18 inch foot print.
The ACI would fit lovely. There is a large price difference even with the ACI on sale.
Almost double.

Staying with what you know makes sense. Curiosity about something different can be a a heck of a temptress, though.

Just in time to keep me from going down a rabbit hole, my daughter called with a check engine light that I need to go scan.

 

[steamroller]

Hard to resist for me.
Slacker likes upgrades with minimal effort needed.
I would definitely know the size space you are working with before choosing a light.
Meh maybe I compromise with cheaper ACI evo3?
I get it bad sometimes...

 

[Observer]

im always lurking about when Lights are brought up.

not used these but heard good things about em, a long a few others, trying to compile that list of known light fixtures the growers here use and refer.


Fluence spdyr
HLG
CLW
ROI
Mars hydro
Spider farmer
Scynce LED
ACI
Viparspectra

 

[Bandit420]

Sorta wavering on doing a full grow with MH/HPS. I can see the plants are small and some grams/watt ratings have been catching my eye and haunting me. I haven't done a deep dive research on lights, yet. I have been trying to soak up comments you guys share about your lights, though.

Original Plan: Get a grow or two under my belt in this 2X4 and start forming opinions on what I think I'll want in a dedicated grow space. Hold of on upgrading the light until I can get something properly sized for the future space. I was thinking, why spend money on a quality light that won't be suitable for an eventually larger space.

Current Ponderings:

• The 2X4 could potentially see continued use for veg. Maybe, I can find a decent light, now, that will also suit for veg later.
• I notice that some lights can be daisy chained. If I find and like a light suitable for a 2X4 - 3X5 space, maybe I could add lights in a bigger space.
• Would it make sense to add some supplemental lights to the MH/HPS set up?
• Should I start watching Marketplace and try to pick up a fairly priced used LED light that may not get me where I want to be, but improves on current set up?
• Stick to my original plan and learn what I can from growing under MH/HPS.

Speaking of Marketplace: Someone recently posted a never used Mars Hydro set up with tent, light, exhaust fan, etc. Not a great deal, but I don't see many listings near me and I researched it a bit. The light is and SP3000. I've seen some negative comments about Mars Hydro's lights. Elsewhere, I've read more favorable reviews on their newer lights. In my head, a Mars light with Mars Adlites sounds interesting, if they're making decent lights, now. For all I know, there's no advantage to running their Adlites with their grow lights versus any other brand of grow light. I also don't know if their Adlites are good supplemental lights.

Since I'm already using ACI's UI, are there advantages to going with an ACI light? Or, should I forget about the brand UI and supplemental lights and focus on trying to find the best possible grow light?

Just for kicks I looked up a comparison between the Mars Hydro SP3000 and FC4000. Is it the Samsung diodes, light spread, both, or something different entirely that earns the FC series the better yield rating?

View attachment 99987

In that light comparison, the FC 4000 is better by a ton. Those stats are pretty much telling me one light can get the job done and the other will "work" but continually come up short at harvest.

Ignore the gram per watts stuff would be my suggestion.
Focus on the grow space and getting it dialed in. If it's as close to 100% dialed in as you can get, yields will come without even trying.

Your biggest yielders will be sativas and they're also the longest flowering and most challenging to grow indoors. If done well, buds the size of a small child are possible.
Next in yields will be hybrids. Most of the seed stock around is hybrid at 50/50 with some leaning towards sativa or indica. Hybrids can yield great with colas the size of human forearm to around beer bottle size with excellent density.

Worst in yields are indicas but it's not like they're not worth growing. Colas the size of large lemons or goose eggs, maybe fist size, very dense, very potent, and choice in medicinal grade.

Next, adjust plant count to max out that yield potential.
Say in that 3x5 and how I'd grow it would be 4 sativas, or 6-8 hybrids, or 10-12 indicas.
But yeah the first thing is get dialed in so max yield potential can be had then make the best fit possible in training, plant count, and herb needs.

The Mars FC4000 light and the ACI Ionframe lights are the same lights for the most part. Same drivers and diodes but maybe different count and branding. Those two lights and another brand I cannot recall are all coming off the same factory line in China. These are all very good lights. I have the ACI version and I'd rank them a 9/10 and can hold their own vs much more expensive options out there.

You can also run any light off the ACI controller. You'll need the UIS plug. You plug your light into the plug, the plug into the wall, and the UIS cable to the controller. Your controller will then become a light timer using the schedule feature.

UIS Control Plug, for Outlet-Powered Equipment

Your source to create smart growing systems with components including advance grow tents, inline fans, clip-on fans, LED grow lights, and UIS™ controllers.

acinfinity.com

The results from the LED and the MH/HPS are very similar. The difference and why more use LED now is less power draw and more efficient spread compared to high watts and a single sweet spot.
Heat output is about equal. LED used to run much cooler but the good LED that deliver what we want run very hot.

I never know if I need supplement lighting until after a grow for the most part. I can use a meter to find out if I do today but before I had I just had to wait and see what I got and where I came up short.

I've bought and sold a lot of used grow gear and once upon a time was a sort of side hustle for me so I may have some useful insight about doing that....
Most often the equipment is somebody trying to recover cost of a failed grow they've given up on. Haggle the fuck out of these guys. They know they can't grow, the shit is taking up space, they need the money. You're in control of that deal.
But along with that, it's gonna be gear that was lacking performance, maybe mid-tier at best, and could be one of the reasons the seller failed at growing.

Look for date stamps on lights to give you an idea of how old it is and use that info in haggling. Ignore his "only used for 1 grow" sales pitch.

Look for hi end gear as well. There's not a lot out there but it's out there. You'll save a ton and get quality long lasting gear. People usually take very good care of this gear and sometimes it's new in box and just overstock on a commercial start up and could still be under warranty.

 

[Observer]

They know they can't grow, the shit is taking up space.

 

[doublej]

Sorta wavering on doing a full grow with MH/HPS. I can see the plants are small and some grams/watt ratings have been catching my eye and haunting me. I haven't done a deep dive research on lights, yet. I have been trying to soak up comments you guys share about your lights, though.

Original Plan: Get a grow or two under my belt in this 2X4 and start forming opinions on what I think I'll want in a dedicated grow space. Hold of on upgrading the light until I can get something properly sized for the future space. I was thinking, why spend money on a quality light that won't be suitable for an eventually larger space.

Current Ponderings:

• The 2X4 could potentially see continued use for veg. Maybe, I can find a decent light, now, that will also suit for veg later.
• I notice that some lights can be daisy chained. If I find and like a light suitable for a 2X4 - 3X5 space, maybe I could add lights in a bigger space.
• Would it make sense to add some supplemental lights to the MH/HPS set up?
• Should I start watching Marketplace and try to pick up a fairly priced used LED light that may not get me where I want to be, but improves on current set up?
• Stick to my original plan and learn what I can from growing under MH/HPS.

Before I came on here-BB..I was armed with HPS/MH, and the plan was to buy a little led for clones/seeds/veg..now look what I've done to myself...one Brand new led light, and one well taken care of led,

I was just informed that lights are lights. (Some do stuff)..
Get the grow space dial in bud, look at my fking tent cross bars from hell, i want my garden space the way i want its that important to yeiding...to me....

HIDs in your space will surprise you....
i won a BOTY contest in a 3×3 tent in my hunt tralier.
so its a choice, for me i didn't want heat boxes that come with them,and having to find a place to put them..
They still have the one i have on sale although its be that way for awhile .

You figure it ocht...

Speaking of Marketplace: Someone recently posted a never used Mars Hydro set up with tent, light, exhaust fan, etc. Not a great deal, but I don't see many listings near me and I researched it a bit. The light is and SP3000. I've seen some negative comments about Mars Hydro's lights. Elsewhere, I've read more favorable reviews on their newer lights. In my head, a Mars light with Mars Adlites sounds interesting, if they're making decent lights, now. For all I know, there's no advantage to running their Adlites with their grow lights versus any other brand of grow light. I also don't know if their Adlites are good supplemental lights.

Since I'm already using ACI's UI, are there advantages to going with an ACI light? Or, should I forget about the brand UI and supplemental lights and focus on trying to find the best possible grow light?

Just for kicks I looked up a comparison between the Mars Hydro SP3000 and FC4000. Is it the Samsung diodes, light spread, both, or something different entirely that earns the FC series the better yield rating?

View attachment 99987

 

[BlueCollarBob]

View attachment 99998

im always lurking about when Lights are brought up.

not used these but heard good things about em, a long a few others, trying to compile that list of known light fixtures the growers here use and refer.


Fluence spdyr
HLG
CLW
ROI
Mars hydro
Spider farmer
Scynce LED
ACI
Viparspectra

You know, that could make for a cool thread. Ask people to share their lights and list any pros and cons. Occasionally update a table in the original post summarizing any new entries...

 

[BlueCollarBob]

In that light comparison, the FC 4000 is better by a ton. Those stats are pretty much telling me one light can get the job done and the other will "work" but continually come up short at harvest.

Ignore the gram per watts stuff would be my suggestion.
Focus on the grow space and getting it dialed in. If it's as close to 100% dialed in as you can get, yields will come without even trying.

I'm trying, lol. Honestly, I do feel like I'm learning something every day, right now. Not even close to dialed in, but noticeable strides in the right direction. So far, watering, height of the light, and topping/training are areas where I can see good or bad results from my actions. I'm having a blast just making adjustments and watching to see what happens.

I'm still waiting on the diffuser for use with the Photone app to get here, but I did pick up an IR Thermometer (the ACI VPD version). I've have messed with it a good bit. I found results to be super repeatable, but was really surprised how quickly the results change the further I measure from the center of the canopy. I ended up using the measurement from the center of the canopy, where the temp probe is hanging, to adjust the leaf temp offset -2℉. I started running to VPD yesterday. We'' see how that goes.

Your biggest yielders will be sativas and they're also the longest flowering and most challenging to grow indoors. If done well, buds the size of a small child are possible.
Next in yields will be hybrids. Most of the seed stock around is hybrid at 50/50 with some leaning towards sativa or indica. Hybrids can yield great with colas the size of human forearm to around beer bottle size with excellent density.

Worst in yields are indicas but it's not like they're not worth growing. Colas the size of large lemons or goose eggs, maybe fist size, very dense, very potent, and choice in medicinal grade.

I don't know whether quality and quantity go hand-in-hand, or not. In the end, I'll want to pursue the highest quality possible. I tend to lean towards the sativas, but there's a lot of stuff I haven't tried, yet. I'll probably be hunting for a good sleepy time strain to make edibles with. I don't know why, but I sleep better after ingesting than I do after inhaling.

Next, adjust plant count to max out that yield potential.
Say in that 3x5 and how I'd grow it would be 4 sativas, or 6-8 hybrids, or 10-12 indicas.
But yeah the first thing is get dialed in so max yield potential can be had then make the best fit possible in training, plant count, and herb needs.

If I described the tent I'm using as a 3X5, that was a mistake. It's a 2X4. I've been watching how you do things and it looks pretty sweet. Would the little or no veg grow style work in soil?

The Mars FC4000 light and the ACI Ionframe lights are the same lights for the most part. Same drivers and diodes but maybe different count and branding. Those two lights and another brand I cannot recall are all coming off the same factory line in China. These are all very good lights. I have the ACI version and I'd rank them a 9/10 and can hold their own vs much more expensive options out there.

I had no idea those companies used the same manufacture and made similar lights. I didn't realize you were using ACI lights. It's nice hearing that you like yours.

You can also run any light off the ACI controller. You'll need the UIS plug. You plug your light into the plug, the plug into the wall, and the UIS cable to the controller. Your controller will then become a light timer using the schedule feature.

UIS Control Plug, for Outlet-Powered Equipment

Your source to create smart growing systems with components including advance grow tents, inline fans, clip-on fans, LED grow lights, and UIS™ controllers.

acinfinity.com

Yessir, I'm currently using that plug for the MH/HPS light. No complaints, so far.

The results from the LED and the MH/HPS are very similar. The difference and why more use LED now is less power draw and more efficient spread compared to high watts and a single sweet spot.
Heat output is about equal. LED used to run much cooler but the good LED that deliver what we want run very hot.

I never know if I need supplement lighting until after a grow for the most part. I can use a meter to find out if I do today but before I had I just had to wait and see what I got and where I came up short.

I've bought and sold a lot of used grow gear and once upon a time was a sort of side hustle for me so I may have some useful insight about doing that....
Most often the equipment is somebody trying to recover cost of a failed grow they've given up on. Haggle the fuck out of these guys. They know they can't grow, the shit is taking up space, they need the money. You're in control of that deal.
But along with that, it's gonna be gear that was lacking performance, maybe mid-tier at best, and could be one of the reasons the seller failed at growing.

Look for date stamps on lights to give you an idea of how old it is and use that info in haggling. Ignore his "only used for 1 grow" sales pitch.

Look for hi end gear as well. There's not a lot out there but it's out there. You'll save a ton and get quality long lasting gear. People usually take very good care of this gear and sometimes it's new in box and just overstock on a commercial start up and could still be under warranty.

Thanks for all of the advice. I really appreciate it.

 

[BlueCollarBob]

Before I came on here-BB..I was armed with HPS/MH, and the plan was to buy a little led for clones/seeds/veg..now look what I've done to myself...one Brand new led light, and one well taken care of led,

Yep, it looks like you strayed quite a bit from just getting a small LED for propagation.

I was just informed that lights are lights. (Some do stuff)..
Get the grow space dial in bud, look at my fking tent cross bars from hell, i want my garden space the way i want its that important to yeiding...to me....

HIDs in your space will surprise you....
i won a BOTY contest in a 3×3 tent in my hunt tralier.

Wow! That sounds familiar. Maybe you shared a photo or mentioned it somewhere else.

so its a choice, for me i didn't want heat boxes that come with them,and having to find a place to put them..
They still have the one i have on sale although its be that way for awhile .

You figure it ocht...

I'm getting plenty of help from you guys. So, I ought to figure it out, lol.