Just bought My 1st grow tent

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FourPlants

FourPlants

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I tried reading through your thread but it’s lengthy already and I don’t have the time right now. Have you addressed temperature and humidity in your garage yet. I am finding that to be some of my larger initial and ongoing (electricity) expenses of my garage grow.

just want to make sure you are prepared. Good luck!
 
MIGrampaUSA

MIGrampaUSA

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I'd recommend looking at the HLG Scorpion lights. I wasn't familiar with these forums, or much of anything else online beyond email, Amazon or Netflix when I first bought LED. I believed a few companies false wattage/coverage claims, tried a few different LED fixtures and finally did some actual research and bought an HLG Scorpion RSpec lamp. I run it in a 4x4 and I can say it's corner to corner coverage is better and it runs a lot cooler than anything I've ever had. I keep a small thermometer setting on top of the driver and it stays at 84-85F with the light dimmed to 80% . . . which is the highest I ever run it since I don't add Co2. I can't say that it's a better light than the others you are looking at, just the best fixture I've personally used in my limited experience.
There are many companies misrepresenting their lights by suggesting the wattage output is much higher than it actually is. It seems that many of those lights are listed on Amazon/Ebay. If the claims sound too good to be true, they most likely are misleading you.

With that said, HLG is not one of those companies. Their lights are top quality and the specs are actually achievable values if you were to test the light output and actual watts use against what they advertise. It is a good light. But I do have issues with the quantum board design ... HEAT

I have 6 quantum boards. All are 240w. 2 are 3500k white boards that I use for veg only in my veg tent. 4 are 3000k + 660nm + UV + IR and those are in one of my flower tents. All use the LM301b/h diode and Meanwell drivers. What I've found is my E720 has a much more even lighting footprint across my 5 x 5 than I can get with my quantum boards. I have four 240w boards in their own 5 x 5 (960w) and one E720 in another 5 x 5 (720w). The E720 has better light distribution wall to wall and the tent it's in stays much cooler than the tent with my quantum boards. I can run my E720 at 100% during the summer months without excess cooling. I can't say that about the quantum boards.
 
HighRootz

HighRootz

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I tried reading through your thread but it’s lengthy already and I don’t have the time right now. Have you addressed temperature and humidity in your garage yet. I am finding that to be some of my larger initial and ongoing (electricity) expenses of my garage grow.

just want to make sure you are prepared. Good luck!
Thanks, bud. I'm going to order a digital hydrometer just for the garage as well as for inside the grow tent. I'm literally near the border in San Diego, near Imperial Beach so it doesn't get too hot in the garage being less than 10 miles from the ocean, won't know how humid it is inside there until I get a proper reading.
There are many companies misrepresenting their lights by suggesting the wattage output is much higher than it actually is. It seems that many of those lights are listed on Amazon/Ebay. If the claims sound too good to be true, they most likely are misleading you.

With that said, HLG is not one of those companies. Their lights are top quality and the specs are actually achievable values if you were to test the light output and actual watts use against what they advertise. It is a good light. But I do have issues with the quantum board design ... HEAT

I have 6 quantum boards. All are 240w. 2 are 3500k white boards that I use for veg only in my veg tent. 4 are 3000k + 660nm + UV + IR and those are in one of my flower tents. All use the LM301b/h diode and Meanwell drivers. What I've found is my E720 has a much more even lighting footprint across my 5 x 5 than I can get with my quantum boards. I have four 240w boards in their own 5 x 5 (960w) and one E720 in another 5 x 5 (720w). The E720 has better light distribution wall to wall and the tent it's in stays much cooler than the tent with my quantum boards. I can run my E720 at 100% during the summer months without excess cooling. I can't say that about the quantum boards.
Heat is my main concern being that I work overnights and store my father's oxygen tanks in my garage. God forbid something bad happens while I'm at work. I've noticed that heat is a common ground with quantum boards in some reviews. The guy at Grow Gen said I would fry my plants in a 4x4 if I ran a 1000w equivalent LED and go for a minimum of 600w HPS equivalent, said it won't generate as much heat as well. I'm liking the uniformity of light distribution with bar lights from what I read on a LED company's site. Cost isn't gonna be a factor as long as the light fits in the tent and is not posing as a fire hazard. I really do appreciate all the info given here and I plan on pulling the trigger on a buy in 2 weeks so I got time to plenty of research
 
FourPlants

FourPlants

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93
Thanks, bud. I'm going to order a digital hydrometer just for the garage as well as for inside the grow tent. I'm literally near the border in San Diego, near Imperial Beach so it doesn't get too hot in the garage being less than 10 miles from the ocean, won't know how humid it is inside there until I get a proper reading.

I am less than two miles from the ocean on the opposite coast from you. It's hot and humid here in summer so I needed to add AC and a dehumidifier to really control the space. It's my first grow still but I'm sure come winter I will be adding a heater and humidifier. In the future I plan to maybe create an even smaller space in the garage just so I don't have to push environmental control as hard during the extremes.
 
MIGrampaUSA

MIGrampaUSA

3,732
263
I tried reading through your thread but it’s lengthy already and I don’t have the time right now. Have you addressed temperature and humidity in your garage yet. I am finding that to be some of my larger initial and ongoing (electricity) expenses of my garage grow.

just want to make sure you are prepared. Good luck!
He's got a good point to consider about humidity in a garage ... it would be an issue in my garage especially in the fall.

Thanks, bud. I'm going to order a digital hydrometer just for the garage as well as for inside the grow tent. I'm literally near the border in San Diego, near Imperial Beach so it doesn't get too hot in the garage being less than 10 miles from the ocean, won't know how humid it is inside there until I get a proper reading.

Heat is my main concern being that I work overnights and store my father's oxygen tanks in my garage. God forbid something bad happens while I'm at work. I've noticed that heat is a common ground with quantum boards in some reviews. The guy at Grow Gen said I would fry my plants in a 4x4 if I ran a 1000w equivalent LED and go for a minimum of 600w HPS equivalent, said it won't generate as much heat as well. I'm liking the uniformity of light distribution with bar lights from what I read on a LED company's site. Cost isn't gonna be a factor as long as the light fits in the tent and is not posing as a fire hazard. I really do appreciate all the info given here and I plan on pulling the trigger on a buy in 2 weeks so I got time to plenty of research

Quantum boards produce more heat than my E720, but they don't run nearly as hot as other types of lights either. I don't see the temperatures put off by quantum boards bothering O2 tanks. I wouldn't worry about that. They do warm up my basement grow area when everything else is on, and because of that I run them in the winter when I have all my tents going.
 
HighRootz

HighRootz

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He's got a good point to consider about humidity in a garage ... it would be an issue in my garage especially in the fall.



Quantum boards produce more heat than my E720, but they don't run nearly as hot as other types of lights either. I don't see the temperatures put off by quantum boards bothering O2 tanks. I wouldn't worry about that. They do warm up my basement grow area when everything else is on, and because of that I run them in the winter when I have all my tents going.
Today was 73F with 83% humidity, right now at 11:30pm it's 64F 90% humidity outside, I'll be able to get a good reading of the RH and temps in garage once 3-in1(temp, RH, Co2) meter arrives. I've been looking at the Growers Choice E680 and E720. From the specs, I think the E680 would fit better in my tent and still have a few inches of wiggle room whereas the E720 will literally give me .9cm to wiggle around. One thing I want is the highest amount of wattage my tent can handle without frying the plants and putting off too much heat. I want to incorporate Co2 into the tent but then again I would need a intense light for the plants to utilize the Co2 if I'm not mistaken. Right now my choices are between these lights at the moment:

https://www.growersc.com/roi-e680

https://opticledgrowlights.com/prod...grow-light-uv-ir-3500k-cobs-120-degree-lenses

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/products/hlg-600-rspec

https://shop.fluence.science/store/spydr-series/spydrx/

https://opticledgrowlights.com/products/slim-650s-dimmable-led-grow-light-650w-uv-ir

https://timbergrowlights.com/cypress-8/

https://www.spider-farmer.com/products/spider-farmer-se7000-commercial-led-grow-light/

https://eyehortilux.com/grow-light-systems/ascend/led-700-es/
 
MIGrampaUSA

MIGrampaUSA

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The 42" x 42" frame size of the E680 and OptiLED Slim650S would fit perfectly in your 4' x 4' tent. I'm not sold on cob lighting for tent applications. Cobs have high intensity hot spots and are better suited for high bay type applications like in a greenhouse or warehouse where there are several feet between the light and the canopy.
 
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HighRootz

HighRootz

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The 42" x 42" frame size of the E680 and OptiLED Slim650S would fit perfectly in your 4' x 4' tent. I'm not sold on cob lighting for tent applications. Cobs have high intensity hot spots and are better suited for high bay type applications like in a greenhouse or warehouse where there are several feet between the light and the canopy.
Ah, I see. I didn't know Cob lighting would bee better suited for high bay applications. I was looking at this light just a moment ago, it's probably the most I'll spend on a light at the moment
https://scynceled.com/product/raging-kush-2/

I think if I'm getting into the high end spectrum, I may look into implementing Co2, the jury still out on that matter lol
 
MIGrampaUSA

MIGrampaUSA

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Ah, I see. I didn't know Cob lighting would bee better suited for high bay applications. I was looking at this light just a moment ago, it's probably the most I'll spend on a light at the moment
https://scynceled.com/product/raging-kush-2/

I think if I'm getting into the high end spectrum, I may look into implementing Co2, the jury still out on that matter lol
I would buy the best light that fit's your budget. For me? I wasn't going over $1000 when I purchased the lighting for my second tent. The nice thing about CO2 is it's something you can add later on. I'm not against CO2 at all. I just don't see it as necessary to grow good bud and if you do decide to use it, you would be better off adding it after a few trial runs.

If your humidity is regularly in the 80's and 90's, you'll want a dehumidifier.
 
FourPlants

FourPlants

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I would buy the best light that fit's your budget. For me? I wasn't going over $1000 when I purchased the lighting for my second tent. The nice thing about CO2 is it's something you can add later on. I'm not against CO2 at all. I just don't see it as necessary to grow good bud and if you do decide to use it, you would be better off adding it after a few trial runs.

If your humidity is regularly in the 80's and 90's, you'll want a dehumidifier.

I agree, I would skip the CO2 now and focus more on being able to control VPD.
 
HighRootz

HighRootz

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You're gonna need a dehumidifier.
I got a few dehumidifiers and humidifiers from when my boys were babies, they was used in their bedroom but I'm already lining up to get a peoper dehumidifier and humidifier just for my grow area.
I would buy the best light that fit's your budget. For me? I wasn't going over $1000 when I purchased the lighting for my second tent. The nice thing about CO2 is it's something you can add later on. I'm not against CO2 at all. I just don't see it as necessary to grow good bud and if you do decide to use it, you would be better off adding it after a few trial runs.

If your humidity is regularly in the 80's and 90's, you'll want a dehumidifier.
Solid advice. My budget fluctuates cuz I want a light that will fulfill my needs as well as last a decent amount of runs before I fully upgrade in a couple of years. That's why I don't mind spending a decent amount for a quality light that actually puts out and does as advertised. Everywhere I've turned has said that higher light intensity would need to have a Co2 supplement and with the more expensive lights, I just want that base covered in case I have to go that route. You guys have convinced me that I need to get my feet wet a bit before jumping in the Co2 pool and I appreciate it. This weekend is having a monsoon pressure coming in but by Tuesday, it's looking to be in the lower 80s with 65-70% humidity and that's just outside, I'm sure my garage will be a little higher temp
I agree, I would skip the CO2 now and focus more on being able to control VPD.
Thanks, bud. I'm still learning and want to make sure everything is right and lined up before I pull the trigger. I'm actually reading a article about controlling VPD. My ventilation kit arrives next week so I still have much to learn when it comes to keeping a perfect, controlled environment before I set everything up. Once I decide on a light, then a few trial runs will be conducted before I sprout proper genetics.
 
Panhead59

Panhead59

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I got a few dehumidifiers and humidifiers from when my boys were babies, they was used in their bedroom but I'm already lining up to get a peoper dehumidifier and humidifier just for my grow area.

Solid advice. My budget fluctuates cuz I want a light that will fulfill my needs as well as last a decent amount of runs before I fully upgrade in a couple of years. That's why I don't mind spending a decent amount for a quality light that actually puts out and does as advertised. Everywhere I've turned has said that higher light intensity would need to have a Co2 supplement and with the more expensive lights, I just want that base covered in case I have to go that route. You guys have convinced me that I need to get my feet wet a bit before jumping in the Co2 pool and I appreciate it. This weekend is having a monsoon pressure coming in but by Tuesday, it's looking to be in the lower 80s with 65-70% humidity and that's just outside, I'm sure my garage will be a little higher temp

Thanks, bud. I'm still learning and want to make sure everything is right and lined up before I pull the trigger. I'm actually reading a article about controlling VPD. My ventilation kit arrives next week so I still have much to learn when it comes to keeping a perfect, controlled environment before I set everything up. Once I decide on a light, then a few trial runs will be conducted before I sprout proper genetics.
Proper genetics = quality weed. Very important, I've also learned
 
HighRootz

HighRootz

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Environment/watering has got to be "right". Light is second.
I totally agree. I want to get the surrounding temp, Co2 and humidity levels that's in my garage before I start pumping that air into my grow tent. As for watering flowers, I'll hand water until I set up a drip system. I understand that with the light/heat, I would/could be watering quite a bit depending on height and how fast they drink/feed during flowering
 
HighRootz

HighRootz

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Proper genetics = quality weed. Very important, I've also learned
I'm window shopping a few breeders sites as well the market here, the bag beans I have are gonna be used for my trial runs. Gonna order a few autos for a outdoor winter harvest after the 2 I got outside are done around Croptober.
 
Panhead59

Panhead59

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Yeah that watering is really something indoors. I was bound and determined not to overwater. And still did a little bit. I used fox farms happy frog (ffhf) soil in 3 gal. Fabric bags/containers. I would water every 3-4 days. But i had a gal. Or so run off. I found that to be too much. Keeps soil wet for too long. I found lifting pots till VERY light and slight drooping of big fan leaves as my best indicators of needing water. It was harder to "GET THE FEEL OF IT" than i would've ever imagined. I can see why it's most likely the #1 issue most rookies like me experience .
 
Treecutter

Treecutter

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I've ran both co2 and no co2. Simple sea of green or auto run in a 4x4 I don't even bother. When I run a long veg with 2+lb plants i run co2 because of the amount of light im using and the uptake the plants are requiring can't be sustained.

On tents where you don't have a sealed environment and your running on expensive tank fed co2, the best way I found was to run my ventilation on a timer and make sure it exhaust out before the lights go out.

I stopped being a tank slave and went to a natural gas Co2 generator. Way cheaper in the long run. It supplements the entire room the tents draw makeup air from.

A cheap way for co2 setup if your home when lights are on is a dual fuel Colman lantern as long as your smart enough to place it where your not going to burn your grow up. Simply pump it up and turn it on at lights on, it will run out in about 6 hours. Or you can spend the money and buy a single burner or bigger co2 generator for Natural gas or propane.

That being said, my last autoflower run of 6 plants in a 4x4 with no co2 yielded 26.5 oz. All about the VPD.
 
Treecutter

Treecutter

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Thanks, bud. I'm going to order a digital hydrometer just for the garage as well as for inside the grow tent. I'm literally near the border in San Diego, near Imperial Beach so it doesn't get too hot in the garage being less than 10 miles from the ocean, won't know how humid it is inside there until I get a proper reading.

Heat is my main concern being that I work overnights and store my father's oxygen tanks in my garage. God forbid something bad happens while I'm at work. I've noticed that heat is a common ground with quantum boards in some reviews. The guy at Grow Gen said I would fry my plants in a 4x4 if I ran a 1000w equivalent LED and go for a minimum of 600w HPS equivalent, said it won't generate as much heat as well. I'm liking the uniformity of light distribution with bar lights from what I read on a LED company's site. Cost isn't gonna be a factor as long as the light fits in the tent and is not posing as a fire hazard. I really do appreciate all the info given here and I plan on pulling the trigger on a buy in 2 weeks so I got time to plenty of research
He's right in a way but every 1000 watt led is adjustable. Im a huge fan of 240 watt range leds. I can stack them to run a 8x8 grow clear down to a 2x4 grow. If one goes out the others cover till I can replace it. I got over using 1 huge light after screwing up a couple grows when they failed.

Multiple smaller lights allows me a fail safe and I can dial them in for even light across the canopy
 
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