LED lights for 8x4 grow tent

[Amandajo84]

I am setting up an 8x4 grow tent. I am thinking about getting 2-1000watt lights. Does anyone know which kind I should get. The more research I do, the more I get confused. Even if it says 1000 watt led lights, am I still looking to see how much actual watts? Will I need more than 2 of these suckers?

 

[Anthem]

Do not buy any LED light that says it is a 1000 watt light. The high end LED's pretty much top out at under 700 watts. The stuff on amazon and made in china is not going to provide you with the weight.
Take a look at these brands
Gavita
Fluence Bio Science
Grows Choice
HLG
Timber

 

[Vagician]

If going HID in a 4x8 you'll need 2. I used to run 2 750s in my 5x10 and it was great.

 

[Anthem]

If going HID in a 4x8 you'll need 2. I used to run 2 750s in my 5x10 and it was great.

What did you use for cooling?

 

[Amandajo84]

So, when I am looking, for 32ft2 x 50

If going HID in a 4x8 you'll need 2. I used to run 2 750s in my 5x10 and it was great.

What kind do you use?

 

[Amandajo84]

So, when I am looking, for 32ft2 x 50

What kind do you use?

And was the 750 the actual?

 

[Anthem]

And was the 750 the actual?

50 watts per square foot is a little more than you need in my opinion. Plus it is not all about the watts but the PPFD and Mols. I see good results with just under 30 watts a foot with LED's.

 

[Vagician]

What did you use for cooling?

Their hoods had glass tubes so I just used an inline fan with some 6" ducting. I ran them at night so they kept the room warmer at night and then in the daytime it was naturally warmer so that I didn't get a massive temperature swing. Not sure if 750 was the actual but they were hortilux 1000s turned down to 750 on the ballast.

 

[Munch517]

I am setting up an 8x4 grow tent. I am thinking about getting 2-1000watt lights. Does anyone know which kind I should get. The more research I do, the more I get confused. Even if it says 1000 watt led lights, am I still looking to see how much actual watts? Will I need more than 2 of these suckers?

Do you ever plan on adding CO2? How much can you spend? If you're going to be growing awhile the high end lights are worth the money, if you're not too sure or are short on cash in the short term there's some mid-priced options that are really good.

 

[Nugg]

I'm pushing for strips or bars..China or not..

 

[Amandajo84]

I'm pushing for strips or bars..China or not..

Honestly, I'm just looking for something that I know will help with a big yield.

 

[Amandajo84]

Do you ever plan on adding CO2? How much can you spend? If you're going to be growing awhile the high end lights are worth the money, if you're not too sure or are short on cash in the short term there's some mid-priced options that are really good.

Yes, I plan on adding CO2. I do plan on doing it a while. What mid prise options do you recommend?

 

[Anthem]

Honestly, I'm just looking for something that I know will help with a big yield.

Growers Choice

Growers Choice have the world's most completed grow lamp selection. 600W, 1000W Double Ended grow lamps from 2K HPS,4K Daylight, 6K Blue to 10K finisher.

www.growersc.com

 

[Munch517]

Yes, I plan on adding CO2. I do plan on doing it a while. What mid prise options do you recommend?

Well there's options. Too many options to fully cover. The safe reasonably priced choice would probably be to do two HLG 550s ($750) and possibly add some supplemental lighting when you add CO2.

The Growers Choice ROI light that Anthem posted above is supposed to be good, my local grow store sells them and a few people have liked them. The problem I have is with spending $1000 on an unknown brand, at that point why not just get the Fluence Spydr 2p or 2i for $250-$450 more? I have a ton more faith the Fluence lights than I do the ROI, I chose to spend a little extra for the Fluence. Either of these lights would work well with CO2, as would many of the big bar-style lights.

If I were in you shoes and I had the money for Fluence that'd be any easy choice for me. If you don't want to spend money on Fluence but you can afford $800-$1000 per light it becomes a tougher choice between HLG and a bar-style Fluence clone like the ROI, I would personally go with the ROI in that case. If you need to spend even less the options get sparse, as most cheaper lights either can't make use of CO2 or would require multiple lights adding up to a cost equal to or greater than the higher end lights.

Feel free to post more about your needs, myself and others here are happy to try to help.

 

[Amandajo84]

Well there's options. Too many options to fully cover. The safe reasonably priced choice would probably be to do two HLG 550s ($750) and possibly add some supplemental lighting when you add CO2.

The Growers Choice ROI light that Anthem posted above is supposed to be good, my local grow store sells them and a few people have liked them. The problem I have is with spending $1000 on an unknown brand, at that point why not just get the Fluence Spydr 2p or 2i for $250-$450 more? I have a ton more faith the Fluence lights than I do the ROI, I chose to spend a little extra for the Fluence. Either of these lights would work well with CO2, as would many of the big bar-style lights.

If I were in you shoes and I had the money for Fluence that'd be any easy choice for me. If you don't want to spend money on Fluence but you can afford $800-$1000 per light it becomes a tougher choice between HLG and a bar-style Fluence clone like the ROI, I would personally go with the ROI in that case. If you need to spend even less the options get sparse, as most cheaper lights either can't make use of CO2 or would require multiple lights adding up to a cost equal to or greater than the higher end lights.

Feel free to post more about your needs, myself and others here are happy to try to help.

There is just so much information on the web and I've been trying to do as much research as possible. I have been stuck in which lights to get for over a week now. I am new to this and I know that lighting is one of the most important factors and I just want to it right. I am wondering if the HIDs would be better for me to start out with or if that would make my electricity bill go waaaayyyy up. There are so many options, I'm glad I didn't order the cheap LEDs!!

 

[Munch517]

There is just so much information on the web and I've been trying to do as much research as possible. I have been stuck in which lights to get for over a week now. I am new to this and I know that lighting is one of the most important factors and I just want to it right. I am wondering if the HIDs would be better for me to start out with or if that would make my electricity bill go waaaayyyy up. There are so many options, I'm glad I didn't order the cheap LEDs!!

I would not recommend getting HIDs at all, LEDs are the way to go for sure. Any yeah, I feel you on trying to research lights, I delved deep into this while doing my own research. Can you afford $1600-$2000 total to light your 4x8 area?

 

[Anthem]

There is just so much information on the web and I've been trying to do as much research as possible. I have been stuck in which lights to get for over a week now. I am new to this and I know that lighting is one of the most important factors and I just want to it right. I am wondering if the HIDs would be better for me to start out with or if that would make my electricity bill go waaaayyyy up. There are so many options, I'm glad I didn't order the cheap LEDs!!

Munch pretty well spelled out the LED options. You got the high end at Fluence, then you got Gavita and stuff like the growers choice. All work, some a little better than others, but you will get good results with any of them.
HID / HPS presents other options. The upfront cost is substantially cheaper, but the running cost is what gets you. Not only do you have the extra watts to pay for but you would also need to consider the cooling requirements of HPS.

 

[Nugg]

2 of these is more than enough..no need for 2k$ in lights

 

[Amandajo84]

View attachment 945696
2 of these is more than enough..no need for 2k$ in lights

I feel like this is more do-able. Thanks!

 

[specklefart]

I made the equivalent of the HLG Rspec 550 for $600. If you are a DIYer it is a fun project. You could make them cheaper buying four LED drivers at a time. It took about an hour to assemble.