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Lighting in tent question 1st grow

  • Thread starter Thread starter JFolg
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Lighting in tent question 1st grow

JFolg 29 Replies 8,504 Views
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JFolg

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#1
I picked up a 4x3 ac infinity tent and the guy threw in some lights. I just picked up an ac infinity ionframe evo4 300w from a buddy. The other lights i got were 2 mars hydro ys1000’s 150 w each and that vivosun wing 200w with a fan in the middle. If you guys had these lights and the 4x3, how would you arrange the lights and which one’s? I wanna get the most out of these I can while I am learning and starting this new hobby. Thanks for any advice!
 
#2
JFolg said:
I picked up a 4x3 ac infinity tent and the guy threw in some lights. I just picked up an ac infinity ionframe evo4 300w from a buddy. The other lights i got were 2 mars hydro ys1000’s 150 w each and that vivosun wing 200w with a fan in the middle. If you guys had these lights and the 4x3, how would you arrange the lights and which one’s? I wanna get the most out of these I can while I am learning and starting this new hobby. Thanks for any advice!
Click to expand...
I have 4 autos in there right now.
 
#5
JFolg said:
So the ionframe should be enough for the 4x3 by itself?
Click to expand...
It should be. The light is meant to cover 3x3. Your tent may be a 4x3, but you will probably find yourself adding more into the tent, like sensors, fans, de/humidifier, etc. The extra space will be helpful.
 
#6
My rule of thumb when sizing a light to a grow space.

L x W x 30. Your 4 x 3 x 30 should use a 360w light. The 300w Ionframe should suffice as most growers don't go full power anyways.

I would also download a free light meter app so that you can get a ballpark as to the light intensity your lights are giving off. If you use an android phone I would recommend Tent Buddy. Iphone I would recommend Photone.

With your meter you can measure light intensity at different areas in the tent to help you setup your lighting to get it as even as possible. If the edge numbers on the ionframe are dropping too much you can slide it to one side and add one of the lights you have to supplement the area.

I like @Grownsince95 idea of setting up separate tents. I had something similar with a 5 x 5 for main production and two 2 x 2's for holding mom's and for vegging.
 
#8
KolaKing said:
I would also download a free light meter app so that you can get a ballpark as to the light intensity your lights are giving off. If you use an android phone I would recommend Tent Buddy. Iphone I would recommend Photone.
Click to expand...
Great advice! I never even thought of looking for an app to measure the light intensity. Been holding off buying a PAR meter since they are all pretty expensive.
 
#10
Now you need the AC infinity fans with the pro controller and everything gets connected in one awesome app. I also have a heater and humidifier on the smart plugs and it's all automated from the phone. Set your VPD goal and let it do the rest.

Great times to be alive!
 
#12
Except I cant get the controller to recognize the clip on fan. Maybe i need to restart the settings. It probably still has all his settings on it.
 
#13
Also remember that DLI for 18 -6 is still a rule. You will find an 18 hour auto over 43k lux or around 600 ppfd will stress most autos. I ran my photos 12-12 at 65,000 lux but anything above 45,000 gave me damage.
This is important as if you are a straight auto growers you are never going to need 65,000 lux unless you run them 12-12.
Which most don't. This is closer to 25-30watts per square.
 
#14
Check this out for a light meter solution?

Using the uni t lux meter the ppfd app is within a few % of a apogee mq 500 according to Shane, using the phones light sensor it's meant to be within 10%
 
#15
Coconutz said:
Check this out for a light meter solution?

Using the uni t lux meter the ppfd app is within a few % of a apogee mq 500 according to Shane, using the phones light sensor it's meant to be within 10%
Click to expand...

This is actually very much more functional than it was just a year ago. The well known ppfd app now has that tool preloaded and instead of natural light it defaults to a 3500k panel which matches a whole lot of panels on the market. All you really have to do is set your ppfd limit and hours in the app for DLI and you are good to go unless you have a high end panel or are using HPS or tubes which are still a choice
Not much of a tutorial but some users have posted vids. Honestly it's about the same tech as a hand held frogger game just click buttons and move sliders not like you can blow up the thing.
 
#16
JFolg said:
Except I cant get the controller to recognize the clip on fan. Maybe i need to restart the settings. It probably still has all his settings on it.
Click to expand...
Clip fans usually can run without a controller. I run some of mine that way because I don't have enough ports on some of my controllers.
 
#17
LoveGrowingIt said:
Clip fans usually can run without a controller. I run some of mine that way because I don't have enough ports on some of my controllers.
Click to expand...
It does run being plugged in but the controlled dont recognize it being plugged into a port. I would like to control it off and on from the app. Or do you leave your fans running 24/7?
 
#18
JFolg said:
It does run being plugged in but the controlled dont recognize it being plugged into a port. I would like to control it off and on from the app. Or do you leave your fans running 24/7?
Click to expand...
I have one controller with 8 ports and cycle my circulation fans in that tent. My other controllers only have 4 ports, so I leave those fans running continuously at a slow speed.

You could contact AC Infinity support or ask on their Facebook page about that fan not being recognized. I haven't had problems with fans, but I have had some problems with control plugs. So far, that problem hasn't been fixed. A workaround is to unplug them from power and wait a few seconds and then plug them back in. That corrects the problem, till the next time it happens.
 
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