Which lights to use from my inventory for seedlings to veg to flower?

[Madman960]

I have many lights in my possession. I have a 2 ft dual bulb T5 with one HO and one actinic (blue), dual 150 MH lights with 14,000 K heli Arc blue bulbs,to 4 ft dual bulb T8 light with one 3100 K and one 6500 K bulb, the 1500 watt full spectrum LED, and I have 40 floodlight type CFL bulbs. Half are 2700 K and half 6400k. The T8 fixture and bulbs are new. The T5 fixture is 3 years old and bulbs are 1 year old according to the guy I bought them from. The 150 MH fixture is homebuilt and about 3 years old with 8 year old aquarium components and computer fans for cooling. Also according to the guy I bought them from. The LED is new. The floodlight type CFLs are new as are the reflectors I bought from Walmart. I did buy a 3 bulb hanging light from Craigslist this past spring for $10. I had to purchase a cord for it as it was run to a light switch. The 3 bulb CFL works well for seed starting. I run one 2700 k and two 6400 k bulbs about 4 inches above the plants. So far, my only experience is with vegetables. My question is for those who have more experience with lights that not myself. I'm sure it's mostly personal preference but still doesn't hurt to ask. FYI, I don't know anything about the actinic bulb. Just going by the previous owners word.

Happy growing.

Madman

[tyler_ hobbyist]

How many plants are u growing because true watts is more important than spectrum u want 50-100watts per sqf. Are u growing autos or photos and if so photos how long are u vegging for?

[Madman960]

Tyler, photos. 4-6 plants. Not sure how long to veg for. Going for 15-18 inches. Going for 4 hydroponics and 2 soil. New to hydroponics and marijuana growing. Soil is just for backup.

[abadtrip]

Use ya led. Hydro is easy I have never grown in soil tho. I use a 300 w led for 1auto plant all the way through it's life. I also run a 315cmh over 2 plants in my scrog u are growing 6 plants that is a big foot print. my plants take up about 4 sq ft each in flower or there abouts. that is the useable space the plant has to grow. That being said I am now wondering how big the footprint of your light is. I know nothing of cfls or t5 t8. But u could supplement buy putting the right lights around your plans while the led is above them.

[Madman960]

The 1500 watt LED says it covers the 4 ft x 5 ft. My tent is 4x4. Can supplement. May buy another 600 watt LED to hang with the 1500. Not sure yet.

[tyler_ hobbyist]

Hydro and soil will grow at different times I honestly would recomend if ur new to only grow soil like promix with a 50/50 soil to perlite. Also if u want 15-18inch plants veg for 4ish weeks for 6 plants ur growing area will be a 5x5 space and I recomend around 1000watts more if u can. Now in veg you want more blue light and low red light. Blue light will make the plants bushier and shorter then the 1st 2weeks of flower leave the blue light in there then on week 3 switch to more red lights. Waiting at 2weeks with blue will keep ur plants from streching as much as they would with red light. U can always leave the blue light throw the whole flowering cycle and u will gethigher quailty buds but about 1/3 less yeild. Where red light in flower will increase yeild but lower the quality. The quality difference isnt much but there is a difference if u do a side by side.

[tyler_ hobbyist]

Cfl lights are great for side lighting bud there only really gd no further away than 10linchs, leds are amazing lights find ur true wattage of them. Think of leds as lazer beams most of ther useable light only gos straight down so take that into acount. Your 150w mh light is a must a gd distance for it is about 6-10inchs away I personaly keep my 400w mh at 6-8 inchs above the plants.

[Madman960]

Thanks guys. That's a lot of information to process. I understand about the blue light for veg. The MH is dual 150s.

[tyler_ hobbyist]

If u have any questions feel free to ask happy growing

[Madman960]

Thanks Tyler. My question on lights was more for the seedling to veg stage and from veg to flower. Probably going T5 seedling + veg and the mh with T5 for veg, then add the LED for flower. Will remove the T5+MH after 2 weeks flower. Thanks again.

Madman

[tyler_ hobbyist]

That sounds like a gd plan but in flower put as much light as u can on them more light equals more yeild

[oldjarhead100]

I use t5s for my seedlings and t5s for my veg,then I put them under 1000w hps with side leds for bloom

[Madman960]

OJH, Semper Fi. I don't have any HPS lights. I could get some.


Regarding the MH bulbs, which K ratings are best for veg? 3,000k, 6,700k, 10,000k, or??? I have 14,000 K bulbs that came with all the used stuff I bought and 2 used unknown K bulbs. I want to get new bulbs that are useful for plants. I know the 3,000k and the 6,700k used to be the standard. Just wondering if that has changed.

Madman

[oldjarhead100]

just telling what I use , I buy my t5s bulbs at htgsupply.com you get 4 for under 20 bucks but I buy my fixtures at growershouse.com best prices Ive found on fixtures

[Madman960]

OJH, I have a T5 with a 10,000 k bulb and a 4100k bulb. Which bulbs do you use? Thanks.

[oldjarhead100]

I have veg bulbs in my t5s , I cant remember them all but I have 1 10,000 k in each fixture and 1 that is more blue light . I know it doesn't help much but I got that adult disease CRS can't remember shit lol, when I order my fixtures they come with the bulbs I want and then I add a couple