Deciding on LED Light for 1st Grow - Pls help a Noob!

[RobC]

Tent size is 3x3x6’. It’s for personal and love of the plant growing - so yields don’t worry me, looking for high quality and different strains without overwhelming amounts.

From what I read on GWE, mostly decided on HLG lights, the 300L Rspec 270w ($400) seems ideal but I have to pay for international shipping by weight so this heavy light adds +~$160, so not sure if It’s wise to spend that much ($560) on my first setup/grow.
So another idea is I could start with two HLG100 Rspec 95w because one would not be enough for 3x3. These are $150 and very light at 3.8lbs so +25 shipping each for $350 total... And later if I want these are easy to sell and upgrade to the 300L.
[Do I need a higher powered light for quality or is that more important for yield?]

Another option I like is Spider Farmer (looking at the SF-2000) but the total at ~$440 is closer to the 300L so would just go for the HLG.
Let me know your thoughts and advice. Thanks!

[MeEasy]

I think for a 3x3 the Mars hydro tsw 2000 it's a 300w led with a square footprint fitting your need and I've seen some nice plants growing under the Mars lights. I'm a spider farmer fan but the 2000 has a 2x4 footprint so I think the Mars would be better. As for hlg I'm just not a fan but it's personal not that I think their lights suck

https://www.amazon.com/MARS-HYDRO-Spectrum-Updated-Growing/dp/B07PLYR5HG/ref=sr_1_6?crid=XW1I8HLYWBQA&dchild=1&keywords=mars+hydro+ts+3000&qid=1614224846&sprefix=Mars%2Caps%2C318&sr=8-6

[MeEasy]

Yeah I forgot about the vipar I don't know if it is still going on but Amazon had a really good sale on them

[MrPNW]

Aren’t the vipars also on sale?

[RobC]

@growchyoldman looks like the Vipar XS2000 is for 2x4’ and wouldn’t be the best fit though?

[bboyfromwayback]

My opinion, if you can afford the HLG get it. They’re excellent lights and you won’t be unhappy. The other lights mentioned produce great results as well. As far as yield and quality, your light will affect both.

[Smokesteve]

I second bboy HLG are far superior to the other lights. That small HLG is not enough for the 3x3.

[RobC]

Two of them would be enough?

[MeEasy]

Another good light that has just come out is Sonofarmer they're a newer company but built with the same parts as the big boys with a better warranty you can find them on Amazon at a much lower price than the others using same parts built in the US and the ppfd is damn near identical which is what matters to your plants

[TheGoodFarmer]

I would definitely go with HLG, check out the 135w v2 rspec, puts out as much light as a 250 HPS and when dimmed down the whole way to 60 w it has as much power as a 150 hps, I use two in my 2x4 (same amount of space as yours) but if your not going to have plants wall to wall you may only need one light rather then two, in my experience just one 135w will flower 3 2ft plants in 5 gal pots. I also rotate (turning) my pots a little every day to help ensure all leaves a buds get light especially plants next to the wall of my tent

[RobC]

I can’t find a 135w HLG on their website or amazon, goes from the 100 (95w) to a 225w and the 300 (270w)

[TheGoodFarmer]

sorry I forgot to mention the light is actually sold as a DIY kit. I know sounds unusual but basically, you get a QB board, a slate heat sink that you mount the board to, and a driver you don’t need thermal paste or other adhesive everything is screwed together. But I will say this I got mine at a hydro shop and the guy there put it together for me I just watched there is a little bit of wiring to die but if you have ever spliced wires together it’s a simple as that. But again I didn’t put it together but I def looked easy he did it in like 20 mins. Anyway if you look on HLGs site it is under section "QB kits" not under LED lamps. I did find a couple of videos on youtube on putting them together cause I was prepared to do it myself. I know it sounds like a lot of extra work but that's one thing that helps keep the cost down its a very high quality light and runs cool before this I used HPS and battled heat and low humidity issues all the time couldn't even close my tent with lights on. I would have to be by to shut it every day during flower it was a nightmare. but now I get to focuses on other things with my plants and hardly ever stress about the environment in fact I have had to add heat in during veg stage during the winter months. but in the end what ever you chose to go with DO NOT GET A RED/ BLUE LED (blurple). Plants need more then just two colors of light to grow correctly. Hope this helps happy growing

[RobC]

That’s cool, I don’t have the knowledge or tools to do that... especially the wiring 😕.

[Farmbuck]

For budget wise I would go with the Vipar XS series I've got two Pro series and I'm happy with it.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/VIPARSPECTRA/page/964E23E6-F823-401D-B621-577C5EC71CC1?ref_=ast_bln

[PLreef]

If there's one thing not to cheap out on in this hobby is lights. Get the best light you can afford. Otherwise you'll have shitty results and smaller yields. And if you plan on staying in this hobby and buy a cheap light you'll just want to upgrade anyway.

[gbauto]

Pretty much...
I have 3 old fixtures collecting dust in the closet.
Lighting is probably the most important aspect of your indoor grow.
A 3x3 will have at least an average 750ppfd across the canopy when you have approx. 300 watts of top-bin diodes.
Most commercial led drivers will output 320 watts in that power range, so that's what I would try to use.

[RobC]

Thing is I’m not sure I will stay in this hobby. Maybe it’s too much work for my chronic fatigue. Maybe cannabis doesn’t feel good anymore for me but I’ve been getting pure trash bud - partly why I want to grow.
So I hesitate to spend

[Drekthar]

HLG300 V2 Rspec is good for your space.

[dilvish]

Again, regardless of who's light looks better or cheaper or whatever, as far as I know the only manufacturer who has safety certified lights are from Viparspectra and even then only a few models. Unfortunately the industry is rushing to meet demand as growing weed is now becoming legal in more places around the world so they pump out whatever light they can in order to make a buck.

For an electrical item that generates heat and is on at least 12 hours a day for several months, do you really want a light that hasn't passed government level safety standards? Look for ones that are certified UL, CSA or ETL.

Most of them are "CE" certified which is a sort of "in house" certification and is not as strict or compliant as the others. Even the CE certification is faked in a lot of cases so it's buyer beware IMHO

[MrPNW]

Working on it.

https://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum/growing-community/493704-which-led-panel-light-did-you-buy

You should really try Pennywise, a 1:1 strain that works both day and night. My favorite, reminds me of the pot from the 70s, not the super pot of today. I can actually get relief and work done.

https://wayofleaf.com/cannabis/best-picks/5-best-11-thc-to-cbd-marijuana-strains

[Sc0tt]

I averaged 1.23 grams per watt with the mars hydro tsw1000 in my 3x3 and...

1.32 gram per watt in my 4x4 with the tsw2000.

just upgraded to the tsw3000 in the 4x4 and put the tsw2000 in the 3x3. For the price, I'm happy with the Mars hydro ts series.

[gbauto]

I'd say for personal/medical use, a 3x3 is enough footprint to grow well over a pound.
If I was trying to utilize that space, a 300-watt fixture using top-tier diodes will do a great job.
I started in hydro and still use that in my main grow, but I've also had great success with coco/perlite.

[Drekthar]

What inspired you to switch to coco/perlite?
I grow strictly in hydro myself and have dabble with soil a few times with poor results (likely due to poor soil).

[gbauto]

I use 3-gal fabric bags in my 4x4 pheno tent.
If I was going to attempt a dedicated cycle, I would like to incorporate some automation for watering/feeding.
Other than that, it almost matches the growth I get in my UC system.

[SoOrbudgal]

Here's where motivation is lacking.........it takes some effort in the beginning and some planting knowledge like growing garden or houseplants. Sounds like you don't have the patience nor $$ nothing is free. Gotta put the work in.

[RobC]

??? Wrong thread