Live Stoner Chat 600 LED from seedling to harvest?

[jokerinkx3]

Still setting things up, spent hours yesterday running a 7 foot span of 6in duct from my closet, through crawlspace to an outside exit.

So I'm pretty set on the VIPARSPECTRA Reflector-Series 600W LED as it has bitching reviews, in the comments a few people said this has been good for this size tent. Also, it's a great price. My setup is a 3x3x6, 6inch 440cfm inline w/ carbon filter, 2-3 AK47 plants for first time grow. Thinking BioBizz w/ perlite in 3 gallon pots. Super excited and nervous!

Question is, should I roll with this from the time the seed hits the soil, sprouts all the way or start with a smaller light?

Also, how close should it be once it sprouts out of the surface, 24" ?

Thanks!

-SomeNugNooblit

I went with two of their 300s, was slightly cheaper than the 600 and you can move move them around. Been working great for me.

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[NugNoob]

I went with two of their 300s, was slightly cheaper than the 600 and you can move move them around. Been working great for me.

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Its funny cause I totally had it in my head that it cost more for 2x 300's for some reason but now that I look back on Amazon you're totally right, its like $10 more.

Oh well live and learn. I'll probably end up upgrading this or adding to it after this first grow.

 

[Z_Burp]

I started out with one 300W ViparSpectra reflector series LED. I had 4 successful grows with it. I "upgraded" to two 450W ViparSpectra reflector series LED. I had four more successful grows with those. I now have three 600W ViparSpectra reflector series LEDs. I'm currently on plant 8 with these and am planning an upgrade to a DIY COB project. Are they the best? No. Do they work? Yes.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I am never satisfied with something just "working fine." This is a hobby for me, not a means of income so I can get away with "good enough" for now, but with any hobby, I will be moving on to bigger and better toys.
Also, if you only google bad things about a subject, that's all you're going to find. The alternative is also true. Confirmation bias is tricky to work around.
I have friends that have used only T5's , also one that only used CFL's for the entire grow.
I think what's important is that it works for you, but most importantly your budget.
One thing I can guarantee is that nobody here will judge you whatever you decide to do and will do their best to help you no matter what.
I forgot to address the question in my enthusiasm: I keep my 600W ViparSpectra reflector series about 40" from the seedlings and they just sort of grow into where they're supposed to be. I usually have to move them around a bit in flower, though. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 12"-18". Do I grow the plants to their full potential? No. The amount I get is plenty for my wife, myself, and to share with my friends. I also don't bother with the veg/bloom switches and keep them both on the entire grow. I never noticed a veg/bloom switch on the sun, so who knows (no, they're not the sun, I'm just being stupid).
All of the plants in my Z_Bop albums were grown with ViparSpectra reflector series LED's. Feel free to look and critique if you like.

Udel sends you embraces and warm gestures

Comments and constructive criticism is always welcome!
- Z_Bop

 

[NugNoob]

I started out with one 300W ViparSpectra reflector series LED. I had 4 successful grows with it. I "upgraded" to two 450W ViparSpectra reflector series LED. I had four more successful grows with those. I now have three 600W ViparSpectra reflector series LEDs. I'm currently on plant 8 with these and am planning an upgrade to a DIY COB project. Are they the best? No. Do they work? Yes.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I am never satisfied with something just "working fine." This is a hobby for me, not a means of income so I can get away with "good enough" for now, but with any hobby, I will be moving on to bigger and better toys.
Also, if you only google bad things about a subject, that's all you're going to find. The alternative is also true. Confirmation bias is tricky to work around.
I have friends that have used only T5's , also one that only used CFL's for the entire grow.
I think what's important is that it works for you, but most importantly your budget.
One thing I can guarantee is that nobody here will judge you whatever you decide to do and will do their best to help you no matter what.
I forgot to address the question in my enthusiasm: I keep my 600W ViparSpectra reflector series about 40" from the seedlings and they just sort of grow into where they're supposed to be. I usually have to move them around a bit in flower, though. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 12"-18". Do I grow the plants to their full potential? No. The amount I get is plenty for my wife, myself, and to share with my friends. I also don't bother with the veg/bloom switches and keep them both on the entire grow. I never noticed a veg/bloom switch on the sun, so who knows (no, they're not the sun, I'm just being stupid).
All of the plants in my Z_Bop albums were grown with ViparSpectra reflector series LED's. Feel free to look and critique if you like.

Udel sends you embraces and warm gestures

Comments and constructive criticism is always welcome!
- Z_Bop

You're not being stupid, no switch on the sun is spot on! Good to know about your experience with them and general height adjustments. Also thanks for the uplifting reply in general, I do feel that this forum is pretty much a judgement free zone, real friendly... very refreshing from the rest of the internet.

I'm sure the Vipar 600 will serve me well. It's in my budget, it's my first grow so it'll be great to work with I'm sure. Thanks Z_ Bop!

 

[Tom'sinflatedballs]

@NugNoob when are you thinking about starting? Seems like you have done your homework!

 

[NugNoob]

@NugNoob when are you thinking about starting? Seems like you have done your homework!

As soon as I can! Everything is ready to go but need the seeds. I ordered my seeds 7 days ago. I live in the north east (US) and I've heard of them taking anywhere between 8-20 days to arrive. I've done about as much homework as I can. I'm still not 100% sure what I'll do for soil mix though. I'm thinking 60% basic soil like Black Gold and maybe Coco... still reading up on coco as I am not as familiar with that medium, but that shouldnt be hard to pick up from one of the many garden centers around here.

 

[Tom'sinflatedballs]

Ah I just did that wait! It's awful. Where did you order the seeds from? I am also in northeast, ordered from Seedsman and it took 14 days from purchase, and 7 days from the day they shipped. Felt like eternity though.

All the mediums to grow in overwhelm the shit out if me. I purchased ffof because a lot of people on YouTube said it was good soil, before really understanding how hot/nute full it is. Then went BG for my second pot, cuz it was all the store had lol. Time will tell. Kind of gather though that the differences in soils seem to be minute; veterans can tell, but newbies like us are just thankful the thing sticking out of said soil is green.

 

[NugNoob]

Ah I just did that wait! It's awful. Where did you order the seeds from? I am also in northeast, ordered from Seedsman and it took 14 days from purchase, and 7 days from the day they shipped. Felt like eternity though.

All the mediums to grow in overwhelm the shit out if me. I purchased ffof because a lot of people on YouTube said it was good soil, before really understanding how hot/nute full it is. Then went BG for my second pot, cuz it was all the store had lol. Time will tell. Kind of gather though that the differences in soils seem to be minute; veterans can tell, but newbies like us are just thankful the thing sticking out of said soil is green.

Well said on both the wait (I shoulda ordered a lil sooner) and about the soil. I thought I was going ocean and probably would have had this crew not steered me in a few different directions... now I just gotta settle on one : P but yeah, us new thumbs will be happy to say it's alive and green.

Got my AK-47 seeds from ILGM though I'm thinking of ordering through Seedsman to get some Dutch Passion strains as a back up / second grow ready option.

 

[KapScot]

I grow with 2 x Mars 300and although an early model they still grow from start to finish in my cabinet. - I tried some BIG CFL's and binned them within weeks - tho I keep a couple of 30W Blue vegging lights in there as well, I confess they end up tending either a Basil or Chilli in the corner behind the ducts.

In the first few days extra humidity can be good - I do a bit of humidity screening by using a clear-semi-open (just cut holes) plastic cup over seedlings for the for first few days/week (say second leaf-set formation) - keeps the intensity of the LEDs off for a bit and adds a bit of humidity by reducing airflow from circulation fans.

I know they SAY that 18" is the ideal distance from LEDs - well I have a small cabinet and even with the smallest of phenos those babies' will come close to 6" which can lead to some leaf bleaching << learning a bit of LST training can be useful in confined spaces - as can getting pot size right - because I was height lacking I went for a 15L airpot - that I height trimmed to give me an 11L pot (wider but shorter in height) << working well so far... But If you have space obviously bigger pots = bigger plants... paradoxically NOT what I want LOL.

The other thing I've noticed in small confined spaces is the need for careful experimentation with small fan placement (I currently use 3 PC fans and a 4" Filter system) - one large PC crosses airflow across the front of the LEDs (and top of plants) to help keep surface temps down - one PC fan scoops the dead air from the top of the cabinet down towards the extraction - the last PC fan (on a variable speed toggle) wiggles about on an elastic band providing some basic 'flutter' - << main extraction is a 4" Ruck n Rhino with venting to an internal room (passive air intake). When I first built the cabinet I tried using 6" circulation fans - but in the smaller space it went from breeze to tornado effect with the doors closed (drop your phone and let it record a few mins) - so it actually overwhelmed all the careful placing of intake/ extracts and everything in between.

Even moving or switching off a very small fan can have a HUGE effect on small space air circulation and cooling << so be patient and experiment [In my small cabinet I could switch off one PC fan and my cabinet temps will go from 24-26C to 32-34C << that's my top of cabinet downscoop.

But play about and good luck...

 

[chachinG]

Every grow I have done with Vipar spectra I get a gram per watt man there good lights for the price I actually have one running now for about 6 months straight haven't turned t off, I grow killer plants with them all the time, I actually
Recommend going with the par series, those lights have optical lenses so you get some better penetration


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