I also have been growing under HIDs- for over 5 years now. Both MH and HPs . And have been satisfied with the results. Then I tried some LED daylight bulbs from Home Depot in a 2x4 grow box. It worked to a degree but not as good as the HID box (same size) with a 600 watt bulb.
Now I have 2 burple fixtures in that same LED box. But after reading the posts here the only brand anyone has a consensus for is HLG? All other brands are sub-standard compared to HLG? And they dont necessarily meet the specs they show in their own literature?
All other brands are less expensive (it seems). So they become attractive but for the price of those burples- I could have one small HLG (maybe). Is it me or is the marketing on these LED grow lights just a big puzzling mess?
I have a Spider farmer 1000 quantum board coming tomorrow. The cheap one (1000d). So I may end up with at least 1 non-burple for what its worth which may not be much at 90 dollars which is similar to the price of each of the burples that in theory (by the makers own specs) have twice the LED output (PPFD).
So I am trying to change to LEDs but it is hard unless I just go with HLG, no? Otherwise, I can’t trust specs or individual brands (except HLG) unless I just bite the bullet and learn the hard way…
This is where I am now in this crazy LED game and to tell the truth, from my perspective, there is surely a lot of B.S. flying in the wind from somewhere. I wish I could find just one LED light fixture for a 2x2 area at half the price of the HLG and I would be all over 2 of them.
It could happen and I could get burnt if I dont go HLG for LED…
That is about all I know now- but I can learn, one way or another I suppose. and I thought I knew it all (sort of) until I went and bought some dang super lemon haze seeds and decided to go Burple and then Spider farmer and who knows just what next… quite the trip, and I thank you
yo