Looking for supplemental lighting to add to my 4.5’ x 8’ tent that is running 2 HLG 600H 3000k light fixtures. What I would like to do is add UV lighting to assist in the plants Trichome production. I’ve been looking around for an economical solution that also won’t be too much amp draw as I’m amp challenged. I’m not clear on if I also would benefit / need additional far red etc to compliment my current set up.
I was looking into adding several 2 bulb 4’ T5 fixtures to my mix as I already have the Hortilux power veg bulbs that also put out UV that I have used with my 6 and 8 bulb fixtures but those fixtures would be too large and power hungry to use in the tent.
I also have a optics 1XL cob and 2 Chinese hypargero fixtures (800 watt rating but 240 watt draw from wall with both veg and bloom switches on) that do have IR and UV leds in their mix along with the 4 cobs per fixture.
It it best practice to supply UV and or far red IR lighting during the entire grow or just during flowering to help with increasing trichome production and potency?
I did look at rapid led web site and did see some options there as well.
I will also be purchasing another HLG light kit in the next 30 days or so and wondered if I could get QB boards that also had UV and or red built in. Would need that new build to cover another 4.5’x8’ tent that I will be using for Veg so I could swap fixtures that I already have and or QB boards from one fixture to another as long as things are compatible.
I also looked at the pure UV T5 bulbs that as I understand it should only be used for short periods of time as they are very powerful putting out UV light.
Heck I’ve even looked into using lighting that people use for the reptile hobby to provide UV but really haven’t found anything there that I would think would fit my situation.
Thanks @Poseidon that’s also one of the bulbs I use … power veg FS+UV (every other one is FS+UV in both my 6 and 8 bulb fixtures so I have plenty of them) so I have them but based on how close they need to be to the plants and I also am using HLG fixtures as main lighting and the 6 and 8 bulb fixtures are too big and how to apply the lights say using a 2 bulb fixture with FS+UV and at the same time not blocking light from the main fixtures
I would hang on the sides, angled down, like 30 degrees… will bathe the tops in UV…
I have an 8 lamp Quantum Horticulture T5 Badboy. I mostly veg with it but I was reviewing these lamps so I did a full grow using 4 UV and 4 2900k. Curious of final weight on this WWA
The only thing that has scientifically been proven to have an effect on cannabis is uvb. The rapid strip or hortilux power veg 420 don’t have that to best of my knowledge. Neither does anything from hlg.
That argomax bulb does, but seems like you need to very careful with how you run it. There are some uvb LEDs out there, but I think 60mw led starts at about $50, and I’m not sure if they’re available on a star or not.
Hlg released hlg-550 in which the boards have 660nm on them for 4/20. I assume they will be available soon. The also have qb elite that have reds on them.
The Eye Hortilux PowerVeg FS+UV are full spectrum plus UVA/UVB. They crank the UV but $120 for four 4 foot lamps is kinda high…
The PowerVeg 400 series is blues. The 600 series is reds… I think they are the best grow lamps on the market (T5) but…
It’s a T5 … the penetration is lacking. Also, they are not super cool. 430ish watts of T5 vs a 315CMH vs Samsung/Cree/Bridgelux build… the numbers lean away from a T5…
@dbrn32 has provided a lot of scientific data on industrial lighting. I trust his input on the cannabis lighting subject👍🏻
Thanks for the idea using my FS+UV bulbs to add UV to grow.
I did do just that during part of my last grow as I had the room and didn’t have the HLG lights for most of that grow that I have now. The problem using those bulbs is that in order for them to be effective in providing enough UV they have to be pretty close to the plants 8-12” or less and for even one side of my 4x8 wouldn’t be able to get them close enough without interfering with the main lighting and have them provide enough UV. It may have helped my final product just not sure how much. I’m currently using my T5 fixtures for seedlings and clones etc during veg until they move to the flower tent etc.
@Skydiver - you are welcome! It is challenging to introduce UV into a grow. Not many options. You do have to run them about 12”. I was getting 490ish u/mols across a 4x2 but it dropped ALOT once you left the fixture. Good for veg and really good for hardening plants in late winter/early spring before they go outside. That was the main reason for the T5. I grow Sicilian Plum Tomatoes to make a really kick ass Marinara (cooking is my hobby). I can get two full crops a season…
I will be chopping my WWA in about a week. She will be my first full UV supplement plant with the Eye Hortilux lamps
I’m going to interject my own lighting question if I may. I lost a light and am looking at this Mars Hydro brand light. It is on sale * Upgraded Brand new and High quality
Model: 2019 New Mars Hydro TS 1000W Led Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg Flower Replace HPS
I need to replace my broken full spectrum LED. All the new LED style lights have switched up. The one I posted specs for is 129$usd. I don’t see reviews, nor do I trust em when I do. I trust you guys know your stuff and I am asking your thoughts on this Mars Hydro brand light.
This unit pulls 150 watts from the wall to drive the lights. It looks like they use passive cooling so you will have thermal watt bleed off. Replaces a 1000 watt HID - laughable statement. MARS Hydro makes pretty good lights but, I would say a 2x2 space… perhaps not a lot of penetration though. SCRoG is probably the best use.
You could get an HLG 135 kit for around the same price and it will crush a 2x2.
I wish manufacturers would stop with the bs advertising. If they have to use misleading claims, how can they be trusted with overall quality??
Exactly, can’t trust what they say…I have two other lights, so maybe it will be enough if I add this in… I don’t know about building from a kit. I have no tools as I just came off a long journey…I have no problem building computers, but light set ups? IDK. Thanks for your help
If you can throw together a computer build you can put together an HLG kit no problem.
Need regular Philips screw driver.
Small Philips
Electrical tape
Wire strippers or scissors / box cutter/ knife etc
I think that’s about it.
Save you a couple bucks and now you know more about the light and how it is put together!
Just remember your first PC build…lol
I was intimidated my first PC build but after a few it was easy.
