Setting up for a soil grow, will be using a HLG 260XL light. Is this (even turned down) too “bright,intense” or at the height of a 2x4x5 tent high enough to make it ok???
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Just make sure to place light at appropriate distance, I’m not sure of what that specific led calls for but most likely 18-24 inches to start but seedling may be further… @dbrn32 def knows those lights and specs to help… good luck I usually use some cfl’s to get plantbstarted then move to the led light but either way should be ok, distance will be key@Audiofreak
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There in lies the rub. What distance, I’m limtied to about 4 ft or so due to fan and carbon filter. I could make up a small 4 bulb with 4x23wat cfls but if turned down and at the max height 4 ft or so, do I need to do the cfls.
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Seedlings don’t need much light and that is why many do seedlings under T5 lights. I put my seedlings in the tent under LEDs and you are going to want to raise the light up as high as you can. The seedlings will get more than enough light. The ability to dim down lights is awesome but I don’t have that luxury. But @dbrn32 is the authority on lightning and who I would ask for an in-depth answer as mentioned above.
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The plant(s) will tell you the correct overhead light height/intensity that it wants.
Experiment…
When my Sativa strain produced 3rd node, I added some side light…turned the plant manually at least twice daily. It has helped keep it “short and bushy”. I’ve recently put the pot on an electric turntable…and it’s working great. Just throwing out ideas…
I also plan on getting a HLG 260 when it outgrows the CFL and LED I’m currently using.
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All I can add is that my cfl bulbs are real easy… I can get within inches of my newly sprouted babies and it won’t have any chance of burning, so in that sense it’s safe @Audiofreak
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I would do that , won’t have any problem for sure @Audiofreak
That’s exactly what I do @MoneyPit @Audiofreak… I have one of those 4 plex sockets and hang some 45 watt cfl bulbs right over them until they get old enough., 2-4 weeks if that… then the LED’s go on
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Im on my second grow so I don’t have much experience but in both grows my plants did better when they were small under a 6500k cfl than under the LED . As they bush out I put them back under the LED
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Do you have a driver with built in pot or be driver with external dimmer? You can start them under the qb’s. I would just set dimmer at about 50% output (all the way down if you have a dimming model) then put your light like 24” inches or so above top of pots. Just keep an eye on them when they sprout. If they barely want to get off medium raise light a little. If they stretch lower it a little.
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Yes the drivers has the access hole to dim it.
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I think that’s a plan. I do appreciate all of ya’lls help. Trying to fill holes and correct mistakes learned in my first grow. I’m hoping for a few ounces of some good bud, for my wife and I. if I’m missing anything please let me know. And THANKS again.
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