I absolutely love my hps. I have 5 1000w de gavitas daisy chained and I have 2 600w for my 2 4x4 tents that I run eye hortilux bulbs in 8" cool tube batwing fixtures. I replace the hps in the tents with MH for veg. I DID however just get a mars hydro fc4800 that I’m testing out in place if one of the 600w in a tent 
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I double checked and it’s a Sf4000 in a 4x4* And I absolutely agree, these LEDs suit my needs better as a novice in a tent.
As for those who are die hard HID, I wonder if they have tried the new equipment or are judging by past experiences with old tech. Maybe there is something to those old-school magnetic ballasts and starting with metal halide and switching to hps in flower.
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I like my LED a lot but there is still a huge place for HID in my heart. I may flower under a 600 again, they were ssaaawwweeeeeeettt
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In your experience would you say HID produces a denser flower or is it about equal? I’m still on the fence, I’ve only used LED for a year so I’m still learning more as I grow with them
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The coverage on leds is SO good. I have homemade 720w strip leds in a 5x5S. They work so great.
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Flower tents got a samphon 480(520w lol) and a Marshydro fce 4800. I like the samphon better so I’m getting a second and putting the mars light in my veg/auto tent
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That’s pretty crazy, I figured HID would be more neck and neck with LEDs but I guess not. Makes me wonder if HID will disappear entirely from grow rooms and tents in the next decade. One thing I hope to see with LEDs is the option to customize light spectrum. I see a few are already doing this. I think it would make growing more interesting for sure.
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Far more LED growers than ever. New Board and Bar fixtures give much better quality light spectrum, save energy and solve coverage problems.
Like Floyd, No More Excuses!
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I bought a crappy LED in 2014, it came very close to being smashed. I worked it until I got a decent growth pattern. Do not use them like HID’s!!
By 2015 I spent crazy money for a California Lighthouse, it bashed the HID’s harvest results to death for me. I also got rid of AC that I had to run to use them. Hell I still run that LED if I need it.
The GrowLightAustralia LED’s I purchased last year, are the most color inducing, stink generators, I’ve ever used!! So potent, so easy, as my harvests numbers have shot up, and the stink factor, is off the hook.
True story:
I was at the grow shop a week or 2 ago now. I was with a pilgrim, seeking to set up a personal, but did not want to buy a bunch of stuff just the basics.
AS she are deciding, I hear the shop owner talking with some other pilgrims, seeking a set up for cheap.
Shop owner rolls out a cart, from the back, hood, 1K digital hps, cords, cool tubes, all brand new, asking $100.00…they left, as they had to think about it!
Grow however you wish, but the LED bashing days are over for me, as nonsensical diatribe, from the scream team.
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HLG 600r spec. Coming up on 2 years. I’d buy another today if needed.
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I’ve used hps for years
Too hot moved to mars hydro old style had 2 of there 96 chip units wow they where spot on for the money . They lasted 5 years no breaks in the action, used for veg and flower 3 grows a year
Now I replaced it with California lightworks 500 full spectrum and it’s a beast
I do like the newer style lights ( better light distribution ) and once this one goes I’ll up grade
In my new 4 x 4 tent I needed to add some supplemental lighting ( once the plants get big they can block out light
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Still old school here hps and cmh combos . Been hoping some lighting company would donate a test light to try but as of yet no luck.
I’d be in the market for 10 lights if they out perform my current set up . Hint hint @MarsHydro
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I’ve been building LED lights for few years. Have given away or sold a few previous builds, but the current build with Bridgelux EB3 2700k 90cri strips is totally rocking it.
The spectrum has as much red in it as an HPS, but has enough blue and green to also keep the plants compact while not restricting their growth (which too much blue can do). The color of light is very pleasing to the eye. Here’s independent goniosphere testing of the diodes in the strips I used.
Whole build thread can be found here: A total nube's DIY LED build 🛠 Here’s the most recent harvest of 4 plants organic, water only, in a 4x4:
Also, still using a DIY 400w Cree 3500K COB fixture for veg when I’m able to put up a separate tent.
I sold this to a friend a few years back, but then they ended up borrowing a couple grand and, when they couldn’t pay me back, I offered to take back this light and call it even. No, it’s not worth that, but it was a nice thing to do. And it still works great after 6 years and a lot of travel + abuse.
LED are the way!
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That Bridgelux EB3 2700k 90cri looks awesome. That’s probably as close to a LED, high pressure sodium simulator as I’ve seen yet.
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In about a month im going to try out my mammoth 800w 8 bar that i have setup in my new 4x8 , i am very excited to try it out😎
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Gavita 1700e is what I’m using… and solacure uvb
Cool post bro
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I switched to a mars hydro fc3000 this summer, doing my first grow, had a 400w hps, might be good in winter.
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Got it. lol
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