Im back and better than ever. Help with new area/room setup and switching to LEDs

What's up guys. I'm back from over ten years and times have def changed, I can't remember my old log ins. Can ya'll help on some lighting and the new room set up?

I can't remember fully but veg was ~200w 4500k cfls, seeds 60w 4500k, clones 120w 4500k cfls. Bloom 500w HPS 2700k. With lots of training I was ~2g/watt. Only hydro dwc but will change it up a little so the system is pretty much fully automatic and easier to change nutes.

I want to go LEDs for a bigger set up to avoid, bigger electric bills and more heat issues. LEDs 10 years ago were expensive and imo couldn't compare to HPS to bloom. CFLs were fine to veg and train, I didn't find the need for MH.

I cannot find any clear info on LEDs that's for dummies or are these just to easy now for every diy since its pretty much legal everywhere?

1- why am I not seeing anything like Kelvins and actual watts. I know diode is important.

2- Is it just one spectrum led for everything?

3- do you run the same wattage for veg and bloom?

4- I know I can add RH and UV which I'll do as well.

5- Looking at either one 4x4 tent inside for seeds/clones or two 2x4 veg spots (half of 1 to clone and seed). Either 1 or 2 for flower too.

Idea is that 3 weeks into veg I have seeds or clones starting. 3 weeks later the first batch moves into flower room. week 3 the seeds/clones are ready to move to flower, 3 weeks more the first batch is being harvested and so one. I feel like 3-4 tents I can maneuver the plants around better for scrog/sog which is a pain in hydro doing cleanings once a week with big ass roots. I do 3 medium plants or 2 decent size. Id like 3-6 strains depending on the set up. same buckets I'll prob do 3 similar so they are on the same nutes and another 3. The separate call them tents, I can focus more watts in flower ie; spend more money on those lights vs veg but I also have to buy lights for each one instead of 2 or 3 bigger ones.
 

Hooda Thunkit

Well-Known Member
Honestly, between economies of scale and supply side issues, you're just as well off buying a pre-built luminair. DIY isn't what it used to be.

HLG, Vipar Spectra, Medicgrow, hell even MarsHydro has way upped their game. Shoot for 40 watts per square foot in flower. The vast majority of leds are now white phosphor boosted with monochromatic red.
 
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