3x3 $250 light budget please help

We'll as the title says I'm currently in the market for a light for my new tent. I've got years of outdoor experience but this is my first indoor attempt. I've purchased a 2in1 grow tent so I can eventually get a perpetual harvest going. I'm just thoroughly confused by these new lights was looking for led to keep temps down but I don't have $700 on the ones I dream of owning. Any helps greatly appreciated.

if $250 is the budget i would steer clear of LEDs. you would need about 400w and 400w of quality LED can't be had for $250

is 3x3 the total tent or just the flower area?

i'd get this for a 3x3 flower area
https://www.amazon.com/iPower-Digital-Dimmable-System-Reflector/dp/B00A3679T6?th=1

4 qb120s and an hlg-240h-2100

200w (196ish lumens per watt)

grilledcheese101 said:

4 qb120s and an hlg-240h-2100

200w (196ish lumens per watt)

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that would be okay to veg but i wouldn't want to flower with 200w in a 3x3. most people recommend at least 30w per square foot even with the most efficient LEDs. this would be 22w/sqft. thats less than half what i use in my 3x3. you could start with that and then pick up another 4 boards and another driver when its time to flower.

if $250 is your full budget i'd steer clear of LED.

I like my Vivosun 600 hps there around 250 bucks.

That an 120 set up on a 2100a drive would push 265 watts. More than capable of flowering an area, but with room for expansion when you want to add on later.

I just got a sunplix 315 for a 3x3, but here is a deal with growers choice for $200

https://hydrobuilder.com/grow-light-bulbs-ballasts-hoods/lec-grow-lights-541/growers-choice-grower-s-choice-315w-cmh-all-in-one-fixture-with-bulb.html

I went with a 3100k Phillips bulb for full cycle.

Wouldn't (2) HLG Quantum Board 288's be pretty perfect for a 3x3?

315 CMH

if you're willing to DIY, and know a little bit of electricity you can make 2 150W LED lights using bridgelux strips, some aluminum as a base, and a budget driver for less than 100 each light

BigHornBuds said:

315 CMH

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this is a good option too

BigHornBuds said:

315 CMH

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Second this. I'm growing 4 plantd under cmh in a 3x3 and they're going gangbusters. The 3100k lamp is something close to 98% as close to sunlight as you can get.

I think they're a perfect grow light. Not as hot as hps, but better spectra than led.

It's my second grow using them, and couldn't be happier.

pulpoinspace said:

that would be okay to veg but i wouldn't want to flower with 200w in a 3x3. most people recommend at least 30w per square foot even with the most efficient LEDs. this would be 22w/sqft. thats less than half what i use in my 3x3. you could start with that and then pick up another 4 boards and another driver when its time to flower.

if $250 is your full budget i'd steer clear of LED.

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I did it in a 3x3 with 235$ worth of LED pushing about 180w. Averaged 2.5o per. 1.55 g per watt. All the while using 3500k for flower and now using them in veg for another with excellent results so far.

mastrmasn said:

I did it in a 3x3 with 235$ worth of LED pushing about 180w. Averaged 2.5o per. 1.55 g per watt. All the while using 3500k for flower and now using them in veg for another with excellent results so far.

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i'm confused. 1.55g per watt, at 180w? okay. so 279g...2.5o per what? per plant? what strain? what was their veg time? what medium?

that is cool and all.

but your grow was underpowered. imagine what you could have grown with the appropriate amount of power in your tent?

@OP at that price point, you have to decide if you would rather spend all your money to have an underpowered DIY LED or spend $100 for an appropriately sized HID setup, which will easily yield more.

btw all this coming from a grower who only uses LEDs