Jon's ViparSpectra KS3000 Grow In A 3x3

[Jon]

Strawberry Haze
Ppfd Check

After moving the screen up I checked the ppfd at screen level. We are at 1070 or so, 13.5 inches from the @ViparSpectra KS3000. The light is performing very well. No issues whatsoever. Plenty of growth. Plenty of penetration. And even at 13.5 inches away, heat is a non-issue, due in part to the externalization of the driver. Bravo VS!

 

[bluter]

have you flipped ?
keep an eye on the tops. 13 inches seems a bit close. led burns in the absence of heat and does not look like classic heat or light burn when it starts.

you can also bleach the tops in led pretty easy. they will develop big white albino buds with little to no trichomes.

 

[Jon]

have you flipped ?
keep an eye on the tops. 13 inches seems a bit close. led burns in the absence of heat and does not look like classic heat or light burn when it starts.

you can also bleach the tops in led pretty easy. they will develop big white albino buds with little to no trichomes.

Hey @bluter - yes, this is flip day 9. I got the light thing under control. Less than 1100 ppfd ain’t gonna burn or bleach a thing. I won’t let them get much closer. Lots of room to remove downstairs and lower her as required. 1100 ppfd is where I want to be. I won’t even get a foxtail at that level.

 

[Jon]

Hey @bluter - yes, this is flip day 9. I got the light thing under control. Less than 1100 ppfd ain’t gonna burn or bleach a thing. I won’t let them get much closer. Lots of room to remove downstairs and lower her as required. 1100 ppfd is where I want to be. I won’t even get a foxtail at that level.

That’s also about as high as you can go with the KS3000. To get to 1200 ppfd you’re too close to the light.

 

[bluter]

it's not the ppfd, its the distance. i've led burnt plants running 2w burple on seedlings because it was too close.

led is not at all like other types of lighting that way. check the manual, if they state you can get as close as 12 inches then you are good. high power emitters like lm's and some cob are never placed closer than 18 inches away. it isn't because of heat. led causes a type of burn at the molecular level. kinda like a cancer.

 

[Jon]

it's not the ppfd, its the distance. i've led burnt plants running 2w burple on seedlings because it was too close.

led is not at all like other types of lighting that way. check the manual, if they state you can get as close as 12 inches then you are good. high power emitters like lm's and some cob are never placed closer than 18 inches away. it isn't because of heat. led causes a type of burn at the molecular level. kinda like a cancer.

I hear you. The specs say as close as 12”. I am very well versed in the light game. No worries. I assure you there will be no burn or bleach or foxtails.

 

[Jon]

I hear you. The specs say as close as 12”. I am very well versed in the light game. No worries. I assure you there will be no burn or bleach or foxtails.

Btw - I would hypothesize that the molecular change under LED you refer to is also related to their Ca and Mg consumption, and may explain the need to up the CalMag as you go

 

[bluter]

I hear you. The specs say as close as 12”. I am very well versed in the light game. No worries. I assure you there will be no burn or bleach or foxtails.

they you are fine.

Btw - I would hypothesize that the molecular change under LED you refer to is also related to their Ca and Mg consumption, and may explain the need to up the CalMag as you go

there is a co-relation for sure.

 

[Jon]

they you are fine.






there is a co-relation for sure.

Generally speaking, assuming you do, when do you usually start upping the CalMag? I find it’s usually during the stretch or early flower when they’re using a ton of energy.

 

[Jon]

@ViparSpectra
KS3000

I admit I was a tiny bit dubious about this light, only because it was a rather large step down in wattage. The previous light in this space was 420 watts. But it actually seems to be facilitating very nice, even growth. Excellent bar light design that spreads the ppfd very evenly and provides solid coverage side to side and corner to corner. No hot or cold canopy spots. The plant seems to like the spectrum a lot, and she looks great in photos too! I don’t think I’d use it in a 4x4, but in a 3x3 it’s perfect. I’m pretty close to completely sold. Now let’s see what she does when we have actual buds.

 

[bluter]

Generally speaking, assuming you do, when do you usually start upping the CalMag? I find it’s usually during the stretch or early flower when they’re using a ton of energy.

with my nutes i've found the plants want more from about mid veg. i run about a half dose from mid veg forward.

@ViparSpectra
KS3000

I admit I was a tiny bit dubious about this light, only because it was a rather large step down in wattage. The previous light in this space was 420 watts. But it actually seems to be facilitating very nice, even growth. Excellent bar light design that spreads the ppfd very evenly and provides solid coverage side to side and corner to corner. No hot or cold canopy spots. The plant seems to like the spectrum a lot, and she looks great in photos too! I don’t think I’d use it in a 4x4, but in a 3x3 it’s perfect. I’m pretty close to completely sold. Now let’s see what she does when we have actual buds.

with gains in efficiency the w per sq/ft has come down. a general rule of thumb used to be 35 - 50w sq/ft to adequately flower. that dropped to a solid 35w in the last couple yrs, and is now looking closer to a 25 - 35w recommendation.

i still look for 35w, but with a dimming function. it's good to have the head room. 25w sq/ft is good for veg.

 

[StoneOtter]

Bring the flowers Jon!

 

[Jon]

with my nutes i've found the plants want more from about mid veg. i run about a half dose from mid veg forward.








with gains in efficiency the w per sq/ft has come down. a general rule of thumb used to be 35 - 50w sq/ft to adequately flower. that dropped to a solid 35w in the last couple yrs, and is now looking closer to a 25 - 35w recommendation.

i still look for 35w, but with a dimming function. it's good to have the head room. 25w sq/ft is good for veg.

Yeah 35 w/sq ft was what I thought the minimum target was. I have learned I don’t want to go bigger than the 420 watt light in the 3x3 whereas in my 5x5 (it’s 9’ tall) I could literally make any light I want work. I have a 680 watt light in there now. Like to get an 800 watt for the new 5x5.

 

[bluter]

Yeah 35 w/sq ft was what I thought the minimum target was. I have learned I don’t want to go bigger than the 420 watt light in the 3x3 whereas in my 5x5 (it’s 9’ tall) I could literally make any light I want work. I have a 680 watt light in there now. Like to get an 800 watt for the new 5x5.

i run 600w of old cobs in my flower room. gonna try a fancy new 650w platter type when i get it modded for dimming. i don't use much more than 450 - 500 with the dimming though. it's in a 4 x 4.

i'd run 800 - 1000 in the 5x5 with dimming, but again probably only use 75 - 90% of it.

 

[Jon]

Strawberry Haze
Flower/Stretch Day 10

Moving the screen up was the right move. Bought me more than a day - maybe three! Right now we are issue-free and under control. Still no budlets.

 

[Jon]

i run 600w of old cobs in my flower room. gonna try a fancy new 650w platter type when i get it modded for dimming. i don't use much more than 450 - 500 with the dimming though. it's in a 4 x 4.

i'd run 800 - 1000 in the 5x5 with dimming, but again probably only use 75 - 90% of it.

Cool. I find lights to be a highly personal thing. I prefer to run at 100% always and adjust the plant height to the static light. Does it cost me a few bucks? Sure. But I do what I do. Phototone app is all you need to dial it in.

 

[Jon]

i run 600w of old cobs in my flower room. gonna try a fancy new 650w platter type when i get it modded for dimming. i don't use much more than 450 - 500 with the dimming though. it's in a 4 x 4.

i'd run 800 - 1000 in the 5x5 with dimming, but again probably only use 75 - 90% of it.

I never bit on the COBs. I automatically gravitated to the bar lights, although I did just grab that MEGA (NextLight). How were the COBs generally speaking?

 

[bluter]

Cool. I find lights to be a highly personal thing. I prefer to run at 100% always and adjust the plant height to the static light. Does it cost me a few bucks? Sure. But I do what I do. Phototone app is all you need to dial it in.

never run a led at 100% if you have dimming. turn it back about 10% or so. the ppfd difference is negligible and the reduced load on the rig will help it last an exra 5 - 6 yrs with little or no loss in efficiency.

I never bit on the COBs. I automatically gravitated to the bar lights, although I did just grab that MEGA (NextLight). How were the COBs generally speaking?

my upgrade rig is the mega. i'm adding dimming partly for the reasons above.

i found the cobs to be very directed in spectrum. i run a mix of 3000k and 3500k which is a steep flower bias. i supplement my veg rig with burple 5050's as a ramp up/down dawn/susnset light to supplement and lower power consumption even further.

edit : i also usually run a diminishing schedule in flower. 12 / 12, 11 / 13, 10 / 14.

 

[Jon]

never run a led at 100% if you have dimming. turn it back about 10% or so. the ppfd difference is negligible and the reduced load on the rig will help it last an exra 5 - 6 yrs with little or no loss in efficiency.




my upgrade rig is the mega. i'm adding dimming partly for the reasons above.

i found the cobs to be very directed in spectrum. i run a mix of 3000k and 3500k which is a steep flower bias. i supplement my veg rig with burple 5050's as a ramp up/down dawn/susnset light to supplement and lower power consumption even further.

edit : i also usually run a diminishing schedule in flower. 12 / 12, 11 / 13, 10 / 14.

Nice.

 

[Jon]

Strawberry Haze
Flower/Stretch Day 11

Ok, we can start making buds anytime now….please…..