If you’re using our special cheat sheet to grow, you’ll see that we recommend using a 315 LEC grow light. However, you can use other grow lights with it. Here’s a short summary of recommended grow light configurations and any extra information you need.
315 LEC Grow Light (recommended)
- Keep it 24-26″ away from seedlings, and 18-20″ away from your plants for the rest of their life.
- If you notice signs of stress on the top leaves, move the light up a few inches if possible
- Recommended model: 315 LEC Grow Light by Sun System – 4100K colored bulb
- 315 LEC Complete Setup & Supplies List
250W MH/HPS
- Most lights that can run a MH or HPS can run both types of bulbs. These are called “switchable” grow lights. Get a digital, switchable ballast if possible. This grow light combo is best when using a MH in the vegetative stage, and an HPS in flowering
- If you can only get one bulb, you will get better yields by using an HPS all the way through as opposed to a MH all the way through
- Keep 14″ away in the vegetative stage, then about 12″ away in the flowering stage
- Good size tent is 2’x4’x5′ and larger
- Recommended model: Sun System Grow Lights Digital 400 Complete (runs 250W and 400W bulbs which means you can easily upgrade later by getting new bulbs)
- Don’t forget to get a 250W MH bulb and 250W HPS bulb with this setup!
- 250W Complete Setup & Supplies List
400WW MH/HPS
- Get a digital, switchable ballast if possible, with both a MH and HPS bulb.
- If you can only get one bulb, you will get better yields by using an HPS all the way through as opposed to a MH all the way through
- Keep 16″ away in the vegetative stage, then about 14″ away in the flowering stage
- Good size tent is 2’x4’x6′ or 3’x3’x6′ and larger
- Recommended model: Sun System Grow Lights Digital 400 Complete
- Don’t forget to get a 400W MH bulb and 400W HPS bulb with this setup
- 400W Complete Setup & Supplies List
LED Grow Lights – 200W-400W range
- The setup described in the cheat sheet is best suited to an LED grow light that uses between 200-400W out of the wall (not an “equivalent” wattage)
- Most important thing about LEDs is to keep them the right distance away from your plants. Check with the manufacturer for your light, but most LEDs should be kept at least 18″ away, and sometimes up to 36″ away for some of the particularly powerful LEDs.
- Learn more about the different types of LEDs
- Recommended models that fulfill these specifications
- ViparSpectra 600W – 3’x3′ core coverage, though some light will reach to the edges up to 4’x4’. Actual Power Consumption: 276W. 24″ is the recommended starting distance from the plants.
- HLG 300 Quantum Board (3000K spectrum recommended) – 2.5′ x 2.5′ core coverage up to 3′ x 3′. Actual Power Consumption: 285W at full power, and can be dimmed down to 120W for younger plants. Distance from plants: 20-28″ for the vegetative stage and 18-20″ in the flowering stage..
