LED Grow Lights
Which LED for your tent
Bigger is not better. The right light is the one that matches your tent, and it should spend its first weeks turned down.
Watts tell you what a light draws from the wall. What the plant uses is light output, in µmol/s. Divide that by your tent's floor area and you can compare any two lights.
| Your tent | Light we would start with | Light output | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedlings, cuttings, a shelf | Introgro LED Grow Bars, 26 W or 42 W | 26 W or 42 W per bar | For propagation, not a full tent |
| 0.8 x 0.8 to 1.0 x 1.0 m | Ulight ECO LED 360W | About 970 µmol/s | 360 W x 2.7 µmol/J |
| 1.0 x 1.0 m | Digi Lumen Extreme 400W | 1200 µmol/s | Digi Lumen rate it for 1.0 x 1.0 m |
| 1.2 x 1.2 m | Ulight 600W Eco LED | About 1620 µmol/s | 600 W x 2.7 µmol/J |
| 1.2 x 1.2 to 1.5 x 1.5 m | Digi Lumen Extreme LED 720W | 2160 µmol/s | Digi Lumen's figure |
| Adding to a light you have | Digi Lumen Side Bar LED 250W | 662 µmol/s | Lights the lower half, from the side |
We use the Digi Lumen 400W as the yardstick: the maker rates 1200 µmol/s for 1.0 m². The others are matched to roughly the same light per square metre. Between two sizes? Ring us with your tent size and we will tell you straight, even if the answer is the cheaper light.
Do not buy the biggest number
A light too big for the tent means heat and bleached tops, and you end up running it at half power anyway. You paid for light you cannot use.
Compare µmol/J, not watts
It is how much light you get for each watt from the wall. At 3.0 µmol/J you get more light from the same power bill than at 2.7.
Hang it where the maker says
Every light has its own height. Digi Lumen give about 30 cm for the Extreme 400W. Start at the maker's number, not a forum's.
Put it on a timer
The light schedule should never change by accident. A timer with a lock and battery backup takes it out of your hands.
The lights growers here actually buy, best seller first. For a 1.2 x 1.2 m tent, this is the one.
Ulight 600W Eco LED
- 600 W full spectrum
- 2.7 µmol/J efficiency (Ulight)
- Power adjustable
| 600W | $325 |
Young plants can only use so much
Start the light at around 50 to 60% for young plants, at the height the maker gives.
Raise it in steps
About 10% every few days, checking the temperature at the top of the plants after every change.
Pale tops are a light problem
If the tops look pale or bleached, back the light off before you touch the feed.
The most common mistake: full power in week one
Too much light and heat too early stresses the plant, and it shows up as pale, crispy tops that look like a feeding problem. Aim for 24 to 28°C at plant height with the light on, measured at the tops, not on the floor.
A timer so the schedule never slips, and a clip fan so the heat under the light keeps moving. Best seller first.
Timer and clip fans
Cheap next to the light, and the two things that stop a good light causing problems.
A wifi controller, or a second light before the first one is dialled in.
Young plants can only use so much light. More, too early, looks like a feeding problem.
Best seller first. Match it to your tent using the table above.
- 1200 µmol/s at 3.0 µmol/J
- Covers 1.0 m x 1.0 m, best at about 30 cm
- Driver built in, manual dimming
- IP45
| 400W | $315 |
- 360 W, 2.7 µmol/J, 1008 diodes
- Dimming 60%, 80%, 100%, or 0 to 10V
- 1100 x 525 x 40 mm, driver built in
| 360W | $208 |
- 662 µmol/s at 2.65 µmol/J
- Hooks over horizontal tent poles
- Dimmable, IP45
- 1105 x 350 mm, 2.6 kg
| 250W | $185 |
- 2160 µmol/s at 3.0 µmol/J
- 1221 µmol/m²/s at 30 cm (Digi Lumen)
- 1120 x 1060 mm, 2 year warranty
| 720W | $470 |
- 26 W (53 cm) or 42 W (95 cm)
- Grow and Bloom versions
- Hooks and clips included
| Grow 26w | $66 | |
| Grow 42w | $105 | |
| Bloom 26w | $70 | |
| Bloom 42w | $110 |
All in stock. Price shown is the smallest size.
| Product | Spec | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulight 600W Eco LED | 600 W full spectrum | A 1.2 x 1.2 m tent. | $325 |
| Digi Lumen Extreme 400W LED | 1200 µmol/s at 3.0 µmol/J | A 1.0 x 1.0 m tent. | $315 |
| Ulight ECO LED 360W | 360 W, 2.7 µmol/J, 1008 diodes | Small tents, around 0.8 x 0.8 to 1.0 x 1.0 m. | $208 |
| Digi Lumen Side Bar LED 250W | 662 µmol/s at 2.65 µmol/J | Adding to a main light you already have. | $185 |
| Digi Lumen Extreme LED 720W | 2160 µmol/s at 3.0 µmol/J | 1.2 x 1.2 to 1.5 x 1.5 m. | $470 |
| Introgro LED Grow Bars, Grow and Bloom | 26 W (53 cm) or 42 W (95 cm) | Propagation and seedlings. | $66 |
| Time-R Digital Timer | On and off times set down to the second | Every light. Also fans and pumps. | $48 |
| Seahawk Clip Fan 150mm | 150 mm, two speeds | Small to mid size tents. | $24.50 |
| Hydro Axis Oscillating Clip Fan 225mm | 225 mm, variable speed | 1.2 m tents and up. | $30 |
What wattage do I need?
How high do I hang it?
Do I need a fan as well?
Get the right light, not the biggest one
Tell us your tent size and we will tell you which light, even if it is the cheaper one. All in stock, and it ships today if you order before 3pm.
Happy Hydroponics, 1/35 Gwen Road, Cranbourne West VIC 3977 · Mon to Sat 9:30am to 5:30pm