Mars Hydro FC-E 3000 300W LED Grow Light VS Fluence SPYDRx 340W LED Grow Light
Whether you’re a professional grower or an amateur who grows plants for your own joy, investing in the best LED grow lights for your grow tent is a smart idea.
All plant growers understand the importance of adequate lighting in the plant growth cycle, whether you’re using the grow space for flowering plants, or other types of gardening.
That being said, we also know that not just any light will do the job, hence the importance of choosing the right LED grow lights for your grow tent.
However, that’s easier said than done.
Start Growing with LED Lights
Cost is not the only reason to make the switch to LED lights. Experienced growers know that seedlings and plants in the vegetative stage benefit more from blue light, while flowering plants need red light to thrive. Before LEDs, growers would have to purchase two different types of lights: metal halide for the vegetative or blue light stage, and high-pressure sodium bulbs for the final flowering stage.
With LED grow lights, this is not the case. Different colour LED bulbs give a grower the ability to manipulate the colour spectrum, thus allowing you to use the same light setup for both phases of growth. This not only eliminates the need to purchase two different types of lighting setups but you’re also guaranteed the best results in your plants!
The benefits of using LED grow lights are many. The next big question is how to grow plants using only LED lights. A good rule of thumb is one light per every 1.5 square feet. This generally will yield you up to 6 ounces per plant, which ends up covering what you spend on the light and will definitely end up saving you money in the long run. If you are growing only 1–2 plants, our single 75 watts LED light supplies plenty of light for your plants.
Even if you’d like to grow more than a few plants, you don’t have to go for the more expensive HID lights. Simply add to your setup with either a few larger LED bulbs or several of the smaller ones. If you opt to go for the latter option, make sure that your plants and your lights are spaced out correctly, as you want to make sure that each plant gets adequate amounts of light. Using too few lights can cause stretching, whereas using too many lights leaves you at the risk of light burn, as well as energy overconsumption.
If you are willing to step up the quantity of your growth, that is, really take it to the next level, you should be prepared to spend a little bit more cash. A large scale 350–400 watt LED operation that will outdo the average 600 watts HID lighting system is not going to come cheap. However, a larger LED light setup will still be more cost-effective than an HID setup of the same size.
Mars Hydro FC-E 3000 300W LED Grow Light
Features:
Mars Hydro grow light with 1184pcs BridgeLux Diodes & Meanwell Driver, market-leading PPF 2.8 µmol/J, Max 2.5g yield/watt with 30% higher Average PPE, more cost-effective compared with other same type lights.Only consumes 300W, perfectly cover 3x3ft (personal), 2.5x2.5ft (commercial) grow space. This grow light is built-in removable bars interval & disability enable the exact & dynamic PPFD control over each of the plant growing stages, FC-E3000 detachable bars deliver highly uniform adjustable, PPFD levels throughout the plant canopy, best for more uniform Density Buds. Real Aluminum heatsink together with 4 slim profile passively cooled bars (THINNER & LARGER surface) and detachable Meanwell Driver, create less heat, save 50% energy than other old grow lights! The driver can be mounted remotely on the side of a grow tent/rack or on an adjacent wall to remove heat from the growing space.
Fluence SPYDRx 340W LED Grow Light
Features：
This Fluence grow light has high efficiency, low profile, for 730 umol/s, 2.15 umol/J at 340W as a vegetative stage, top-lighting solution for commercial or as a full-cycle top-lighting solution for residential applications without CO2 supplementation. Full Spectrum PhysioSpec Indoor for optimal photosynthetic targeting. This grow light only consumes 340w, running 50% less power than the HPS /MH and getting maximum higher yields. Veg Coverage is 3 x 4 ft, Flowering Coverage is 3 x 3 ft. The intensity of light can be adjusted according to the stage of plants. Excellent full-spectrum LED grow lights deliver optimal light-spectrum coverage for your blooms, The blue light can shorten your flowering period. A full spectrum increases the quality of your crop. not only cost-effective but also produces better yields.
How To Choose The Best LED Grow Lights For A 3×3 Grow Tent
led lights
Since LED grow lights can be expensive, you shouldn’t buy them willy-nilly. There are things to consider if you want to make a smart purchase, such as:
Lifespan
One of the biggest benefits of LED light products over others is their burning time. Some brands have managed to produce LED grow light with a lifespan of 100,000 hours or so, which is admirable, to say the least.
However, don’t expect all LED lights to have such a long lifespan. Around 50,000 or less is what you should expect, and anything over it is a huge plus.
Still, it’s a lot more compared to others and you do get the best value for your money.
Generally speaking, the best grow LED lights are long-lasting, but make sure to check the lifespan of the light you choose for your 3×3 tent so you know what to expect.
Shape and size
A 3×3 feet grow tent is not a very large grow space so you have to take into account the size of the LED grow light you want to purchase.
You have to match the size of the light to the size of your grow tent to ensure the heat balance and that your plants receive the heat evenly during each growth stage.
While the shape is not crucial, you can choose between different types according to your preferences.
The great thing about LED grow light is that they come in different shapes and sizes, so be sure you’re getting the ones that suit your grow tent and your plants the best.
Efficiency
Every LED grow light features info about energy efficiency. Usually, you’ll see it expressed in μmol/J or micromole per Joule.
This measurement determines how efficiently a light converts electrons into photons. The higher the value, the more efficient the light.
LED lights are generally highly efficient.
We don’t have to tell you the significance of energy-saving capabilities — if you have a grow tent (or tents), you know that inefficient lights can run up your electric bill in the blink of an eye.
Installation
Most of the best LED grow lights for 3×3 feet grow tent is not complicated to install.
The ones that made our list are all fairly easy to install and use, so you ought to be able to do it yourself without any issues.
If, however, it comes to that, they come with detailed instructions that can help you out.
Worst case scenario — you can call a professional to help you install the light properly.
Price
When choosing the best LED grow light, we can’t dismiss the price points, especially since some models cost twice as much as others.
That being said, we’ve made sure to include excellent choices from both sides of the price spectrum, so you can choose between high-end items and budget-friendly options.
On average, an LED grow light goes for $200. You can find options under this amount, and there are plenty that cost a lot more.
However, most of the really expensive ones are commercial-grade grow lights used in grow tents much larger than 3×3.
The bottom line is — think about your budget and how much you can (and want) to cough up for LED grow light, and start from there.
Sure, the expensive ones may have better features, but don’t dismiss the cheaper ones so easily, they might surprise you!
Dimming abilities
Most products and brands mentioned today have amazing dimming options.
It’s vital to consider the dimming capabilities of the best LED light for a 3×3 grow tent. In other words, you have to think about the light intensity.
Different growth stage requires different light intensity, so proper dimming options are crucial.
Power consumption
Most LED grow lights consume around 300W in a grow tent. Some use less energy, some use more, so don’t forget to check the exact power consumption before purchasing.
Heat sinks
A LED grow light for a 3×3 grow tent should feature a sturdy, ergonomic design with aluminium heat sinks that dissipate heat in grow tents.
This is important for any growth stage so your grow tent doesn’t get too hot and burn your plants.
Full-spectrum lighting
Full-spectrum lighting is a vital part of LED grow light products.
Growers know the importance of adequate light in every stage of plant growth, and the only way you can achieve that in grow tents is with a full light spectrum.
Conclusion
The phrase cheap is expensive applies to LED grow lights. Purchasing cheaper grow lights will have you back to the shop only after a short time. You should ensure you are getting value for your money by purchasing high-quality lights. Your grow lights should also not flicker or produce too much heat. Your plants will thrive if your lights don’t keep going on and off. Purchasing quality LED grow lights will ensure that your plants are in the conditions needed for them to thrive.
