CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH A VIDEO ON HOW TO HANG YOUR GROW LIGHT!
When considering your light, you also want to consider your grow space ventilation - you always want to make sure you can vent the heat a light will add to your grow space as well as the odor your plants emit occasionally. If possible, you would want to intake fresh air from your temperature controlled room, and exhaust the heat outside of a window aperture. Below are the different types of lights available on the market today, and the Pro's and Con's of each type. What light you choose could have price consequences at the time of purchase, or overall on your monthly electric bill; but bigger watts sometimes means bigger yields if done correctly!
Quantum Board - Leading technology in LED technology. Capable of DIY QB builds; less power with more output than traditional Dual Spectrum LED; with a minimal power consumption with a low heat signature.
COB LED - (Chip on Board) - refers to the mounting of a bare LED chip in direct contact with a substrate (such as silicon carbide or sapphire) to produce LED arrays. COB technology allows for a much higher packing density of the LED array, or what light engineers refer to as improved "lumen density", mid-range power consumption with an average heat signature.
LED - (Light Emitting Diode) - The more commonly sold LED light that comes in single or dual spectrum modes. LED grow lights are a type of energy efficient lights. Unlike other types of grow lights, LEDs do not burn a filament, but instead pass light through semiconductors to create their spectrum.
HID - MH / HPS (Metal Halide / High Pressure Sodium) - This type of light is preferred for it's light output strength and considerable heat signature, but nice dense plants/buds. You don't want to run these lights if you don't have a way to ventilate the heat that comes from these fixtures.
CMH - (Ceramic Hetal Halide) - These grow lights are basically a variation of MH grow lights with a little of HPS added into the mixture. A CMH uses a ceramic arc tube similar to those used in HPS grow lights instead of the quartz used in traditional metal halide grow lights.
Fluorescent - Low wattage and Low heat signature, comes in 3200k and 6000k frequencies for grow/bloom stages; or set staggered in your light fixture for dual spectrum. Primarily used for small grow setups with minimal ventilation or space.
Incandescent - One of the less recommended bulb types to buy if you are a new grower. Sure, you can grow almost anything under a 100w light...but doesn't mean you can expect results you can be proud of.
Our personal preference for growing is any form of LED grow light, because you don't want to add significant heat to your grow space unless you are prepared to vent the heat associated with your choice of light. Also, it's recommended to keep your lights at 18" to 24" above your plants at all time to decrease the risk of heat damage on your plants.
-Nova Hydroculture Growers Support