Since third grade, we have always known that light is essential for the growth of plants. Gone are the days when farming only used to be done in large outdoor plantations. Most people nowadays prefer farming indoors either in a greenhouse or grow tent. This is so due to the high output and easy monitoring of the plants.
To most plants, the sun is the major source of light. But, what happens to indoor grown plants; like those in a 4x4 grow tent? Does it mean that they will have to be grown without light? Well, that’s where LED light comes in? However, deciding on the best LED light for 4x4 grow tent can be overwhelming. In such a market with way over 100 LED light brands all claiming to be the best it is just obvious why deciding on what to purchase is not always a walk in the park.
Advantages of purchasing the LED lights for 4x4 grow tent
Incandescent light bulbs were the first thing fed to use back in the 1980s. These lights were power and energy consuming, no wonder they were banned in American soil back in 2014. LED lights are highly recommended irrespective of whether you need them to light your living room or for gardening purposes. The following are advantages accrued to purchasing the best LED lights for your grow tent.
Energy saving
Led light is the most energy efficient bulbs of all time. Unlike the incandescent bulbs which used heating as to give electricity. In LED bulb all that is needed for the bulb to light is an electric current. No heating is required and this ensures it doesn’t consume a lot of energy. And, as we all know in business we should always take advantage of any money saving opportunity we get. When you use Led lights this will help cut on your monthly electric bill.
Lifespan
Different light bulbs have a different lifespan. In general, LED bulbs are relatively expensive but the lifespan is higher compared to other light bulbs. Sometimes LED lights can last up to 5 times longer than other bulbs. This is mostly due to the fact that, LED bulbs are not affected by frequent switching on and off which is the main reason why most bulbs short circuit and burn the light filament.
Different varieties
LED lights come in different shapes and colors. This gives customers a chance to choose bulbs based on their taste profile. Also, different plants have different light requirements. The fact that LED lights are available in different varieties means that you can choose the best LED light for your 4x4 grow tent irrespective of what you are growing.
Small bulbs light more
There has always been a heated debate on whether size matters. When it comes LED light bulbs size doesn’t matter. Even small bulbs are made to produce maximum light. In a small grow tent size the size of the bulb matters due to space constraints.
How to choose the best LED light for 4x4 grow tent?
Via: Amazon.com
As mentioned earlier, all LED lights are not the same. They differ in their own capacity. It is for this reason that if you want to purchase only the best LED grow lights for your 4x4 tent you must follow a set of guidelines to arrive at a choice. Some of these guidelines include:
The burning time
Though LED lights have lasts relatively longer compared to other brands. They are not all made the same. They differ when it comes to the expected lifespan of the bulb and this information is captured in the product label. Before purchasing an LED light for your grow tent to ensure that read the product label and check on the expected lifespan.
The heat generated
Most LED bulbs are specifically designed for lighting but we have a few that can serve both purposes. Some plants need both heat and light at the same time. If these are the kind of plants you are growing in your 4x4 grow tent then you should consider getting yourself an LED bulb that will give you both heat and light.
Price
When it comes to LED lights, high price doesn’t always guarantee the best quality. However, this is a factor that can’t be ignored. After all, how can purchase what you can’t afford? The price range has to be within what you can comfortably afford and that’s why in our review we have tried to mix up to fit everyone’s profile
Shape and size of the light
A 4x4 grow tent is not all that big. Where space is limited extra attention should be paid to the size and shape of the LED light to be bought. The good thing with this is that LED lights come in different shapes and sizes. You must heat the balance when it comes to light. Too much light will make your plants to wilt whereas little light will drain off the leave the green coloring matter responsible for making food.
Easy installation
You don’t need a degree in rocket science for you to successfully install LED grow lights in your grow tent. Well, that can be changed to presumably, since there are LED lights that are challenging to install. To avoid extra cost on your side ensure that you choose lights that are easy to install.
Read more: How to choose the Best T5 Grow Lights
Reviews and Top Pick on the best LED light for 4x4 grow tent
Rank | Name Product | Image | Score | |
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1 | 98
/100
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2 | 98
/100
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3 | 97
/100
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4 | 97
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5 | 96
/100
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6 | 95
/100
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As mentioned earlier, deciding in the LED light to purchase for your grow tent is not always a walk in the park. There are tons of brand selling relatively similar products but the truth is, they are not the same. Though serving the same purpose of lighting, each product has its own set of unique features. To ensure that you only get the best in the market we have prepared a comprehensive review of the best LED lights for 4x4 grow tent:
1. VIPARSPECTRA 1200w LED Grow Light
Remember reading that expensive doesn’t always guarantee high quality? Well, that’s because we have cheap products that are of high quality. And, VIPARSPECTRA makes the cut. The LED grow light is designed such that it hits the balance between PAR out and coverage perfectly. Coming as a replacement of the 1000 HPS/MH, VIPARSPECTRA 1200w LED Grow Light is said to only consume 520 watts. With separate grow and bloom switch, this is the kind of grow light to with if you want to increase output in your 4*4 grow tent. A whopping 240 LEDs are optically pre-focused at every V1200 on 90 degrees. It is specifically designed for small grow tent and the light is bright enough to penetrate canopies. When it comes to cooling no LED grow light compares to VIPARSPECTRA 1200w LED Grow Light, it is fitted with high speed funs and aluminum heat skins that provide instant cooling in case of overheating. The estimated lifespan is 100,000 hours.
Pros
Cons
2. Advanced Platinum Series P 300 300W 12-brand LED Grow Light
The Advanced Platinum Series P 300 300W 12-brand LED Grow Light has the highest lumen output per wattage of any LED grow light known to mankind. The new brand replaces the 400w HPS and only consumes 180w. If you a thing or two about LED grows light you surely understand how energy efficient this LED grow light is consuming only 180w. These lights are specifically designed for small area coverage and have a high PAP per wattage. This means that the more the light the higher the output. Unlike the previous model, the Veg and Flow button are different making it easy to regulate based on what you are growing in your grow tent. Light is focused downwards straight to the plants using secondary lenses.
Pros
Cons
3. HIGROW Optical Lens-Series 1000w Full Spectrum LED Grow light
There is no LED Grow light with better customer support than HIGROW Optical Lens-Series 100W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light. They are always open to queries about their products and very friendly. It doesn’t end there these set of grow lights has a 90 degrees optical lens specifically designed to focus maximum light to the plants. These lenses reduce up to 30% light loss. The lights are effective and are inclusive of 12 brands LED grow light meaning that they have a full spectrum of lights necessary for the growth of plants.
Pros
Cons
4. VIPARSPECTRA Dimmable Series PAR 1200 LED Grow light
If you want a durable LED grow light specifically designed for a 4*4 grow tent then you should consider purchasing the VIPARSPECTRA Dimmable Series PAR 1200 LED Grow Light. To begin with, the lights are pocket and this is brand that justifies the 100,000 hrs expected lifespan. With 6 fans and heat sinks that are always in excellent condition, there is little to no chance that there will be overheating. VIPARSPECTRA Dimmable Series PAR 1200 LED Grow Light is designed to specifically heat the balance between PAR/ lumen output and coverage.
Pros
Cons
5. Iplantop 1000W LED Full Spectrum Grow Light
Iplantop 1000W LED Grow Light is another amazing LED light for 4x4 grow tent you should not ignore. The light is energy-saving as it consumes only 180 watts of power. In light of this, you will be saving more money on electricity bills than you should. Also, it is a combination of the VEG and BLOOM light. Because of this, this LED light is suitable for all the stages of the plant’s life.
Also, to ensure that the light doesn't overheat, the manufacturers included 2 powerful cooling fans with the LED light. Also, each of the LED light sources has thermal silicon on them. Because of this, rest assured that the lights will run coolly at all times. Again, the light has an impressive coverage area as it can cover up to 5.5 square feet. Again, it also has a daisy chain design which means you can connect multiple lights with it in parallel.
Worthy of note too is that this light has a high PAR value. Moreover, with a lifespan of 100,000 hours, you’ll struggle to find a LED light that can last longer than this. Again, the Iplantop 1000W LED Grow Light has a 90-day money-back guarantee. Finally, you also get a 36-month warranty when you buy this product.
Pros
Cons
6. G8LED 900 Watt MEGA LED Veg /Flower Grow light
Closing our list is the notoriously expensive G8LED 900Watt Mega LED Grow Light. The names say it all; these LED lights use the G8 lighting system and is infused with 8 optimal bands IR and UV. They have an excellent control system to suit whatever you are growing but you should be willing to dig deep into your pocket.
Pros
Cons
Grow light distance chart
Plants are very sensitive to light. The light should be optimal not too little and not too much. The number of cases where plants end up getting drained as a result of getting exposure to too much light is significantly high. The following are things you should be on the lookout for to know that the light is too much for your plants:
- Folding of the leaves
- Stunted growth
- The leaves whitening
- Physical burns
The following is a chart guiding you on how you should distance the LED lights in your grow tent.
Distance chart for LED grow lights
LED Grow light in Watts | Vegetables | Bloom |
---|---|---|
100-200w | 12-20 inches | 8-16 inches |
201-400w | 20-27 inches | 13-21 inches |
401-600w | 30-38 inches | 18-30 inches |
601-800w | 32-42 inches | 19-34 inches |
801-1000w | 36-46 inches | 21-36 inches |
Conclusion
It is my hope that you found our review on the best LED grow lights for 4x4 grow tent useful. Without being pointed in the right direction at times it can get pretty difficult to decide on the LED lights for purchase for your grow tent. This won’t be the case anymore. Please share the article with your friends and enlighten them on the same.