What is the best 400w MH bulb for veg at this time?

Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, I think I'm using a way too old 400wMH bulb and wasting lots of growth time, and placing the bulb very close to compensate and heat and drying out the RH aroundplants becomes an issue, I need a new bulb.

For veg with the 400 I never really made a big deal and just get a generic bulb. Once I used some enhanced spectrum bulb AgroSomething forgot the name, very well known one, but it actually died out pretty quick, actually stopped working, and I just stuck to generic 400 bulbs since then.

Any suggestions on the best of the best 400w MH bulb I should look into? I want the best. I've not kept up with what's out there these days for MH.

I can't do the LED thing now, yet. Sticking to the MH400w setup.
I don't want T5, I like the penetration of MH, and don't want to spend big bucks now for new fixtures and all that, same goes for LED, I just need a new MH bulb for now.

Thanks a lot for any info guys. Need to grab a new bulb asap. Don't have par meter, yet, but footcandles is really freakin low from what it should be. I think I'm wasting a lot of grow time, and energy. Thank you.


(I hope everybody didn't go LED and not into the MH's anymore and no info for me, say it aint so.)
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
(Just remembered, it was a Sunmaster enhanced spectrum bulb; the different bulb I tried once that died so quick, and was also more expensive than all others, before going back to generic bulbs.)
 
TacoMac

TacoMac

Well-Known Member
Man, I would go with the Apollo Horticulture MH bulb. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GLBMH400-Metal-Halide/dp/B0081IC0DI
Now, it's as good as any other, but it has a VERY short productive life. You should be able to easily get two grows out of each bulb, but that's about it.

Think about it: 5 bucks per grow. You spent more than that on that piece of shit burger you got last night.
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
I don't eat fast food bro. Almost died once from big red afro clown fast food spot we all know. Could of been a millionaire! Home cooked meals and organic all the way now. Anyway..

Thanks for suggestion man, I'm looking.
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
MichiganMedGrower said:
Best spectrum out there (still?) is the Hortilux "Blue" Metal Halide.

They advertise closest spectrum to the sun.
Click to expand...
You know what growBro, I completely forgot Hortilux even made metal halides, my brain associates Hortilux with 1K HPS builb... shit man you're right, I may just get the hortilux blue, whatever it cost.

Thanks man!!
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
Tangerine_ said:
I saw a very noticeable difference running Hortilux Eye Blue.
I no longer run 400s but if I did, I'd go for the Hortilux. They're a bit pricey so if you cant get them go with something that has a similar/comparable spectrum.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. Good to know. Appreciate it man.
 
MichiganMedGrower

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
I use a 600 blue mh in flower alongside a 600 Super hps for quality.

But the 600 is actually a full spectrum hps as far as the ballast as there are no 600 mh specific ballasts.

And the 400 w blue is a true mh bulb. And has a much better spectrum if you look at the charts.

Hortilux says it the best vegetative bulb they make.

Only thing I don't like is the 6 months before too much lumen depreciation at 18/6.

In 12/12 it lasts the 9 months I go with the hps.

I will be using a ceramic mh 315 in veg next. 2 years they say for cmh.
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
For a while there I was running a 3ft cooltube that had double sockets on either end that held one 1K Hortilux and one 400w MH generic bulb, just the cool tube has shit spread and didn't mix the bulbs down on the plants well, like under the mh was one section and under HPS other section, could never really get the 400MH to be useful like that to cover whole 4x4, you know how those shitty cooltubes are, but when I finally did just use only the hps for flower again, due to heat purposes and ease of setup, I did notice a slight reduction in yield and trichome production on same strains that I ran forever, was it the spectrum/uv addition in flower, or was it just overall the fact that i had 1400w over a 4x4 instead of the usual 1K... I dunno, but I wish they made a reflector to hold 2 different bulbs like that that actually had nice good equal spread of both bulbs mixing over a 4x4, or 5x5.

Anyway, I'm probably gonna go with Hortilux MH, I know it's very expensive though, like crazy expensive in comparison to others, so I am stil investigating the Hortilux spectrum and seeing what's out there that even comes close.. but no real luck finding anything else for now..

Thanks man. I do know when it comes to HPS, that over the years falling for grow shop guys sales pitch and selling me different company bulbs not hortilux has significantly lowers yields and am true fan of the 1K Hortilux for like 20+ years now. So I have only high thoughts/hopes about their MH's, ya know. Just why the fuck are they so much damit!
lol
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
(And I'm not a cheap ass, lol, just for a light bulb I think money can be best used elsewhere that's all.)
 
MichiganMedGrower

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
Johnei said:
For a while there I was running a 3ft cooltube that had double sockets on either end that held one 1K Hortilux and one 400w MH generic bulb, just the cool tube has shit spread and didn't mix the bulbs down on the plants well, like under the mh was one section and under HPS other section, could never really get the 400MH to be useful like that to cover whole 4x4, you know how those shitty cooltubes are, but when I finally did just use only the hps for flower again, due to heat purposes and ease of setup, I did notice a slight reduction in yield and trichome production on same strains that I ran forever, was it the spectrum/uv addition in flower, or was it just overall the fact that i had 1400w over a 4x4 instead of the usual 1K... I dunno, but I wish they made a reflector to hold 2 different bulbs like that that actually had nice good equal spread of both bulbs mixing over a 4x4, or 5x5.

Anyway, I'm probably gonna go with Hortilux MH, I know it's very expensive though, like crazy expensive in comparison to others, so I am stil investigating the Hortilux spectrum and seeing what's out there that even comes close.. but no real luck finding anything else for now..

Thanks man. I do know when it comes to HPS, that over the years falling for grow shop guys sales pitch and selling me different company bulbs not hortilux has significantly lowers yields and am true fan of the 1K Hortilux for like 20+ years now. So I have only high thoughts/hopes about their MH's, ya know. Just why the fuck are they so much damit!
lol
Click to expand...

I get the best prices for Hortilux bulbs at plantlightinghydroponics.

And you should look into the bulb they have that is a 600 Super hps and 400 blue mh in one bulb. Can be run on your 1000w ballast.

I can't handle the heat or I would run a pair of them.
 
MichiganMedGrower

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
I don't worry about the price of bulbs in my little Grow. I want the best spectrum and high quality. I have had no problems with a Hortilux bulb yet.

I may replace my 3.5 year old galaxy ballasts with Hortilux gold.

And I can't wait for their ceramic hps to become available and not at their list price.

I had high hopes for flowering with cmh but I find their footprint limiting and they do not really compete with a 600 hps. Just better than a 400 I think. And longer lasting. I will eventually use one in between the 2 600 hps. That would be an awesome 4x8 area for flower. With the reflectors nice and close like you mentioned to combine the light.
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
TacoMac said:
I ran a Hortilux for a test a couple years ago. Absolutely zero difference. At all.

Never bothered buying another one.
Click to expand...
I saw significant difference in exact same room same setup no variable no strain different, once with generic HPS, plants yellowed way too early and yield was less, and then I tried I forgot the name but its quite popular these days a made in Germany 1K bulb supposedly enhanced spectrum, and the light bulb itself is shorter and smaller and was a bit shitier running in the air cooled reflectors not as good spread and loss of yield from this aspect even though may have been good bulb/spectrum.

I hear what you're saying though. Different stroked for different folks. :)
Thanks you for your input, it's very welcome don't get me wrong. Gets my brain juices flowing again.
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
MichiganMedGrower said:
I get the best prices for Hortilux bulbs at plantlightinghydroponics.

And you should look into the bulb they have that is a 600 Super hps and 400 blue mh in one bulb. Can be run on your 1000w ballast.

I can't handle the heat or I would run a pair of them.
Click to expand...
I remember that bulb when it came out and people were runing tests all over the forums, I never really followed through though of the outcome of these tests. I've gotta look into that, yeah, and i remember it was also a lot more money. Money's no issue when it comes to bulb, just wanna make the 'right' decision ya know.
 
MichiganMedGrower

MichiganMedGrower

Well-Known Member
TacoMac said:
I ran a Hortilux for a test a couple years ago. Absolutely zero difference. At all.

Never bothered buying another one.
Click to expand...
All of these kinds of upgrades provide diminishing returns.

The effect is subtle. And the rest of everything has to be in balance too.

My patients noticed the difference in quality when I tried plantmax.

And now that I mix spectrums they noticed again. I never tell anyone I made any changes. They don't know about this stuff anyway.

Here is my flower room with the 2 Hortilux bulbs.

600w Super hps and 600w blue MH

IMG_6236.JPG

Better spectrum makes happier plants that can reach higher potential in my experience so far.
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
I'm imaging those 2 reflectors you got there on one of those spinning machines, wow..lol.. moving shadows around and all that. probably would be nuts.

Nice setup man!


(I actually also need a new HPS flower bulb, so this is good info here for me.)
 
Johnei

Johnei

Well-Known Member
Plants look super happy!! (:


(I've actually never ran a 600w bulb, ever, it just happened that way in my starting days, that 1K ballasts fell in my lap, and never changed it. That 3ft cooltube I meantioned, was really meant for 2 600's. with a 1000w and 400, that shit was hot!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top