250w HPS Club And Help Guide

Grazzmon said:

They don't look bad to me, lower fans looking evenly yellowed like they are expired .. soil or hydro? I do ebb n flow, so if you're hydro I'd say check (calibrate) your pH meter before jumping, I've always kept my pH in the 5.6 - 5.9 range. I've panicked more than once and after found out my meter was off..

Grazz

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Ya I was thinking along the same lines as you, and soaked it in some cleaner and recalibrated. I was still going to shoot for 6 but I am almost auto-tuned to just the right amount of ph down to hit 5.8 exactly so I hit them with 5.8 tonight. I will definitely take your advice though as my ph pen is just a cheapy and will hit them with 5.8 a few more times. I run hempy and usually ph at 5.8.

I am trying not to cut any leaves above the screen line and have been just tucking them back. This is definitely my thickest canopies yet and the 250 just can't penetrate too far so the tops are eating up most of the light. I won't panic though and will just monitor them, they don't look too bad besides the yellow fan leaves.

Thanks Grazz

Hey guys, My first grow so I'm clueless. Can you recomend me 250w bulb (brand/model), I don't know which is the best, also is it better to use 2 different bulbs for veging and flowering?

justperception said:

Hey guys, My first grow so I'm clueless. Can you recomend me 250w bulb (brand/model), I don't know which is the best, also is it better to use 2 different bulbs for veging and flowering?

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Heyyyy welcome to the club...

First and most importantly most setups can not run a MH and a HPS unless its a "switchable" system. Needs different ballasts. So be sure you have both, if you can only afford 1 then the HPS is most important, and can get you all the way from seed to harvest.

I use the Hortolux Super HPS, it puts out 30,500 lum which is on the high side for a 250. What you want to find is the highest Lumen output, for a 250w hps its between 28k - 35k, if you can find 35k go for it, but dont pay double because it wont double your yeild. The GrowBright 250w claims its 33k lum so thats a good one too.. Not sure the difference in a small grow between a 27k bulb and a 33k bulb, I doubt its enough to warrant spending alot more. You can find a good bulb for 25 - 35 bucks tho, and I dont think spending 60 to get another 2k lum is even going to make a difference. My 30,300 bulb actually cost 14 bucks... but it was a sale

As far a MH bulbs, I use a GE. Its only in for a couple weeks, so doesnt make much difference to me. You can also veg (growth before flowering) under the HPS, but it tends to make the plants stretch so you will have to keep a close eye. A 250w MH will cost you about 12 bucks, so in all reality its worth it. Gives your HPS a little break as well...

Why? The plant needs different spectrums of light during veg and flower. The MH puts off the right light for plant growth, the HPS puts off the right light for flower growth. So the best way is 2 bulbs. However, not the only way.....

I hate getting up at the ass crack of dawn on weekend... I know its going to piss the Mrs off, but anyone want to hit the vapo with me????

^ Thank you so much, very informative...
As far as ballast goes... I'm getting ADJUSTA-WATT DIMMABLE DIGITAL 660W-600W-400W-250W and from what I read it suppose to be really good piece of equipment.

So my plan is to use 250w MH bulb for veg period and 400w for flowering (assuming I can deal with temperature in my 5 sq feet closet)
Basically what you're saying is, read the description and pick one with the highest lumens... I asked about this because I was thinking that there is one brand that does the job better then others.

I'm thinking about getting these:
250w SUNMASTER COOL DELUXE METAL HALIDE
Philips Son-T PIA Plus HPS 250w
Are they good? Can I get something better?

justperception said:

^ Thank you so much, very informative...
As far as ballast goes... I'm getting ADJUSTA-WATT DIMMABLE DIGITAL 660W-600W-400W-250W and from what I read it suppose to be really good piece of equipment.

So my plan is to use 250w MH bulb for veg period and 400w for flowering (assuming I can deal with temperature in my 5 sq feet closet)
Basically what you're saying is, read the description and pick one with the highest lumens... I asked about this because I was thinking that there is one brand that does the job better then others.

I'm thinking about getting these:
250w SUNMASTER COOL DELUXE METAL HALIDE
Philips Son-T PIA Plus HPS 250w
Are they good? Can I get something better?

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Cant really say about the ballast, but if its performs and is reliable it sure has alot of options. I have heard/read that the all in one type systems are not as good as say a single 250w HPS ballast. But I really dont know. I run a SunSystem 250w MH/HPS switchable. So I can run the MH for veg, and HPS for flower.
As far as temps, my cab is in a walk in closet, its 24" deep, by 54" long and 5' high, A/C keeps the place at 76f 24/7, intake fan blows the cool air into the cab and I still struggle to keep in below 85f with the light on. So 400w would never work for me.

I would suggest trying to 250w first, it can grow 4 plants and give you a nice yeild. I just pulled in over 100g on my first ever grow. Get an idea of temps and space, then decide if you can do 400w.

And wait for a few more responses here before ordering if you havent, alot of edumicated growers hang out here. They are just stoned so you have to be patient...

justperception said:

^ Thank you so much, very informative...
As far as ballast goes... I'm getting ADJUSTA-WATT DIMMABLE DIGITAL 660W-600W-400W-250W and from what I read it suppose to be really good piece of equipment.

So my plan is to use 250w MH bulb for veg period and 400w for flowering (assuming I can deal with temperature in my 5 sq feet closet)
Basically what you're saying is, read the description and pick one with the highest lumens... I asked about this because I was thinking that there is one brand that does the job better then others.

I'm thinking about getting these:
250w SUNMASTER COOL DELUXE METAL HALIDE
Philips Son-T PIA Plus HPS 250w
Are they good? Can I get something better?

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Is this the Lumatek dimmable ballast? Most dimmable ballasts are rated at one wattage and are dimmable to lower wattages with the same bulb. For example my lumatek 250w dimmable ballast has settings for 250w super lumen, 250, 175, and 150 all intended to be used with a 250w bulb. I personally have not heard of a ballast that will run bulbs from 250-600 so make sure you check the specifications real good. Post a link on here to the ballast you are looking at, there is a wealth of 250 knowledge that can help you out here.

http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_05169.html
- You select the lamp type and wattage and the ballast will run the lamp to the exact specification that the lamp requires, just as if the ballast was dedicated to that lamp. It's like having three separate ballasts in one unit!

I read somewhere (I do read a lot lately about growing pot) that it is better to run 250w bulb then dimm a bigger one down.

If any1 can recomend me a 250w MH bulb model that would be swell, couse my seeds arrived today, and I am itching to grow!

I run a 250 watt Ceramic Metal Halide for both Veg and Flower. Check it out, do a Google search for "Ceramic Metal Halide"
Runs on HPS Ballast..




Grazz

That is a very nice ballast! I am such a stoner I'm sure I would accidentally run my 250 bulb at 600w.

As 10acjed MH is not nearly as important as HPS. Anything in the high 20000 lumen output should be fine. For HPS lumens are important but not as important as color spectrum. The Eye Hortilux that 10acjed uses are highly rated for high lumen output and proper spectrum.

Here is the bulb I am using that came with the 250 I bought.

• http://www.hydroponicgear.com/lighti...e-h-i-d-bulbs/
  
  
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Here is the Aggromax rated at 35000 lumens. This is a dual spectrum bulb adding "blue" light. http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-AgroMax- 250w-High-Pressure-Sodium-Bulb.asp

Here is the bulb I ordered as my spare/next bulb. It is cheap but seems to have the right spec and high lumens so I will give it a try. http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/full-spectrum-250w-hps-bulb-p-58.html

This is the powerplant bulb that another UK grower was talking about. Looks really nice.
http://www.budgreen.com/products/product/?id=70

stoneslacker said:

That is a very nice ballast! I am such a stoner I'm sure I would accidentally run my 250 bulb at 600w.

As 10acjed MH is not nearly as important as HPS. Anything in the high 20000 lumen output should be fine. For HPS lumens are important but not as important as color spectrum. The Eye Hortilux that 10acjed uses are highly rated for high lumen output and proper spectrum.

Here is the bulb I am using that came with the 250 I bought.

• http://www.hydroponicgear.com/lighti...e-h-i-d-bulbs/
  
  
  ​
  
  

Here is the Aggromax rated at 35000 lumens. This is a dual spectrum bulb adding "blue" light. http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-AgroMax-%20250w-High-Pressure-Sodium-Bulb.asp

Here is the bulb I ordered as my spare/next bulb. It is cheap but seems to have the right spec and high lumens so I will give it a try. http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/full-spectrum-250w-hps-bulb-p-58.html

This is the powerplant bulb that another UK grower was talking about. Looks really nice.
http://www.budgreen.com/products/product/?id=70

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Those are all great bulb options, but Amazon has a 250 "Super HPS) with 33k initial output and 2100K color temp for 20 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLBULBH250-250-Watt-Magnetic-Digital/dp/B005HJIZHO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1348932800&sr=8-7&keywords=250+hps
I haven't personally tried it out (I'm using a cheap GE HPS bulb right now) but will be buying it as my next bulb. It looks similar to the powerplant one you linked, and might just be rebranded by iPower.

I just broke the seal on my last bud of blackjack from my first grow. This bud has been curing since the beginning of June. The smell is so intense, lemon butter is the way I describe it. Two bongs down and I need to sit the fuck down.

Hmmm that chart looks interesting Grazz, think I may have to save for one of those. How does it compare to running straight HPS or MH? Is it worth the extra coin?

Ny next bulb was going to be the agromax that stoneslacker posted the link to....

stoneslacker said:

I just broke the seal on my last bud of blackjack from my first grow. This bud has been curing since the beginning of June. The smell is so intense, lemon butter is the way I describe it. Two bongs down and I need to sit the fuck down.
View attachment 2354158

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I plan to start keeping a nugget from each harvest and cure for weeks or months (I have always planned to do this, but little will power). So far the longest cure i've managed is 2 weeks, and it made such a difference, I can only imagine how good 3 months would be. I guessng that you haven't been "breathing" it every 12 hours for 3 months, but rather left it air tight once properly cured?.

GRAZZ - Nice one. Funnily enough I was just today, I was chating to my local hydro store owner about the importance of spectrum over lumens, as he has just returned from a big Hydro Expo weekend. I've only just bought my HPS set up and chose the Sunmaster Dual Spec HPS to give a better colour range, but those ceramics look the tits!! Will def do some research into them for my next bulb.

10acjed said:

Hmmm that chart looks interesting Grazz, think I may have to save for one of those. How does it compare to running straight HPS or MH? Is it worth the extra coin?

Ny next bulb was going to be the agromax that stoneslacker posted the link to....

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I'm sold on CMH.. I am flowering with the 250 CMH in my cab and a 400 watt MH-HPS conversion (I think it ends up 360 Watt HPS) and the cab grow has outperformed the HPS the last couple grows.. (I think the full spectrum brings out the trics) I'm so sold on it that I'm thinking of grabbing another 250 HPS ballast and switching out the 400 MH for 250 CMH, but I might try a full spectrum 400 Watt MH first.. I love to experiment..lol

Grazz

Since I'm in a typing kind of mood...

I'm getting closer to a perpetual grow, I've been vegging my clones under CFL to about 15-18 inches




I have the "gift" clone (NL?) that finishes 10 weeks 12/12 tomorrow. I posted about it the other day, when I checked today the trics are mostly cloudy and I'm finally seeing some amber . So.. I may be harvesting that in a few days.




The MM that's under the HPS (9 weeks tomorrow) will be a week or so behind that.



I put one of the NL? clones in the cab 8 days ago and an MM clone in the HPS area yesterday. I have 2 of each vegged to 18", one of each will be a mother so I'll put another NL? in the cab next week, start some new clones and put the other MM in the week after.. and on and on..

A couple pics of the MM harvested a few weeks back and the lower half of the plant that I'm trying to squeeze more out of.



Grazz

justperception said:

http://www.progrow.co.uk/acatalog/info_05169.html
- You select the lamp type and wattage and the ballast will run the lamp to the exact specification that the lamp requires, just as if the ballast was dedicated to that lamp. It's like having three separate ballasts in one unit!

Click to expand...

I think I may be grabbing one of these in the next few months.
Are you definitely buying one? Keep me up to date on how you like it.

ive been looking at CMH for a while and i just cant justify to the missus spending £50 on a bulb. i mean they look lovely and seem to do a good job but £50...... for just a bulb. damn.

brettsog said:

ive been looking at CMH for a while and i just cant justify to the missus spending £50 on a bulb. i mean they look lovely and seem to do a good job but £50...... for just a bulb. damn.

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I have the exact same problem with my missis. I get round this by not telling her when I pay out on stuff. I don't hide it, and if she should ask I'll tell her, but it's rare that she asks, so onto a winner. Its not the same as a lie, more like saving her brain from unnecessary information in order to save her from getting annoyed. Pretty considerate really, maybe you should try it

^^^^
I do the same.
Plus I sell stuff on eBay, so I always have my "own" money Paypal to spend as I wish.
If I need seeds, i just transfer the $$$ to the checking account. A lot of stuff I buy is right off eBay anyway.

Hettyman said:

I plan to start keeping a nugget from each harvest and cure for weeks or months.

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I started doing this a few weeks ago.
I bought a bunch of the ball 4 oz. jars. They even come with labels. So I just write the strain and the date it was jarred on the label.
So far I have LSD, Purple Haze, Lemon Haze, Auto Bomb, and Fruity Chronic Juice. Only an 1/8 or so of each.

I wonder how long it will last before it actually degrades...