Air cooled 1000w hps

I have a ported 1000w hood with a switchable ballast (going to veg with the MH) I dont have the hps bulb yet so my question is, is there a HUGE difference between the cheaper bulbs over the high end ones? The reason is I am doing this on a smaller start up budget than I would like and I would like to have one bulb running and the other for back up but I dont have the money for 2 high end lamps. I plan to lst to keep everything as even as possible and fill the space. Height is not an issue I just want to keep the light as close as possible. What do you guys think, One higher quality bulb or the safe back up route? Will the expensive bulb blow the basic bulb away that much or will it be a 1lb cheap bulb harvest vs a 1lb 1 oz expensive bulb harvest? (just numbers for the question)


ALSO- I do have a 400w hps I could use for a back up emergency but I am afraid of running buds if they have to go from 1000 to 400 part way through flowering.

Sounds like you'll be fine with either a cheap one or an added back up, though with a back up you always have extra peace of mind. Not sure if the higher quality bulb will shed more lumens, but I'd think you get what you pay for with bulbs

But will a 50$ hortilux be much different from the 130$ super hps. Probably the wrong place for this thread. Please excuse it and if any moderators can move it please do. Thanks

I am using the bulbs that came with my (Virtual Sun) lights. Seems to be working fine. I have more high-end bulbs, but I'm waiting for these to run their course first.
Are the more expensive ones better? I don't know. I just know the stock bulbs grow plants just fine for me right now.

One more thing to consider, these HID lights (from what I've read) can diminish in intensity (by a lot apparently) over time, so if a slightly cheaper bulb means you swap it out for a new one more often vs hanging on to a "fancy" bulb well past it's "best by" date, the cheaper one MAY be a better choice. YMMV

There is a 20% difference between a hortilux super hps(best) bulb and a growlite(cheap) bulb. and each bulbs spectrums are different and that effects things too. For big operations the difference is more noticeable and much more worth it. But a 1 light grow you won't see the big differences. Specially with 1000w'ers, they put out so much light, that even the cheapest ones have plenty of light for a good harvest.

I 've run cheapest bulbs in a pinch.It'll get you through until you can get a nice one.Once you get the nice one you will wish you did it much sooner.

I have about 150 to spend on bulbs. Just read the high end bulbs have a 1 yr warranty so I think im going to go 1 high end opposed to 2 cheaper ones. If it quits I can turn it in on warranty, didnt think bulbs had them.

look at lumen output forget the rest forget the hype forget the generic bulbs
try sylvania or eiko with sepertae veg with mh they will produce as well as any of the
other bulbs despite there fancy adds... I have tried them all http://www.hydroponics.net/mc/27