How often to you replace your flower bulbs?

cephalopod said:

Anyone bother to use a light meter on new bulbs and watch the degradation curve of their output or make the decision to change them through the use of some type of PAR meter?

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gladstoned said:

That was my first question. (using a light meter and when they read low, change them, simple as fuck - no guess work, guess work and medication sometimes don't even look at each other. lol) I was told by a hydro guy that you literally need to mount the meter and it need to constantly 'read' the meter and see it go down, you can't just point at it once a week. I was shocked because usually the hydro guy says that you have to have whatever it is you are looking at. lol. Someone else may be able to explain that better, but he told me it wasn't that easy.

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LT1RX7 Drifter said:

light meter do not owrk ike that he is just tring to push a sale, remember its there job to help you spend money, for the record i have had new bulbs that were just as bright as 6 month old bulbs with 3 cycles on it

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cephalopod said:

Anyone bother to use a light meter on new bulbs and watch the degradation curve of their output or make the decision to change them through the use of some type of PAR meter?

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gladstoned said:

I've been waiting to hear someone say that. I use the super HPS and bought a few MH Blue to check them out. I love the dual arc idea, that is why I bought a growzilla, but getting a dual arc bulb sounds easier than having both lights. lol

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LEGALGROWCO said:

I have been entertaining the idea of switching to dual arc bulbs and i am wondering if by putting the two filaments in one bulb, the w of hps spectrum is reduced in relation to a normal hps or if it is still a true 1000w hps with an extra spectrum.

a growzilla is equivalent to 1 1000w hps and 1 1000w mh, while the dual arc bulb is a single bulb on 1 1000w ballast. so wouldn't this mean neither the hps or mh filaments are actually 1000w? more like 500w each or something similar?

2 1000w dual arc = 1 1000w grow zilla = 1 1000w hps + 1 1000w mh???

The theoretical upside to dual arcs being more even light distribution throughout.

Further, is it a 50hps/50mh distribution from the bulb? do we even want that? what is ideal ratio i guess is what i'm wondering?

Maybe 4 1000w hps + 1 1000w mh is better than 5 1000w dual arc.

Ok fuck it.... i'm going with plasma!!!!!!!!!!!!

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LEGALGROWCO said:

I have been entertaining the idea of switching to dual arc bulbs and i am wondering if by putting the two filaments in one bulb, the w of hps spectrum is reduced in relation to a normal hps or if it is still a true 1000w hps with an extra spectrum.

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stumpjumper said:

I believe it works out to be a 600w HPS and a 400w MH..

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gladstoned said:

Seriously? I bought a growzilla light which is one of the most expensive hoods. A dual 600w lumatek, one of the most expensive ballasts. A 600w hortilux superhps and a 400 MH blue. A Raptor has a better footprint and I love them. I bought the growzilla to check it out and don't get me wrong, I'm gonna use the shit out of it. lol. But I want to know if you are 100% on those bulbs.
Actually my even bigger question is, am I still best using a 1000w MH blue for veg and 1000w Super HPS for bloom and go through the hassle of swapping the bulbs or moving the plants to the appropriate room, tent, etc.

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