how should i go about changing lights from fluorescent to high pressure sodium?

I changed the pots and my plants doing much better now and i think its recovering. I was using compact fluorescent bulbs before even though i had a high pressure sodium bulb because i didnt have a power surge to plug it into and i didnt have a fan. Now that i have those i want to make the change, but im not sure how stressful it would be on the plant. If i just make a sudden change in the lights would that be bad? Here are some other questions i had..

• How far away should the plant be from the hps(im thinking 18 inches?)? i think it may be a 400 watt but it might be 250 or somthing, i was wondering if anyone could maybe tell from the pictures so i took some comparison pictures of it next to a battery.

• What about the fixure around the light? My friend gave me the light and how you see it is how i got it. its made of carboard and tinfoil and its wood where the light screws in The person who did it did a good job, its not shitty looking and its sturdy, but is it safe to use or should i get somthing better?

That kind of looks like a 150w HPS. It depends on temps how far away you should keep it. Start out about 18" away and measure temps. The closer you have it, the faster it will grow. Of course, too close and the plant dies. REALLY to close and the plant catches fire. Just measure the temps near the top of the plant and make sure its under 90f max.

I agree that it's a 150watt bulb.

Its a 150 or smaller.

what if my fan makes it not hot at all is that ok?

please 86 the foil....we arent baking.

the battery comparasons are bad, the battery though is about as big as the base of the bulb

and what should i do instead of the foil?

you know that cheap shit in the dollar store? like to put on your door? xmas wrapping paper? one side is shiny and the other is decorated. thats some form of mylar.


flat white paint works good too

that foil will reflect more heat than light not good for your plant wrapping paper that close to the bulb would not be a good thing might catch fire steel is the best thing bashed with a ball hammer and bent in to a bat wing shape look at F.A.Q lighting & reflection