HPS, MH, Floros, Phillips Cermamic Metal Halide has 'em all beat.

I am using this retro-white bulb right now. I am wondering if I should keep it throughout the grow or to put the old HPS regular in after the first couple weks of flower...wish I knew FOR SURE that this bulb is better than the HPS.
 
abNORML said:
I am using this retro-white bulb right now. I am wondering if I should keep it throughout the grow or to put the old HPS regular in after the first couple weks of flower...wish I knew FOR SURE that this bulb is better than the HPS.
Click to expand...

unless you want to experiment - i would stick with the tried and true HPS.

Also - how old is your bulb? I think you be changing out your MH every 18 months at least.
 
email468 said:
unless you want to experiment - i would stick with the tried and true HPS.

Also - how old is your bulb? I think you be changing out your MH every 18 months at least.
Click to expand...

I have had this bulb for over a year but have only used it for 6 weeks so far. It may stay a little cooler than an HPS regular bulb but I am telling you all right now it still gets warm and this wll not be a miracle " summer bulb ".

The plants are diggin' the light, and I am glad I got this bulb instead of a standard MH, but definately no miracles here. I am going into flower in about 4-5 days and I'll decide what to do for lighting @ 2 weeks into flower. I will use this retro bulb for first 2 weeks to minimize stretch.
 
abNORML said:
I have had this bulb for over a year but have only used it for 6 weeks so far. It may stay a little cooler than an HPS regular bulb but I am telling you all right now it still gets warm and this wll not be a miracle " summer bulb ".

The plants are diggin' the light, and I am glad I got this bulb instead of a standard MH, but definately no miracles here. I am going into flower in about 4-5 days and I'll decide what to do for lighting @ 2 weeks into flower. I will use this retro bulb for first 2 weeks to minimize stretch.
Click to expand...

good deal - thanks for the info.
 
No point buying one then.

The only reason to want a better bulb in veg' is for faster growth.

I've been vegging two plants under UV 24/0 for 28 days. They are both showing signs of sex. One female and one male.

This is just with UV as their sole source of light.
 
skunkushybrid said:
Yes... i answered one of your other posts where you claimed that one cannot grow in gravel.
Click to expand...
Is that the same thread were you told the guy that he shouldn't do it either? I think you said it was an experiment for you and only someone with experience should try it?.... um, here's actually exactly what you said. "I wouldn't rec' you do this unless you have good enough experience. i did it just to see if I could." yeah, that's the one.
 
ThatOneDude said:
Is that the same thread were you told the guy that he shouldn't do it either? I think you said it was an experiment for you and only someone with experience should try it?.... um, here's actually exactly what you said. "I wouldn't rec' you do this unless you have good enough experience. i did it just to see if I could." yeah, that's the one.
Click to expand...

You can't see the difference?

I said that he couldn't do it, you said it couldn't be done.
 
I never said it was a miracle bulb but, what I have said a number of times is the it does the job of both HPS and MH bulbs for much less of a cost, the spectrum is better, the bulb runs cooler and works on a standard HPS ballast.
 
ThatOneDude said:
I never said it was a miracle bulb but, what I have said a number of times is the it does the job of both HPS and MH bulbs for much less of a cost, the spectrum is better, the bulb runs cooler and works on a standard HPS ballast.
Click to expand...

I'll drink to that. I am happy with the bulb so far. According to the light spectrum graph it seems like this bulb is better than an HPS for flowering? I may just use it the whole time. I think my HPS bulb is more lumens though..
 
skunkushybrid said:
No point buying one then.

The only reason to want a better bulb in veg' is for faster growth.

I've been vegging two plants under UV 24/0 for 28 days. They are both showing signs of sex. One female and one male.

This is just with UV as their sole source of light.
Click to expand...

You mean you are using those funky blue UV lamps ?
 
abNORML said:
I'll drink to that. I am happy with the bulb so far. According to the light spectrum graph it seems like this bulb is better than an HPS for flowering? I may just use it the whole time. I think my HPS bulb is more lumens though..
Click to expand...

What I have read about the difference is lumens tied into the distance that the bulb is from the plants canopy. You have to keep the HPS bulbs higher because of the heat. These run cooler, you make up for the loss in lumens because you are closer to the canopy. There was more to it then that but either that's understood, or remembered. I'll go back and get more about it and post it up here.
 
ThatOneDude--This is off topic, but you said that you got one of those build your own ballasts from HTG supply--I was wondering what they sound like when they're running--are they fairly silent?
 
abNORML said:
I'll drink to that. I am happy with the bulb so far. According to the light spectrum graph it seems like this bulb is better than an HPS for flowering? I may just use it the whole time. I think my HPS bulb is more lumens though..
Click to expand...

In which respect does the spectrum have an impact in flowering?

Just because the bulb works and gets results, this does not mean we are going to be any better off investing extra cash in a gimmick.

So the lost lumens are made up by the light being closer... so, what? We end up where we started? Only paying a little extra for the bulb.
 
skunkushybrid said:
So the lost lumens are made up by the light being closer... so, what? We end up where we started? Only paying a little extra for the bulb.
Click to expand...

I'm glad someone brought this up, if you want to get your light closer why not use those 40000 lumen flourescents (T5 or T12, I'm not up on the flourescent term.) I have my 400W hps 8-9" off the top of my plant (notice the singular), with a cool tube, how much closer do you want a HID bulb?

Also how can a bulb that has 3/4 of the lumens as a standard hps produce more relative energy at every visible wavelength, while also producing less heat. Is this not impossible? I think the GE graphs are a bunch of horse manure.
 
10 pages trying to convey to this guy that the bulb he bought is for enhanced spectrum indoor lighting, to provide an easier colour on the eyes. He's totally wasted his money, since the bulb is not only not designed for growing, but also performs at a lower level than a regular hps.
 
Here's my suggestion (you could also use 600W, they're more efficient):

400W phillips alto hps bulb $10
400W ballast $90
6"x19" cooltube reflector $85
6" Inline fan $140
ducting $20
duct tape $1

And if you feel you must enhance the spectrum:

3 or 6 pack of 15W 6400k cfl's $12
wiring for the cfl's $20

Total: $420 :)

This should alleviate all concerns about spectrum and heat. Seriously why pay $100 for a 430W bulb that adds 30W of blue light when you can add other cheaper bulbs. (I'm not advocating cfl flowering here)
 
When I bought my 400w system I ordered an HPS bulb and a regular MH adapter bulb and they upgraded the MH to the retro-white. I got the the whole thing delivered to my house for 160 dollars. I got my setup from inside sun.
 
about the gravel; check any or my hydro threads. it's all i use.

as for the bulbs; talking with a few friends today, we came to the conclusion that the wider spectrum may help some things. tighter buds, etc. but, we also came to the conclusion that this bulb would be best utilized by adding it to existing setups, with hps or mh.

so, imho, a change over is no good; but adding one to enhance spectrum seems a good idea, better even than adding some 6500k cfl's.

i haven't decided to buy one yet, but i'm getting closer ;) i'm a sucker for experimentations :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top