Yes, I run the mh bulb a couple weeks into flower before switching to hps. I have just a little stretch and the nodes stay tight.
Converted to a LED Area51-160 last year. It has a switch for grow and flowering leds. Basically I do the same thing. I run white leds two weeks into flower before flipping on the red lights replicating my bulb switch on the old HID lighting.
Good luck on the grow green217.