Which 400w HPS Bulb to get?
- Thread starter growman89
- Start date
jr22hockey
Well-Known Member
Stop right there! You could save a shit load of money and have an easier and better grow if you bought a 400 watt magnetic HPS ballast from HTG supply for 120 and a mastercolor CMH (ceramic metal halide) bulb for 50 dollars.
The ceramic metal halide bulb has more of a blue spectrum thatn a metal halide AND more of a red spectrum than an HPS. Plus it generates FAR less heat.
The ceramic metal halide bulb has more of a blue spectrum thatn a metal halide AND more of a red spectrum than an HPS. Plus it generates FAR less heat.
growman89
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info hockey. I heard though that the digital balasts produce better light and less heat but not sure on the facts of that one. Awith this ceramic metal halide bulb you are talking about is it one bulb that can be used for both grow cycles or is there 2 different bulbs i would need to buy? i havent heard about these. nice to know.
Mr. StankyFingas
Well-Known Member
Yea im with mr bomb. The difference in margine between quality does not justify the more substantial difference in price when it comes to bulbs.
aetneerg
Member
Ceramic Metal Halide? Less heat? how much less heat? Can it be used for flowering with similar results to the hps? (I got that light from HTG with MH Conversion and HPS but haven't heard of this bulb before)
growman89
Well-Known Member
Im with you man iv never heard of these ceramic bulbs
aetneerg
Member
Just read on another thread that you can actually hold them when they are on... is this true? Our plants' temp is between 86-90 right now and they are doing okay but if this is true we could get it and stop funking around with adding fans....
edit: aside from the bulb debate I would definitely second the HTG supply motion. I shopped for a couple weeks and that was the one of cheapest light setups I found, plus lots of good reviews, and the service from HTG was excellent and we got our light I think 6 days after we ordered.
edit: aside from the bulb debate I would definitely second the HTG supply motion. I shopped for a couple weeks and that was the one of cheapest light setups I found, plus lots of good reviews, and the service from HTG was excellent and we got our light I think 6 days after we ordered.
Sgt.Sly
Well-Known Member
I have a cab that sometimes gets in that 86-90 range, and mine did quite well. My hairs didn't seem to last too long before browing, but i found that if the roots stayed cooler than the cannopy, the plants could handle the heat if well watered.
purple voodoo#5
Member
what is a ceramic bulb? thats the first time i ever heard of that. and if a ceramic has more blue than a normal mh and more red than a hps why are they not at my local hydro store?
jr22hockey
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I've never used a ceramic metal halide but I've read all about them. From what I understand, the drawback of a CMH is that it produces fewer lumens. But go check out some CMH grows for yourself. Research them. They produce less heat (makes things alot easier) and have a much broader spectrum which makes for good shit and easy growing. Also I've heard some people say that these are the only "reliable" bulbs
http://www.growlightexpress.com/ceramic-metal-halide-bulbs-9/mastercolor-ceramic-metal-halide-400-watt-horizontal-79.html
http://www.growlightexpress.com/ceramic-metal-halide-bulbs-9/mastercolor-ceramic-metal-halide-400-watt-horizontal-79.html
I purchased a Hortilux Super HPS light and am very happy with it. It vegges the plants well for LST and flowers like a charm.
jesus just get the cmh i have two 400w and they are so bad ass. my tent is 77 degreeze and its only 10 sq ft the resin production even halfway through flower is blowing me away. they can be used for veg and are excellent at flower. THey have the best spectrum availible in any light bulb on the market. Down side is they are only availible as high as 400w for now. but they will beat any hps bulb out there.
Has anyone ever used the 250 w CMH's? It would be the perfect size for my closet grow (about 6 square feet) And I'm thinking less heat then all the damn 42 w cfl's I have in there. (close to 350 watts...lol) Not to mention the pain in the ass it is to move the lights around constantly.
Here is thing though, they only put out 20,000 lumens compared to the HPS of almost 35k......hmmmmm I know the spectrum is better but I'm wondering if that is enough?
Here is thing though, they only put out 20,000 lumens compared to the HPS of almost 35k......hmmmmm I know the spectrum is better but I'm wondering if that is enough?
jr22hockey
Well-Known Member
Lumens are nice, but are not the only way of measuring light. We haven't yet decided on 1 measurement of light yet that determines how good it is for growth. I believe that the spectrum makes up for the fewer lumens. And the heat difference seems incredible.
Macriv, its nice to see you say that these are great for flowering because the main logical point that I see against CMH's is that it is not as good for flowering.
It doesn't surprise me that a CMH would be better for flowering, because I heard that normal metal halides produce better buds with more trichromes, but about 15%less bud. Since a CMH has spectrums of both, it makes sense to me that it would create much better buds with maybe a 5% decrease in yield.
Can anyone confirm this?
Macriv, its nice to see you say that these are great for flowering because the main logical point that I see against CMH's is that it is not as good for flowering.
It doesn't surprise me that a CMH would be better for flowering, because I heard that normal metal halides produce better buds with more trichromes, but about 15%less bud. Since a CMH has spectrums of both, it makes sense to me that it would create much better buds with maybe a 5% decrease in yield.
Can anyone confirm this?
