MH or HPS????

just getting ready to start an indoor organic setup of about 12 to 15 plants and needed to know which lighting i should invest i to get higher quality. Also wondering about how many watts to go with for?

I would go with a 600. N u might as well get a switchable ballast for both mh and hps

Most shops sell a switchable ballast now for around the same price. I agree with the 600 as well. I wish I had gotten it. I currently run a 400 and CFL side lighting. But 600's make nice size buds and the cost of the wattage isn't very expensive. Enjoy

HPS usually outperforms metal halide for full cycle usage. metal halide really specializes in vegetative growth. both will get you through the entire grow but HPS will outperform overall and cost you less on electricity.

600 watts will do you fine, and is generally considered the most efficient watt -> output wise in HPS lamps.

good luck

ok thx for the advice guys, i was thinking something like 1000w....shows what i know

before you run off and buy a HPS now ..... also consider dual spectrum HID's basically a HPS with an enhanced blue spectrum will do wonders

digital ballast and run both

use a MH for vegging and a HPS for flowering

Some said it right, MH for vegging and HPS for flower but if you absolutely want to run the whole shabang on one bulb, you'll want to do that with HPS.

The spectrum of a high pressure sodium lamp:


Unlike low pressure sodium bulbs, the blue spectrum is intensified in a high pressure sodium lamp, making it not just exceptionally effective for flowering as the left of the spectrum indicates, but also highly effective for vegetative growth. Metal halide lamps, while offering a more blue oriented spectrum, are almost half century old technology, consuming more electricity and having a generally shorter life span.

This is not only due to their lower wattage efficiency but their tendency towards something called "cycling", wherein the initial voltage required to start the lamp actually rises over time to the point of exceeding the ballast's abilities, rendering the bulb effectively useless.

very helpful guys, thanks

jp89 said:

very helpful guys, thanks

Click to expand...

Hey m8 are u in uk or US ?

If ur in the uk then this one is mine : 250w Dual Spectrum HID

If ur US then im not really sure its just a matter of looking, the bulb it uses is called a SUNMASTER and im sure theyre availiable worldwide

12 to 15 plants,u might want to consider the 1000w.use ballast that can switch from MH to HPS.

i have 9 plants and 1000w.i started with 400w, big difference in bud size with 1000w.

Hps is the better for all around growing alright for veg good yields. HM is best for veg it also has a better uv spectrum of light, witch if used in budding would make it slightly more potent but it would have a lesser yield.

thanks a ton guys, love that a forum like this exists. actually im in the US so i will just have to look around but now that i know what to look for im sure i can find what i need