Thinking about Metal Halide...

Hey all,


I've grown with T5 lights for a few years now, but have recently had my interest piqued by Metal Halide lights. More specifically, this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-SBM175H-175-Watt-Sunburst-Halide/dp/B00598J9BE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1373997632&sr=8-4&keywords=metal+halide+grow+light

It looks like a good light. Good price, good wattage, shouldn't be too much of an issue. I would use it for a small area, about 3x3. Anyone think it'd work well?

P.S. I grow Ficus, not flowering plants

it looks ok... in my experience any MH or hps will be better than cfl's, unless where u are gets very hot....thats what ive been hearing at least, try to go 400 for 3x3

well friend mh is great but u wouldnt want to use this through flowering u would need and hps mh is more blue spectrum wich is great for veg but mary j prefers more red spect during flowering witch cfl nore mh light can give u

FuckJeffGoldbloom said:

it looks ok... in my experience any MH or hps will be better than cfl's, unless where u are gets very hot....thats what ive been hearing at least, try to go 400 for 3x3

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Thanks! I don't use CFLs though, I use T5 fluoros, the long tube type. 400 sounds a bit high to me though, so I'm trying to keep wattage relatively low.

mr.maryj said:

well friend mh is great but u wouldnt want to use this through flowering u would need and hps mh is more blue spectrum wich is great for veg but mary j prefers more red spect during flowering witch cfl nore mh light can give u

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Well like I said, I don't flower anything. I don't grow mary jane, I grow Ficus that don't flower

How safe are these metal halides to use?? They aren't detrimental to someone's health are they?!

Bonsai Guy said:

How safe are these metal halides to use?? They aren't detrimental to someone's health are they?!

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You mean how they are all over in citys? Maybe that's what makes people sick. Or it's the HPS in street lights.
They are perfectly fine.
I don't know about 175W but you can go 250W with 3x3 space just fine.

You have to weight out the differences. How much wattage is your T5 using? Honestly a 175W is not going to work on a 3x3, I mean you'll get growth, but only in the small area where the light is going to hit. The spread is wide, but the main area will be larger and the outer area will have smaller growth. Might consider a light mover, but even then.

You can get yourself a 400W for not much more. And you will also need an HPS as others have suggested for flowering.

Or you can just get one bulb and call it a day. ceramic metal halide. All your sprectrum from mh and hps in one bulb. It's my next purchase.View attachment 2738888

Thanks all. I just had a brain tumor taken out, so I'm probably just being an extreme hypochondriac. I mean, they're just lights, right??

I just found a guy who is selling a 250W MH, so I'm really considering buying it to test out the kind of growth I can get. I don't need red light, blue would probably work best, so I may just go with the MH. As for the wattage of my T5, I'm not sure. I've got two 4 foot, 4 bulb lights...

You can go to htg supply and get a hps bulb and ballast that also comes with a MH conversion bulb.

I believe, and I'm sure I'll be corrected 4 4' bulbs is 216 watts, if they are High Output T5s.

Edit X 2: 432 Watts

So you are already using over 400watts total.

In all honesty your t5's are probably fine for veg its the flowering stage that you really see the difference on with HID lighting.

kinetic said:

Or you can just get one bulb and call it a day. ceramic metal halide. All your sprectrum from mh and hps in one bulb. It's my next purchase.View attachment 2738888

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If you want to go CMH then you better get a bunch now. They have discontinued(once all parts are used up)CMH bulbs.

Thanks all, I just hear that no matter my wattage output for the T5s, that the MH will be better overall. And let's just get that straight, I don't need flowering. I don't grow marijuana, I grow Ficus. I'm just looking for a kind of light that gives off the best, non-flowering growth, whether it be T5 or MH.

Bonsai Guy said:

Thanks all, I just hear that no matter my wattage output for the T5s, that the MH will be better overall. And let's just get that straight, I don't need flowering. I don't grow marijuana, I grow Ficus. I'm just looking for a kind of light that gives off the best, non-flowering growth, whether it be T5 or MH.

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Have to keep that in mind! MH will do you fine.

Alexander Supertramp said:

If you want to go CMH then you better get a bunch now. They have discontinued(once all parts are used up)CMH bulbs.

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Well that just blows.

kinetic said:

Well that just blows.

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Yeah, wow - why? I read on Advanced tech's site about Philips ditching it or something?
Sucks, I came in here to suggest CMH, only to learn I might have to buy up a few bulbs soon..

I'm just really trying to figure out if there is enough difference in bulb color/spectrum to buy a MH to try out...

I'm really considering this though....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HYDROFARM-SBM175H-MINI-SUNBURST-METAL-HALIDE-LAMP-175W-NEW-AUTHORIZED-DEALER-/280839369699?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item416354b3e3