Metal halide or high pressure sodium?

[buckettoker]

i've bought everything i need for my next grow except better lights
i've got scott's potting soil
small pots/ 2 gallon pots for later
b'cuzz nutes/miricle grow
fans/mylar
(am i forgetting anything)?
all i need now is better lights,
would you guys suggest a metal halide bulb or high pressure sodium?
im lookin to grow about 6-8 plants.

-Matt k.

 

[Skate Hawaii]

both. metal halide for veg than hps for flower. you should get a 1000 watt

 

[longlivemtb]

Both would be the best, but if you can only get one. Go with the hps

 

[tokin24/7]

get a mh.. both would be nice. but find some better nutes and stick with the tables i have the 800 ss and luv it

 

[buckettoker]

stick with the tables?
800ss?
sorry im very new what does that mean?
and why is one better than the other.

 

[C_Pac]

MH provides the best spectrum (quality of light) for vegetative growth (the period from seedling to maturity). HPS provides the best spectrum for flowering. The flowering stage is more important because that's when you're making budzzz. You can use HPS for vegetative growth, but with slower, less lush results. Many people around here have had good results just using compact fluorescents of the right spectrum for vegging instead of MH, too.

 

[C_Pac]

Bottom line is, use HPS for flowering if at all possible. If you can't get or afford a MH too for vegging, then make do with what you can.

Forgot to mention, you can also get what's called a MH conversion bulb that will work in a HPS system. That way you can have one (HPS) ballast and just swap out bulbs for flowering.

 

[kdrush]

I've been using a 400w hps for 2 plants, and it feels like a little overkill. The plants look great though, I've used it for the entire grow. People say to use a MH bulb for vegging, but an hps will work just fine. you don't want to use a MH for flowering though. so I'm going to go ahead and recommend a hps.

 

[buckettoker]

ok so if i get the hps what kind of socket do i use or can i use a normal socket w/ a 500w max?

 

[kdrush]

you need a ballast, first of all, and it depends on the size of the bulb. I have a 400w and it uses a larger socket than normal. I forget what it is called, but I just brought the bulb to my local electrical store and they knew what it was.

 

[COD4]

MH provides the best spectrum (quality of light) for vegetative growth (the period from seedling to maturity). HPS provides the best spectrum for flowering. The flowering stage is more important because that's when you're making budzzz. You can use HPS for vegetative growth, but with slower, less lush results. Many people around here have had good results just using compact fluorescents of the right spectrum for vegging instead of MH, too.

Yea I'm new to indoor growing myself and CFL's for veg work great

 

[buckettoker]

ok so when i go to home depot this weekend ill pick up an hps and talk to the guy about a ballast?

 

[kdrush]

yeah home depot might not have them but it's worth a shot.

 

[buckettoker]

i just took a look at ballasts and there a little over my budget, do i really need one?
what do they do?

 

[kdrush]

I honestly don't know exactly what they do. I'm pretty sure they are necessary though.

 

[buckettoker]

i guess ill ask the guys at home depot if i need it and what kind of socket i need.

but im gonna go with the hps.
thanks guys

 

[worldsandreams]

you can get a ballast that will run both bulbs and thats what i would recommend. that way you can use MH for veg and then switch to HPS for flower

 

[worldsandreams]

check this site out they have what you need its not the best quality but it is what your looking for and is a lot cheaper

High Tech Garden Supply

 

[billiamlane]

I am reasonably new to this but i believe there is a full spectrum bulb that can be used in a hps system. I think its called agrosun i think

 

[buckettoker]

cool that looks pretty reasonable
i might be able to afford that right now
thanks ill get back to you when i get it.