• CD Moderators: someguyontheinternet
  • Cannabis Discussion Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules

400 watt hps vs 400 watt mh??

For just a stand alone bulb for the entire grow i'd go with the Blue MH. The yields might not be as high as with the HPS, but the smell, flavors, and hightype will be more full. This will probably only be noticeable in an organic grow though.
 
If possible, I would put down a little more cash for a 600w HPS. The difference between 400w and 600w is significant and the 600w is the most efficient HID on the market (in terms of lumens per watt.)

It'll pay for itself after the first harvest. The last 2 weeks, flush and switch to a metal halide bulb (either conversion bulb or a standard MH bulb if you're using a digital ballast, as these can run both bulbs these days) for aroma.

If you're gonna stick to 400w, I would go with a CMH for the entire grow. Ceramic Metal Halide bulbs offer the best of HPS + MH but unfortunately only go up to 400w.
 
Go for HPS. Nearly all the growers I know use HPS through their whole cycle.

MH will get you denser plants in veg compared to HPS, but HPS will make your buds alot tighter compared to MH.
 
I agree w/ Wise420, if you are only going to use one bulb for the entire cycle, you are better off using an HPS, it is much more important to use an HPS during 12/12 then it is to have a MH during Veg. You can always put a CFL in as well to add more of the blue spectrum, and they are pretty cheap. Honestly, I would spend the extra money and get both bulbs, they are MORE THAN worth it.

If you can't afford to buy the things that the plants need, then you have no business even doing it. You get out, what you put in.
I just ordered my Red Eye Hortilux 600W HPS from Cheaphydroponics.com and it was only $80. That is chump change in the grand scheme of things. I replace my bulbs after 4 or 5 cycles. It is not even a question, it is safer and the plants need it.

I have both 400w HPS & MH, I only use the MH for Veg and the 400w HPS in the first week of 12/12 to acclimate, then I switch to the 600w HPS, it is 50% more lumens which results in nicer buds and a better yield.
 
Read this, kinda curious and had a question about this.

I have one Hood, and a 600 watt digital ballast.

Now, I keep seeing people saying that the results work best when using both bulbs...

Are we talking MH for Veg, HPS for Flower, or...

Are people unscrewing their HPS bulb, and putting in a MH for a day or two, then switching it back out with HPS, Im a bit confused, as , I do plan on using MH to veg my next crop, and HPS to flower, but , If Flowering with both HPS/MH (switching from day to day)

Anyone have experience with this or know what would be best to do
 
MH for veg, then switch to HPS for flower. That is pretty much the standard. However SunPulse makes the Arm spinners that have either 3 or 4 bulbs depending on the model and they have both spectrums, but they are not MH/HPS, they are Kelvin rated..I don't know all that much about them, you can look it up and read about them though. Some people will use HPS and MH together during flowering, but I have never heard of someone switching bulbs on and off every few days. That's seems like a waste of time and the more you touch the bulbs and unscrew them, then screw them back in..etc etc.. the more of a chance you may damage the bulb.

IMO, the best course of action is to veg w/ a MH, then once you 12/12, put in the HPS. Honestly, I would go w/ an enhanced spectrum HPS, Red Eye Hortilux bulbs are freaking AWESOME. They have a wider range of spectrums than a standard HPS bulb. I should be getting my Red Eye 600W HPS on Tuesday...I can't wait!!
 
I am planning on getting a digital ballast at some point...those things rock. I want the NextGen 400/600 switchable one. So during veg when they do not need as much, you can use a 400W MH, which in the warmer months will help keep the heat down, then once you 12/12, just switch it to 600 and put in the HPS. Those NextGen 400/600 are around $200 and and they support both MH & HPS in both 400 & 600Watts. Can't go wrong with that!!
 
specmove.gif


you want lights that can best match the spectrums that the plant will use. so MH for veg, HPS for flower. i just checked the spec sheet on these "enhanced spectrum" bulbs and they're most active in the 550-600nm range which seems to indicate that they are meant as supplemental bulbs not for use as a single-bulb grow. if you're going single-bulb, as suggested, one MH and one HPS bulb should do fine. as far as wattage goes, plan for 100-150W per plant and buy accordingly.
 
Yea MH for veg HPS for flower, but if on a budget then you can use a MH bulb thru the whole cycle and still see good yields. Also there are some good MH bulbs now that have a very wide spectrum with lots of blues and reds.
 
I've got the Sunmaster 600 Watt HPS Deluxe, is that good? or should I buy a different , better HPS bulb?

Also, when buying MH, is it okay to buy any old MH bulb, or do I have to look at what spectrum of light they put out

, Also, I have a digital ballast, 600watt, and it has 100%, 75% and 60% power usage.
Digital ballasts are compatable with both MH and HPS correct?

(I saw one of those spinning arms [4 bulbs] and the shop I buy my stuff from, pretty neat looking , I couldn't imagine how much it would cost to run a system with that, my electric bill is already 450$)
 
hps would be best for a full cycle... the halide will produce sparse, airy loose buds, with low resin production.

i have a 400w mh/hps and a 400 hps. using both during flowering encourages further growth, and resin production, and is oh so recommended. i have the same bulb as you prelude, at 400w it produces 55k lumens, ordinarily 50k, the extra five is some extra ' blue' spectrum.

there are dual mh/hps bulbs, but they get pricey, but usually have a mirrored finish on half the light, which is very nice.

youd be fine with a $20 mh bulb, thats what im using (sylviana), some pro growers prefer these as they pump out more blue, rather then white light.

some people go all out and use a 10k-12.5k lumen, or UV light for the last 24-36 hours non stop. the uv's are dangerous, and are to be used from the floor, creating an "o zone" and sanitizing every thing in that space.

spending on hps bulbs is justifiable, and a good idea.

sodium vapor is the best, but rare, for flowering.

if you can only get one set up, get a Sun System Gro Pro dual mh/hps, or, a SS hps and some 6500k coil floro's, or some T8 floro's. the T8's are turning into the standard for vegetation, all the professional set ups ive seen use T8's. walmart has 18" T8 lights that can be daisy chained. they are fairly priced as they will burn for a long long time, with the same out put. also; low energy use, cool temps, safety, and success.

my vegetating plants get mh 19 hours a day, and 6500k cfl's at odd times with the mh, and while the mh is off.
2 400w lamps is much better then a 1kw lamp, especially using dual spectrums... but a 600w dual ballast is generally a best buy.

now, digital ballasts are pretty sweet, low heat, different capacity settings, and they are approved for use with a generator.
but, the can fuck with cell phones, and eat up wireless internet bandwidth, not just yours but your neighbors also. LEO'S know this, and if there are complaints of this happening they can triangulate on to you, if that is a concern...

reflectors are another story, generally a nice pliable wing is the best for the buck. i have a wing and a 'cool tube box reflector' with a thick powdered lense, mh is supposed to be used with a lense to filter the uv's, but my mh is in the wing heheh.

no problems do far, but if you foliar feed, be careful not to let the lamp get sprayed, ive gotten a few drops on mine before, but considered myself lucky and turn the fans off before spraying now...

as far as reflective surfaces are concerned, white visqueen, out bright with paint is near 90% reflective, mylar is around 96%, but any crinkles or wrinkles can reflect light that will burn holes in leafs.

etc. etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top