HPS all the way through?

[dirkdaddy]

how bad is this really? what I mean is using an HPS bulb for both veg and flower. I know I should just get a mh conversion bulb along with the HPS but I am really trying to get cost down. I am adding up the supplies I am going to get and its going to be a pretty penny for 400w light, grow tent, vortec fan/charcoal filter, and ak47 (plus everything else needed for it, going to be well over $700). will I see a huge decrease in potency? am I going to mess my plants up in veg by using only the HPS? I am for sure adding on a MH later or even just straight up buying a CMH to replace both but I am wondering if for a first grow if it would be that horrible to just use an HPS all the way through? what exactly are the consequences going to be? thanks!

 

[Paradoxed]

I have conversion bulbs but still use hps for vegging since getting air cooled hoods, bulb changing is a pita

from what I understand from long ago, mh will produce tighter nodes in vegging, for me nowadays tho, it is about convenience and time spent.

 

[Rollin Face]

i basically did that my whole first 2 grows, this time i used cfls for veg but everything turned out amazing...only bad thing was the cost of $ per month, BUT my plants grew WAAAY faster than these CFLs of course, so it really either or.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Before you start switching bulbs or choosing bulbs best suited for half your grow, read up on CMH. It has more blue than MH and more red than HPS. All in one bulb, one ballast, no switching. Cooler too.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=72215

 

[badmf]

I haven't switched bulbs for veg in years now , but I use T5's in multiples for early growth then hps and 12/12 no sweat. I have added an MH from time to time during bloom but as mentioned air-cooled and silicon sealed lites are a PITA, lol.

 

[FunkBomb]

Here is an idea for you. I have had great experiences in previous grows vegging with cheap 4ft shoplights. I usually get the cool white bulbs that are around 4200 kelvin. If you keep them within an inch of the plants you will have some fat leaves in a week or so. They put out very little heat and noise. I have gotten shorter internodes from shoplights than MH lamps. You can get a few shoplights and bulbs at Depot/Lowes for ~ $20.

-Funk

 

[dirkdaddy]

thanks for the replies guys. I am familiar with CMH, i've read through the thread a pretty good amount. so it seems like its a toss up in between getting some shoplights or just buying a CMH. The shoplights seem like a great idea but so does just getting the CMH. I am a little hesitant on getting the CMH because all the reviews haven't been completely glowing. is the consensus 100% now? i've just read a couple replies in the thread that made it seem like the jury could still be out on CMH but maybe I just being overly cautious. should I just go for it? I guess I could spare the cash. I don't want airy buds so its worth the expense.

 

[Hammerhead]

IM using 8 54w t5 for veg =432w these are very efficient. you dont need to use as much as I do but my tent is the secret jarden 150 and the flower tent is the homebox. I will switch these later the jarden has reflective walls so better for flower. I have 1 600w HPS in the flower tent. Yhe reflector is a cool tube reflector these are absolutly the best for keeping your light cool.

 

[green_grow]

you can definitely use the HPS all the way through. i did it on my first grow and got a very nice crop. i now use cfls for veg., but only because i am getting a perpetual harvest going. yes, the CMH and MH will give you better results but the herb will be just fine if you, for whatever reason, go with just HPS all the way.

 

[Hammerhead]

I think it's less expensive to run cfl/t5 for veg on your PGE BILL

 

[NorCalFor20]

i second the cmh idea, cmh is an awesome bulb, also make sure you use it not only in veg but the first 2 weeks of flower use cmh then use HPS for the middle of flowering then switch back to CMH for last to weeks of flower to pack on heavy resin

 

[Hammerhead]

If $ is not an issue then yes CMH is a good light. But I have used cfl/t5 for years and the cost savings are substantial. and no difference in bud quality

 

[smokeymacpot]

you can use it all the way through,, but you have to be careful with the seedlings, too close and u could give them light burn as theyre not very hardy at that stage and they stretch more.
i always start mine under cfl as they tend to be shorter and enjoy the blue spectrum light more and the temp is cooler. later on no doubt you will be getting into cloning, so i think its worth getting something which you can use just for starting plants and cloneing ( a few 20-40cfls is all u need).after 2 weeks under cfl they adjust to the hps alot better.
cfl also saves LOTS of electricity when on 24/0 in veg
hth

 

[colonelbogey]

Have now completed 2 grows under 250 and 600w HPS only.


this pic is approx day 35 of 12/12.

As stated above internode length generally increases, this is the only down side i have found.
Just ordered a 250 W CMH for a side by side comparison on my next grow (AK48).

peace

 

[dirkdaddy]

you can use it all the way through,, but you have to be careful with the seedlings, too close and u could give them light burn as theyre not very hardy at that stage and they stretch more.
i always start mine under cfl as they tend to be shorter and enjoy the blue spectrum light more and the temp is cooler. later on no doubt you will be getting into cloning, so i think its worth getting something which you can use just for starting plants and cloneing ( a few 20-40cfls is all u need).after 2 weeks under cfl they adjust to the hps alot better.
cfl also saves LOTS of electricity when on 24/0 in veg
hth

can you just buy "fixtures" for the bulbs at home depot/lowes? im no electrician is it difficult to wire them to plug into a socket or do they come like that? I think this CFL idea is the way to go for right now.

 

[Pharma Geddon]

I've vegged with 400w hps alongside a 400w mh conversion bulb, both cheapo bulbs, the plants preferred the hps by a wide margin.

Vegging with a 600w Grolux v a 7200K Sunmaster mh conversion bulb the plants preferred the Sunmaster but only just and it was twice the price.

I've never had a genuine non conversion mh bulb so can't comment on them but some have run them in an hps ballast without problems although no manufacturer would recommend it.

The biggest problem with weed sites is that the argument goes 'which is better' without quantifying the answer or accepting that different growers have different requirements. For the first grow the question should be 'which is the best value for money' and using just a hps all the way through is the best value for money on a tight budget. Although I'm using cmh for veg now it wouldn't bother me that much if hps became the only bulbs available, I'd still get to toke as much as I wanted.

btw, I've started seeds under 600w hps and mh plus a 400w cmh. Each time I've already had plants growing under the light so no danger of burning them. Under cfl they stretch to look like cress pretty soon, under the hid they can go an extra week before going into the main pots.

Let me know if you want a no brainer germination method for your hps light.

 

[clowntown]

Short answer is, HPS all the way through isn't that bad. I think you will get slightly better results running halides during veg, but isn't a big deal especially if you're on budget.

If you really want blue light in veg with your 400w HPS ballast, you don't necessarily need to get an expensive 400w MH conversion bulb. Just bypass the igniter to effectively turn your HPS ballast into a switchable ballast (install a switch if you want, so you don't have to re-wire every time you go from MH/HPS).

 

[kezz]

how bad is this really? what I mean is using an HPS bulb for both veg and flower. I know I should just get a mh conversion bulb along with the HPS but I am really trying to get cost down. I am adding up the supplies I am going to get and its going to be a pretty penny for 400w light, grow tent, vortec fan/charcoal filter, and ak47 (plus everything else needed for it, going to be well over $700). will I see a huge decrease in potency? am I going to mess my plants up in veg by using only the HPS? I am for sure adding on a MH later or even just straight up buying a CMH to replace both but I am wondering if for a first grow if it would be that horrible to just use an HPS all the way through? what exactly are the consequences going to be? thanks!

400hps is what i use all the way been doin it for years with no probs at all, i hate having to stuff around with bulbs all the time.Keep it simple and your away.

 

[smokeymacpot]

can you just buy "fixtures" for the bulbs at home depot/lowes? im no electrician is it difficult to wire them to plug into a socket or do they come like that? I think this CFL idea is the way to go for right now.

yes you can buy many different fixtures, even pre wired ones with plugs and clips n things so you can hang them anywhere on a chain.

something like: http://www.thelightworks.net/images/clip on desk lamp.jpg

but probably best to find one without the reflector bit, mine dont have them.

 

[GreenLeaf-420]

T5's are no joke. I use them for clones and leave them under till they are about 8" the Nodes are so fucking tight it is amazing... You can not even come close w/ a MH or HPS.. The plants look the best IMO under a T5. I would love to try a full grow w/ many of them!!!