Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

[Azeotrope]

knna - I like your post. I agree that light usage by plants varies by species and other environmental conditions. One reason I took a break from here was that we were all (including me for sure!) on the 'my bulb is best kick'. While I still believe that as a single light source the CMH has been the best in my work, I have aquired a 150w 3k Philips CMH to suppliment a 250w Philips CMH 4k. I am trying different set-ups on timing. Like running the 150w 3k for the full 12hrs and the 250w 4k during the middle 8hrs (starts 2hrs after 3k and off 2hrs before 3k).

At any rate I am a CMH believer. The point is to watch your plants and be open to trying something new. I have seen some awesome PLL stuff lately!

Peace

PS - I have been reading posts by knna on lighting for years now. He is wise and should be respected on this topic.

 

[Azeotrope]

whiterasta - After a little running of the 4k CMH + 3k CMH I think you have a combo that should work well. The best proof is in your own results. The spectrum from the 3k CMH is similar in output to the better Agricultural HPS bulbs.

Good luck and keep us up to date.

 

[binaryfission]

so for someone a stationary light source, would the suggestion be a combo hood or just run the CMH and HPS side by side? I guess my real question is how to maintain an even canopy seeing as the HPS will need to be farther way. So do you just place the CMH lower? i'm sure there is a simple solution but i need some help.

I like your solution azeotrope. great to see you in this thread.

 

[whiterasta]

whiterasta - After a little running of the 4k CMH + 3k CMH I think you have a combo that should work well. The best proof is in your own results. The spectrum from the 3k CMH is similar in output to the better Agricultural HPS bulbs.

Good luck and keep us up to date.

Yesterday marked the first 7days of 12/12 and my floor is easily a week ahead of where it would be on HPS alone. I will borrow my daughters cam and take some high quality images of the development and the overall robust nature of the plants.I am really seeing a night and day difference. 7days and they are well into flower. About 50% larger overall, with ~1/2 again more growth nodes ~1/2 as far apart. Pics to come
WR

PS to binary fission; I am running my combo side by side @ 1.5-2' over the canopy in dual siamesed parabolics. As you will see I have a very even canopy save for the mothers I am flowering. The blended spectrum seems to be producing much more uniform plants

 

[whiterasta]

Yesterday marked the first 7days of 12/12 and my floor is easily a week ahead of where it would be on HPS alone. I will borrow my daughters cam and take some high quality images of the development and the overall robust nature of the plants.I am really seeing a night and day difference. 7days and they are well into flower. About 50% larger overall, with ~1/2 again more growth nodes ~1/2 as far apart. Pics to come

So blah blah blah talk all I want but a picture is worth a thousand words.
Same plant 9 days ago

Now 7days into 12/12

Last round this took 12-13days to get this stacked

The girls choir

Probably should just start a journal but am ignorant on how.
Have to say the way the plants are growing I only turned them just in time to keep them out of the light I will have to take that into account when running sativas.
CMH2PS yeehaw!
WR

 

[thal]

Whiterasta - Your setup looks great. You've inspired me to go with a 600 HPS/400 CMH instead of just a 1000 HPS.

I was looking at the 600 Watt EYE Hortilux Super HPS, which 400W CMH do you recommend?

My thoughts are that the dual bulb setup will be cooler than the 1000W by itself. Is that correct?

I could use your opinion on cooling too. I posted a thread in this forum but its been about a week and haven't gotten any responses.

I'm going to have two tents in the same room, I was looking at the GL145s, but I'm not stuck on that particular brand. It will basically be two 4'8" x 4'8" x 84" tent.

I want to use a fllip flop to do the timing for me. My big concern is how do I use one fan to vent the reflectors from both tents without having light leaks come through the ducting?

How strong of a fan will I need to do this? I will be using a separate fan for carbon scrubbing.

 

[Azeotrope]

Good skill showing through in those pics! Lights are a huge part, but you got to get it right too...... Good stems on those. Looks like they plan on packing it on soon.

 

[Delta223]

I use multiple low wattage bulbs (for a vertical grow) and am thinking of replacing my 250/400w HPS with CMH, do you think this is a good idea whiterasta?

 

[whiterasta]

Am liking the combination of CMH/HPS. I have run both separately and don't see the growth I do when both run.
WR

 

[Delta223]

If you had to choose only 1 type of light in flower, which would you do? I ask because my new setup may require only one light per growing area.

 

[messn'n'gommin']

CMH?

 

[Pinball Wizard]

If you had to choose only 1 type of light in flower, which would you do? I ask because my new setup may require only one light per growing area.

with a S51 400 watt magnetic ballast...you have two bulb choices.....a 400 CMH or 400 HPS bulb...it's a good combo..
you can switch or use just one...for vegging/flowering..or any combination in between

a lot of bang for the buck

 

[scouty1234]

I was thinking about using 2 150w CMH bulbs over a 3X4 area for veg only what do you guys think?

 

[Delta223]

I'm having trouble even finding a magnetic ballast for an HPS light, anyone know where to buy one?

 

[hoosierdaddy]

If it doesn't say ELECTRONIC or DIGITAL, it will be a magnetic core ballast. You want it to state ANSI S51 for a 400watt lamp. Any store that sells ballasts will have them.

scouty, you need to use pulse start metal halide ballasts for the 150's.

 

[scouty1234]

If it doesn't say ELECTRONIC or DIGITAL, it will be a magnetic core ballast. You want it to state ANSI S51 for a 400watt lamp. Any store that sells ballasts will have them.

scouty, you need to use pulse start metal halide ballasts for the 150's.

Yes I know that. Was just wondering what people think of the 2 150s oer a 3X4

 

[Delta223]

Thanks, I'm looking for 250w ballasts so ANSI S50.

Now since I'm running 4 lamps the only question is how to split the lighting. I think 75 - HPS 25 - CMH would be ideal, but I might try out 50/50 first to get a feel for the CMH

 

[messn'n'gommin']

Yes I know that. Was just wondering what people think of the 2 150s oer a 3X4

Just my opinion man, but, for 12 sq/ft you could fit two 400's in there. Cooling would be a concern, but manageable.

I say two 250's would work well if you threw as many CFL's at them as you can (blue or red as stage dictates). Heat would still need to be addressed, but less so than with 800w's.

After that, I say yeah, two 150's supplemented with CFL/PLL would certainly get you good results.

 

[scouty1234]

The 3X4 area is strictly for veg and nothing else. I know I could use 4 foot flouros. But I was thinking the CMHs would be better plus with 2 I like the idea of being able to shut one off

 

[whiterasta]

So here are pics of 14days ago, 7days ago and one from yesterday, 14 days into flower.This strain under HPS alone is at where the 7day pic is @14days. At this point since the only change has been the lighting I have to say that the added .8k of CMH is making a very large difference in my plants. They are stronger in that the connective tissue is very fibrous and the stems stiff but not brittle. One cannot simply "pop" off a shade without peeling the plant you must clip it with a thumbnail or scissors. The leaves themselves are coarse and thick like a hardy outdoor plant with a rough surface covered in spicules ( the CaCO3 stalk of trichomes) that are hopefully a indication of greater resin yield from increased UV down the road.
@ 21 days ( next week) I expect the beginnings of resin production to be in full swing on this strain and the week following on the Sat Doms I have.
Looks like I may be making some of my best posts since my outdoor 2000 that is in the cannabible 2 (look up Oregon sativa) during the OG hey daze
I hope more folks add CMH to their existing HPS too validate further what I am seeing in my plants, A two to three fold increase in bud nodes, stout stature with little stretch at switch and developing non-capitate trichomes while in veg on the leaf and stem surface.
More as they develop


at turn back

At 7days 12/12

and now @ 14 days

WR