harrad

Ice 9,
Sharp peaks at blue, green, Yellow, UV and plenty of IR, other wavelengths are nearly non existent. Coated mercury vapor lamps also have a moderate red peak due to the phosphor coating.

Coated (delux) mercury lamps are only slightly better overall than incandescents for growing. You can use them sucessfully to supliment HPS lamps but their efficiency is low.

A 400W Merc vapor only outputs 21K lumens. Compare that to 40K lumens for a 400W super halide and 50K lumens for a 400W HPS and you can see why their not often used for grow lights.

I used them once, years ago (My first HID ) but I haven't owned or used one since.

Hope this helps, Harrad.

stickyfingers00

harrad, how did that grow go with the mercury vapor light? i'm asking cause i'm using only floro's for my grow with sad results i'm into my 7th week of flowering and my buds are pretty small. I'm on a real tight budget with tution and all and I noticed that the mercury vapor lights are real cheap would it help at all if i got one?


.....peace

p.s here's shot of one of my buds

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St0ney

They are not efficient enough and do not have the right kind of wavelength. I started growing with a MV and since switching to a HPS I have had WAY better results. Go check out the hardware stores for security lighting. They should have cheap 70 - 150 watt HPS for under $75. I'm using a 150 w HPS right now and it produces much bigger buds the 175w MV I had.

See the MV is the oldest form of HID lighting. Since it then technology has given us more efficient lighting. The MH and HPS both produce more light watt for watt then the MV. The HPS will produce more lumens per watt used the either of them. But, The newest Fluorex compact florescent lighting has now surpassed even the HPS in efficiency. You can got those for under $40. Hope I helped.

St0ney
Stayin Rky Mtn High

__________________

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." -- Albert Einstein

stickyfingers00

awsome! thanks a lot Stoney. Is the Fluorex compact florescent on the market?

........peace

__________________
roll it up, light it up, smoke it up inhale.....exhale......

St0ney

Yep, I'm using one right now and will be getting another real soon. Check home Depot.

St0ney

__________________

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." -- Albert Einstein

ToyzOfDesire

I got mine at wal mart for 24$, I cant wait till they make a stronger one of these.

ToyzOfDesire

Ok umm, Im still wondering why I should use warm whites at a color temp of 3000 when im sure these red fluoros look to be a below that, and im still wondering why yellow is suggested for use in flowering with floros, when yellow from what I read is the lesser of the 3 colors that are more important for flowering, red, orange and yellow being the 3 I read are more usefull.

Kronic_Toker

Any response would be nice.......... Which color temperature of MH light would be most recommended for use by itself during the vegetative stage.

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I'm going to a pretty place now, where the flowers grow. I'll be back in an hour or so

BuddHound

here where i live, HPS lights are $33.95 for a 200 watter, but now you need the starter and ballast, but still pretty cheap. In the same home depot, MH bulbs, 400 watt, $39.99, but yet again, the ballasts and starter are needed. just wanted to show that they dont have to be a fortune.

420 forever

TCC

But the ballasts can cost , from what I have found on the
web, an average around $90 each, so couple the
light and the ballast, and it does add up, what about shipping?
Those ballasts sure are heavy! 20 lbs, easy.

That, coupled with the light, and than you have to put it
together, it isn't very *professional* but some people
take the risk.

I started with that light off of EBAY by the guy selling with the
extra light bulbs....

I just bought a light outfit that needs one 400 HPS ballast,
I am taking that one off and putting it on my new light
system.....he warranties his, and it was safe running when
I was not home, but I am always a little anxious when the
light was on and I was no where to be found, DOH!


I bought that light, and upgraded, now I have more
lights than I know what to do with:

2 250 MH units
1 175 MH unit
1 270 HPS unit
1 800 Watt (400 MH/400 HPS) unit

We are not including the one I got off of ebay,

Ahhhh, Karma has been good to me, the Bud Fairy smiles,
may she smile upon you and wave her magic wand over
your grow and give you the success that I have
been offered!

(Plus, I usually grabbed the lights from EBAY locals selling them,
NO ONE wants to pay shipping! )

__________________
TCC
Thank the thinkers that think they thunk the thoughts that theorized
Idolized or despised bet I'm gettin' recognized
Mount Rushmore it? No ignore it can't rock with no big head
Half of the people want me half of the people want me dead
I am the Angel Of Def with my rhymes against humanity
Teeter-tottering between brilliance and insanity
~The Bloodhound Gang~