peaceful planter

hello everyone
i know that using a MH to vegitate is the thing to do and that HPS is best for flowering so i was wondering. i bought a 400 watt MH setup lamp,ballast, and reflector but i was wondering if i can replace a HPS in the MH ballast when i want to start flowering? is it a good idea. also i was wondering if it would be a good idea to add 4 flouros to my setup with the MH?
thanx

growingreen

You can get a conversion bulb fro the mh ballast that runs hps bulb. I would run the floros in there if you have room, cant hurt.

peaceful planter

not qiute understanding but do u mean that u can get a HPS bulb and put it in my ballast with out having to buy anything

420bill

Hey Peaceful planter.You can get a HPS conversion bulb.Its a special HPS bulb that will safely,and properly will work in your MH ballest.Dont use a regular HPS bulb in your MH ballest,I've read and heard that it can be unsafe . Anyways I hope this helps you out.Peace

lilbuddie

Howdy all,
I have read some posts trashing Conversation bulbs and suggesting not to use them cuz they don't live up to the specs of the normal HPS bulbs. I would suggest checking out the specifications on them and determining for yourself if they are acceptable for you. Also, an normal HPS bulb may explode if plugged into a MH ballast so I wouldn't even suggest toying with the idea of "trying it out"

Good Growing
LB

growingreen

I agree on the fact that the regular hps bulb should not be fired on the mh ballast. If you get the conversion bulb it will be safe, the story on the downplay of these bulbs is that the lumen output of the bulb is less by about 5000 lumens for the 400w. Not as good as running right bulb with the proper ballast. What you can do is buy a mh bulb that has an enhanced spectrum like the argo sun gold. They only come in 1000w and 250w though as they are fairly new to the market. The 1000w mh is 115,000 lumens and the 250mh is 20,000 lumens.

[This message has been edited by growingreen (edited April 17, 2000).]

Highguy

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lilbuddie:
Howdy all,
I have read some posts trashing Conversation bulbs and suggesting not to use them cuz they don't live up to the specs of the normal HPS bulbs. I would suggest checking out the specifications on them and determining for yourself if they are acceptable for you. Also, an normal HPS bulb may explode if plugged into a MH ballast so I wouldn't even suggest toying with the idea of "trying it out"

Good Growing
LB<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good post. Here is someone you can respect. It is safer to use HPS through the grow season. HPS lights are more red. This ='s more heat. MH are not as hot and more blue. HPS has more in the infrared spectrum than MH. Lumens are easy to understand in comparison. If you are using either light at 250 watts or better you have plentiful lumens.

14u24me..wha ?

ive heard of people using afew floro to suppliment the hps.the cool white for veg

peaceful planter

so high pressure sodium bulbs are the best through vegitative state and flowering state. Shouldnt even worry about using a metal halides at vegitative state, and then switching to HPS

Highguy

I am sure that there are some that would say switch. They must be rich people. Man I wish they would share the wealth!!
If you are on budget this year add HPS light. I have heard lots about the HPS/MH bulbs that use a common fixture. Most say that the MH bulds are short lived. I have only use MH bulbs in a green house. I have never used tham to grow weed. I use HPS bulbs at home and at work because of the low costs. HPS bulbs are exspensive to buy but last for years if properly cared for. The ballast for the lamps are cheap but very noisy. HPS ballasts ceate heat, the light creates heat and thats what seedlings want. MH also creates heat, but at a higher frequency than HPS. HPS is a lower frequency light. Both large bulbs will light up the house if not properly contained. If you have a mylar lined room with one of these bulds, wear you raybans if you want to sit in the room and comune with the babies. You can damage your eyes quick aroung HPS and MH bulbs.