Using MH and HPS Lights in Combination

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T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
I am familiar with the "2 to 1 Ratio" concept - that is - 2 metal halide lights + 1 high pressure sodium light (all of the same wattage) for the veg cycle; then switching to 2 high pressure sodium lights and 1 metal halide light for flowering. This is supposed to provide the "best" spectrum, better than either type of light used individually.

I have two questions: 1. How much better is it; will I really notice a difference? And 2. Just where does this information come from?

I mean it all sounds logical; I've thought about it and it seems to make sense. But I would like more information, maybe someone could point me in the right direction so I can do more research.

Does anyone have any experience with this method? What do y'all think?
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
T.H.Cammo said:
I am familiar with the "2 to 1 Ratio" concept - that is - 2 metal halide lights + 1 high pressure sodium light (all of the same wattage) for the veg cycle; then switching to 2 high pressure sodium lights and 1 metal halide light for flowering. This is supposed to provide the "best" spectrum, better than either type of light used individually.

I have two questions: 1. How much better is it; will I really notice a difference? And 2. Just where does this information come from?

I mean it all sounds logical; I've thought about it and it seems to make sense. But I would like more information, maybe someone could point me in the right direction so I can do more research.

Does anyone have any experience with this method? What do y'all think?
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Works as described given everything else is equal. However the electric cost and the heat are both problems.
 
Lenin1917

Lenin1917

Well-Known Member
I’ve done it, better off just getting a decent led gonna cost about the same as your electric bill, shit was not affordable lol.
 
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T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I understand; that's why I want to start small (and cheap). With 1 each MH and HPS magnetic ballast kits and 1 switchable electronic ballast, in the 250 watt range.
 
Jjgrow420

Jjgrow420

Well-Known Member
Sure man. There's no recipe. Mixing spectrums will give you tighter more compact plants.
I just run cmh instead. Best of both worlds really.
 
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oill

Well-Known Member
T.H.Cammo said:
Not bad at all! But I would still like to get some input on the "2 to 1 Ratio" question.
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Just run mh to week 2 then switch to hps for all 3. Hos is amazing for flower. Mh to week 2 keeps them short.... that works really well.

But like they say... led is better. The mh hps set up is tried and tested.... 20 years ago
 

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Jimmy Slade

Jimmy Slade

Well-Known Member
T.H.Cammo said:
Yeah, I understand; that's why I want to start small (and cheap). With 1 each MH and HPS magnetic ballast kits and 1 switchable electronic ballast, in the 250 watt range.
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Lower wattage HID lights are some of the most inefficient tech available. If you were running 600s cause you couldn't afford the up front cost of LEDs, I would get it. But 250 - 400 watt HIDs are garbage.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
T.H.Cammo said:
I am familiar with the "2 to 1 Ratio" concept - that is - 2 metal halide lights + 1 high pressure sodium light (all of the same wattage) for the veg cycle; then switching to 2 high pressure sodium lights and 1 metal halide light for flowering. This is supposed to provide the "best" spectrum, better than either type of light used individually.

I have two questions: 1. How much better is it; will I really notice a difference? And 2. Just where does this information come from?

I mean it all sounds logical; I've thought about it and it seems to make sense. But I would like more information, maybe someone could point me in the right direction so I can do more research.

Does anyone have any experience with this method? What do y'all think?
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You might want to switch back to 2 MH 1 HPS at the end of flower. I've never done it but know people who do that. There's some science to it, but I can't remember what it exactly is. I think it helps with trichomes and terpenes if I remember correctly, but don't quote me.
 
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harleyhawg666

Well-Known Member
Jimmy Slade said:
Lower wattage HID lights are some of the most inefficient tech available.................................................................................................. 400 watt HIDs are garbage.
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Wrong. Old tech may be more inefficient, but it definitely isn't garbage. I agree with the guy that said HPS flowers better than LED. Old tech is better in that regard, IMHO. The pictures I am seeing of LED buds don't seem that impressive. The plants are usually very small too because the LEDs are so weak. It is like people get offended if a grower on this forum says that they like HPS or HIDs. LOL. It is comical really how that pisses off the LED cult.
 
Jimmy Slade

Jimmy Slade

Well-Known Member
harleyhawg666 said:
Wrong. Old tech may be more inefficient, but it definitely isn't garbage. I agree with the guy that said HPS flowers better than LED. Old tech is better in that regard, IMHO. The pictures I am seeing of LED buds don't seem that impressive. The plants are usually very small too because the LEDs are so weak. It is like people get offended if a grower on this forum says that they like HPS or HIDs. LOL. It is comical really how that pisses off the LED cult.
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Oh look! A clown!!

What I said is factual. Lower wattage HID lamps(150, 250, 400) are inefficient when compared to larger lights(600, 1000), with 600s being the most efficient of SE HID. They're just a notch above florescent in terms of efficiency.

And watt for watt, current LEDs completely outperform HID lights. That's a fact. I know that it chaps your vagina to hear that, so I guess, sorry?

Nothing about what you said pisses off anybody, as most of the people who read your post will simply laugh at you. Thank you for bumping this though - it's raining all day here and I need something to occupy my time.

BTW - Your bike is also inefficient. Tee hee!
 
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hillbill

hillbill

Well-Known Member
White or mostly white quality LED Boards and Bar lights kick HPS down the block and into the drain.
 
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T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
It seems we have gotten into an HID - LED shitstorm. That's not the point of my original question at all! I can understand your suggestions for using LED's. But I am asking about using HID's - SPECIFICALLY - using them in the afore mentioned "2 to1Ratio". It is not about efficiency or heat issues that I am concerned with; it is only about the "magic" that is supposed to happen when one mixes the two spectrums in a 2 to 1 ratio.

I hear a lot of hearsay accounts saying favorable things about their results from using this 2 to 1 ratio. But I can't seem to find any serious source of information in order to do my own research. I'm beginning to think it's just "Bro-science".
 
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budtoker221

Well-Known Member
What about dual arc bulbs that combine MH and HPS in one bulb. Are those 50/50? I just assumed they were 50/50

I’ve got 4200k MH but might switch up to a dual arc or a CMH, or a combination of CMH and dual arc there’s so many possibilities..haha
 
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budtoker221

Well-Known Member
Edit/ update:
The specs for the hortilux dual arc 1000 are apparently split 600 hps to 400 Mh
So you might be onto something there, as I’ve heard some good reviews of those dual arc bulbs.
 
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T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
budtoker221 said:
What about dual arc bulbs that combine MH and HPS in one bulb. Are those 50/50? I just assumed they were 50/50

I’ve got 4200k MH but might switch up to a dual arc or a CMH, or a combination of CMH and dual arc there’s so many possibilities..haha
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Yeah, I know what you mean - too many possibilities! Those dual arc bulbs are the same idea I'm talking about, except they only come in one configuration. They don't make one that's 600 watts MH and 400 watts HPS that I know of.
 
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