Cheap or expensive MH bulb?

I use the term "expensive" loosely)

Hello all! How is everyone? Good I hope.

Hey we are switching from 5 fixture flouro set up for about a 5'x5' by 6' tall area to a single 400w cooltube system.

Bought a brand name switchable cooltube type light that came with a hps bulb, also bought a 6" elicent fan with speed controller.

Anyway, my question is, I need to buy a MH bulb for veg (we are still using flouro setup) and I see them for anywhere from $12 to about $40 and am wondering what the difference is between them?

Should I buy a $30 400w mh when I can buy a $12 one?

Obviously if yield will be severally affected I would go with the more expensive one.

If the cheaper one puts out as many lumen's (cant find that info anywhere?) but just doesn't last as long as the $30 one then I would just go with the cheap one as they need to be replaced after so many hours anyway.


So here it is, would you try and save a few bucks here?
Or does it make a diff?

As always thanks for you help!

Sammy

hey sammy

if ur only using the MH for vegging then go cheap. i guess you'll be changing to hps in flowering?

here if your looking to save money your floro setup seems fine for vegging, most ballasts support both MH & HPS so just buy a hps bulb on flower on that

thats exactly what i was wondering. and if the more expensive bulb lasts longer would it make sense to buy it? because they guy at my local hydro shop said bulbs lose their light spectrum after around 6 months. anyone have info on this? some one that actually knows what they're talking about?

Mrgreenfinger said:

here if your looking to save money your floro setup seems fine for vegging, most ballasts support both MH & HPS so just buy a hps bulb on flower on that

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Some ballasts support both, not most.

I purchased a 400 conversion system for $169. HTG branded, so it's cheap and also hasn't given me any problems and I've had it over a year.

If you only have one grow area and not a seperate veg room, then a conversion system is a must. It's so nice just swapping bulbs out.

ya i have a conversion system, but what i have found out with the MH, is it burns really hot. ive had some heat problems, and the HPS gives 1/3 more lumens and can get a growbright hps bulb with 30% more blue in it that works great with veg. i switched my mh to my hps and just seem to like it better. easier to keep it cooler and the plants seem to love it. make sure though its a high output with 30% more blue light.

CoolRide said:

I use the term "expensive" loosely)

Bought a brand name switchable cooltube type light that came with a hps bulb, also bought a 6" elicent fan with speed controller.

Anyway, my question is, I need to buy a MH bulb for veg (we are still using flouro setup) and I see them for anywhere from $12 to about $40 and am wondering what the difference is between them?

Should I buy a $30 400w mh when I can buy a $12 one?

Obviously if yield will be severally affected I would go with the more expensive one.

If the cheaper one puts out as many lumen's (cant find that info anywhere?) but just doesn't last as long as the $30 one then I would just go with the cheap one as they need to be replaced after so many hours anyway.

Sammy

Click to expand...

I only run my bulbs for a year at the most and I buy top dollar ones. Here's what I have for veg now

http://www.hydroponics.net/i/242033

I only use these for flower, and they are very common in non MMJ production for growers too

http://bjsbestgrowhydro.com/grow-lights/grow-light-bulbs/Agrosun-Red-Sodiums-1000W

Yeah it $$ especially when you are buying couple few at a time, but if you are going for it why not do it right. I'm looking for the top and weight and best. Bulbs are pretty important key. Those bulbs for $20 are for street lights so if you want to light up your basketball court at time get those.

I haven't tried it, but i've read about ceramic metal halide (CMH) bulbs. They use standard HPS magnetic core (not digital) ballasts. The spectrum is much more white than either HPS or MH and run cooler as well. Since the spectrum covers both red and blue it's supposed to be excellent for both veg and flower. I'm probably going to be trying it out in the future with my 400W HPS ballast.

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

ElectricPineapple said:

ya i have a conversion system, but what i have found out with the MH, is it burns really hot. ive had some heat problems, and the HPS gives 1/3 more lumens and can get a growbright hps bulb with 30% more blue in it that works great with veg. i switched my mh to my hps and just seem to like it better. easier to keep it cooler and the plants seem to love it. make sure though its a high output with 30% more blue light.

Click to expand...

The el cheapo MH bulbs I get work great, explosive growth, couldn't ask for better performance.

well my hps has the same amount of blue spectrum in it as my MH. and my plants seem to like it way better than my MH

Go to your local home Depot and buy one for $24. They'll work and last as long as anything out there. For flower, I would never use anything except for hortilux hps.