it's darker without the hps plus it's a cross so it won't get quit as dark. Just had grow big in there, flushed it thinking I may have over Done it but I had put under 1/2 the recomended amount. Today I flushed and mixed seperate nute solution to mix it with the water a little more gradually. Now I have 5 gal of water with 1/2 gal mixed solution containing water(obviously) grow big, earth juice micro blast, liquid karma and a little tiger bloom.