Hydroponic supply vendors

[stuartambient]

I'm having a difficult time here figuring out the best online vendors for supplies. Some of the websites are very difficult to search, lack decent description, all around uninspiring. I have my set up figured out but for things like lights, nutes, ph , etc where are some good online places to go. I do have a local store and perhaps for nutes that would make the most sense , still would like to shop around. Shopping lights online will probably make the most sense.

TIA
Stuart

[LOC NAR on probation]

Your local store will be a couple bucks higher on most things but when you add in S&H it may be cheaper at the local shop. Lights are a big thing to shop for I find local wants to much.

I have had very good results from this place and fast shipping.
Discount Hydroponics - ValuLine Lighting (http://www.discount-hydro.com/productdisp.php?navid=53&pid=480)

I can tell you if you can buy the biggest light ballast you can. Even if you want to run a 400 or 600 get the 1000 ballast. You can run any size bulb in a ballast as long as it is equal to or smaller than the ballast. This way if you want to get bigger later you have it.

[the image reaper]

I also give the :thumbsup: to Discount Hydroponics :smokin:

[mainegrown]

Your local store will be a couple bucks higher on most things but when you add in S&H it may be cheaper at the local shop. Lights are a big thing to shop for I find local wants to much.

I have had very good results from this place and fast shipping.
Discount Hydroponics - ValuLine Lighting (http://www.discount-hydro.com/productdisp.php?navid=53&pid=480)

I can tell you if you can buy the biggest light ballast you can. Even if you want to run a 400 or 600 get the 1000 ballast. You can run any size bulb in a ballast as long as it is equal to or smaller than the ballast. This way if you want to get bigger later you have it.


i got a lil question..
does the ballast still pull all 1000 watts if you have a 400 in it?
i assume it does but just HAVE to know.
thanks
~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

[stuartambient]

i got a lil question..
does the ballast still pull all 1000 watts if you have a 400 in it?
i assume it does but just HAVE to know.
thanks
~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé


Great idea and good question. Either way, while I do want to get to 1000w, I might very well wind up doing it in 250w increments. I have budget constraints.

I came across that discount hydroponics and liked their site. Cool to hear some feedback about them.

Stuart

[stuartambient]

Your local store will be a couple bucks higher on most things but when you add in S&H it may be cheaper at the local shop. Lights are a big thing to shop for I find local wants to much.

I have had very good results from this place and fast shipping.
Discount Hydroponics - ValuLine Lighting (http://www.discount-hydro.com/productdisp.php?navid=53&pid=480)

I can tell you if you can buy the biggest light ballast you can. Even if you want to run a 400 or 600 get the 1000 ballast. You can run any size bulb in a ballast as long as it is equal to or smaller than the ballast. This way if you want to get bigger later you have it.

Ahh i spoke before checking , the Discount Hydroponics place I found a few days ago is not the same as your link. Yours is way better. I'm looking at the lighting systems and liking :). Great , thanks for sharing !

Stuart

[LOC NAR on probation]

i got a lil question..
does the ballast still pull all 1000 watts if you have a 400 in it?
i assume it does but just HAVE to know.
thanks
~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé


That's what scares some off. No the ballast only uses the watts of the bulb and the ballast will not degrage as fast. Normal ballast life is 5 years. so much long with smaller bulb. Now if you put a 1000 watt bulb in a 400 ballast it would try and pull a 1000 watts through a 400 and that's like crossing the streams. Very bad things will happen. We see a big drop in the electric bill when we switch from a 1000hps to a 400mh with the switchable ballast.


stuartambient you will be very please dealing with them. Glad to help.

[drudown11]

Hydroponics, Indoor Gardening Supplies, Hydroponic Systems - Home (http://www.ecogrow.com) Its a company named Eco Enterprises. They have a actual store located in Shoreline, Washington but they do have a very good online selection, great prices, and if you order enough($250 or more) they give you free shipping. Shipping is also very fast, about 2-3 days for me.

They literally have everything you need. From can fans, ducting, lights, grow tents, carbon filters, nutes, ect. Another thing I like is that for each $250 increment you spend they will give you a free gift. These can range from Nutrients, digital timers, and bubble cloners depending on how much you spend.


I use them for ALL of my hydroponic and gardening needs.

[the image reaper]

just passing along a tip, regarding ballasts ... IF, like me, you live in an area of frequent power outages, voltage fluctuations, etc. (getting to be more & more areas like that, happens in cities, too) you may want to avoid the digital ballasts ... the old, heavy, magnetic ballasts will withstand an electrical beating, that will fry the new digital ballasts ... I'm told that by professional electricians, anyway ... :jointsmile:

[mainegrown]

unfortunatlly i live in such an area..
so does that mean that i cant have a 250w in a 1000w ballast now?


~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

[LOC NAR on probation]

unfortunatlly i live in such an area..
so does that mean that i cant have a 250w in a 1000w ballast now?


~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé



No you can have the 250 in a 1000. If you are switching from mh to hps make sure the ballast is switchable or you have a conversion bulb to match the ballast.

[mainegrown]

so here was the thought that crossed my mind..
i live in the sticks so..
i cant have a nice switchable digital ballast but..
if i get a bulb i could use my flower ballast for veg?
or i could get a MH conversion bulb for my 600w ballast i have now and another 1000w flower ballast.. is there any downside to the switchable bulbs?

~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

[LOC NAR on probation]

No down side to conversion bulbs. We have a standard 1000hps ballast running a 400mh coversion bulb. Just make sure the bulb matches the ballast conversion or regular..

They have standard switchable ballast like on the dicounthydro page and cheap too. But work with what you have I always say.

If you want a bulb to go both veg and flower look at the hortilux blue bulb. They are alittle expensive but the light spectrum is way more on both side for veg and flowering. That is next on our list.

[mainegrown]

good to know..
i am gonna invest some ching into making my system better.. i dont want to spend the money on equipment that will fail cause of a lil power outage :cool:
i think a HPS 1000w ballast and a 400w MH conversion bulb are in order :)
~MG

[the image reaper]

you can save a lot $$$, on bulbs, at '1000bulbs.com' ... I've used them for a few years, theyre in TX, reputable company ... :thumbsup:

here's a 400 mh conversion, for example: 400 Watt Metal Halide Conversion Bulbs - 1000Bulbs.com (http://www.1000bulbs.com/Metal-Halide-400-Watt-Conversion/)

tip: click on the details, etc tabs, on the lamps, gives you all your info (lumens, life, etc)

[stuartambient]

you can save a lot $$$, on bulbs, at '1000bulbs.com' ... I've used them for a few years, theyre in TX, reputable company ... :thumbsup:

here's a 400 mh conversion, for example: 400 Watt Metal Halide Conversion Bulbs - 1000Bulbs.com (http://www.1000bulbs.com/Metal-Halide-400-Watt-Conversion/)

tip: click on the details, etc tabs, on the lamps, gives you all your info (lumens, life, etc)

I've seen them mentioned in other places with a positive review(s).
I hate waiting for anything though with processing and shipping. Especially
if it's a small order.

[mainegrown]

yea.. i have checked them out pretty thoroughly.. just waiting on $$
i am getting a balanced bulb for flower and a conversion bulb for grow..
when the time comes i will post up the bulbs i am looking at..
~MG a.k.a. le Maine développé

[LOC NAR on probation]

Sounds like a good plan and I love the 1000bulb place been there a few times.