600 watt Dual Digital Ballast lighting question

[dieselSmoke]

Hi all!

I've been researching my grow setup for sometime and I have stumbled upon a small snag I haven't seen addressed in this forum.

As of now my setup will include 2x 600 watt Metal Halide/Hight Pressure Sodium lights using 2x Lumatek 600 watt dual digital ballasts. These ballasts can go down to 400 watts.

I'd like to use 2x 600 watt MH bulbs for vegetative growth initially but 1) I don't seem to see many 600 watt MH bulbs available for some reason and 2) have seen that some reflectors (http://www.horticulturesource.com/hydrofarm-radiant-6-ac-reflector-p6209/?osCsid=5775765154010e3909c29bd8538abeaa) don't even take 600 watt MH which is puzzling. Is this bulb restriction just for that Sunlight Supply reflector line? The "Cool Sun" line looks good as well. I could always just turn the ballast down and use a 400 watt MH, but I would rather utilize the full 600 watts.

The above will be used on a 3 x 6 Botanicare Ebb and Flow. Any input would be appreciated :D

[irydyum]

The only metal halide you will find in 600w is a "conversion bulb". I don't know why, but 600w straight metal halide doesn't exist. You have to get a special bulb that's designed to burn halides but operates in an HPS ballast. Hope this is what you are looking for.

[Dutch Pimp]

600 watt HID is considered a bastard size in the lighting industy. No commerical market.

[MuddyPaws]

Just use the HPS for vegging ( get a shoplight with daytime bulbs for your seedlings/cuts.)

I have vegged mine under HPS since I started growing and I've read up on it...there is little or no difference using MH or HPS; at least not enough to be concerned about.

[dieselSmoke]

Thanks guys. I've also been playing with the idea of just using T5's or LEDs to save on power and limit heat. Any thoughts on the quality of the resulting product using them? Should one worry about 2x 600 watt lamps in a grow tent that are scrubbed in a spare bedroom? Thanks.

[neceros]

Well LEDs > T5 no question. I'm using T5 for my clones right now, but it wont last. T5 simply don't give out enough light. I suggest getting some LED panels or induction lightning if you don't want to waste electricity and deal with ballasts. I am.

The GlowPanel 45 LED Grow Light - led grow lights -Sunshine Systems (http://shop.sunshine-systems.com/product.sc?productId=10)
Procyon-100 100W LED Grow Light - HomeGrownLights.com (http://homegrownlights.com/100W.html)
LED Lighting (http://www.advanced-hydroponics.ca/led-lighting.php)

Few LED shops.