need recommendations

Hello all, and thanks for your help!

I'm wanting to go with a 600 watt HPS for a 5x5x8 enclosure I'll be building very soon. I've looked into the digital ballasts... galaxy's look good, but pricey. What are ya'lls recommendations for a good/great 600 watt setup.

I am on a limited budget but need quality.
Next would be... are there any GOOD MH lamps rated at 600 watts that I could use by switching off the HPS ignitor?

Any recommended reflectors, in-line fans, etc would be very helpful.

This is the only part of growing that's completely overwhelmed me due to the choices in the market.

I need great, compact, dank buds, and know that lighting plays a MAJOR role. I HAVE to get this purchase right. I'm hoping to spend <$400 total on lights and ventilation, but would obviously like to spend as little as possible and still get a quality setup and quality results. My friend will be giving me a squirrel cage fan from a large HVAC unit...

YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!!!

I've personally only used a Valuline 1000w switchable ballast (so its MH or HPS), and it was a great product, however it seems the 600w is HPS only.

I would definately get a upgraded air cooled reflector, it will help you suck most of the heat right out of your cabinet, a large inline duct fan might be pretty good if your trying to save money, but if your friend is giving you a decent size squirrel cage fan, that should work even better.

Theres a lot of options, you just have to figure out what would be best for your situation. I would just make sure you get more then enough ventillation on your first purchase though so you dont waste all that money and have heat issues still.

I just put one of these fans in my flower room. Hook it up on the low setting. They really blow, I have to screw my filter on or the fan blows it off the duct.I could probably vent a 12X12 room easily with this fan, even on low.

A Galaxy 600 digi is a REALLY nice little product. They run quiet and cooler than a mag ballast. And they are a pretty anodized blue or green, lol!
You won't get a good light-hood-fan system for $400, sorry... You're looking at $100-$200 for an air-coolable hood, another $150 or so for a solid muffin fan, and then your ballast will be $200-$600, and your bulb will be $50-$100.

But when you add it all up and think of how much $$$ you save in bud, and how much bud you can grow in a PROPERLY EXHAUSTED grow chamber, it's a GREAT investment.

Good info, so far, thanks!

I do need specifics on bulbs though.

1000 watts is too much power at the moment, so I was thinking whatever I buy I'll use in the future as supplemental lighting if I up it to 1000.

400 seems like not enough light, so I'm really looking for 600.
Guess MH isn't that important... blue floro's work well to grow, now it's time to explode!!!!

SO.... what 600 watt bulb/reflector do ya'll use? What would be the best to get on a budget?

Stinky, just saw your post. Thanks for the input. Is it legal on here to post links to certain bulbs/hoods/other products to help others?

Cool tubes are great with horti-culx bulbs, total cost with a good fan for your space = about 700-800$. Really not that bad of investment. Save up a few more bucks and make the investment..Cool tubes eliminate a lot of heat issues if properly set up.

Sure, link it up. The issue with store links is pretty much ignored in the grow setup area, unless it's obviously a straight up sales pitch.