Please for the love of god help me with lights

Within the week i want to get some lights. Does anyone know where I could actually physically go out and buy a good metal halide/ HPS light (with a ballast that can use both) for possibly up to and including $200. Theres a hydroponic shop near by(even tho im using soil). But would any gardening supply stores have what I need, even home depot if necsessary. Iwant my next grow to be the fastest most productive it could possibly be. And what kind of power i would need to grow two plants. Im kinda stumbling around ine the dark here... and yes pun intended. If none are under $200, could someone reccomend good alternitives. Let me add i cant buy off the net, so pretend thats not a possibility.



(sry for the horrendous spelling)

All right, for under two hundred you can go to Lowe's or Home Depot and look for High Pressure Sodium and/or Metal Halide floodlight fixtures [ they usually include the bulb ]. A 150 watt HPS floodlight will run you just under ninety bucks; just buy one and a heavy duty grounded extension cord you can cut and wire into the fixture, also a surge protector bar for it. And there you go -- grow light. I'd look for one that's 200 watts if possible, but a 150 will do. If you wanted something that worked both ways, a fixture that ran both HPS and MH, I'm pretty sure you can use a HPS fixture -- that is the light fixture, ballast, etc., minus the igniter [ the igniter is a component for the HPS bulbs ]. I've heard people say they've used MH bulbs in HPS fixtures with the igniter still intact and not on a switch --- just used the MH until it was time to flower then popped the HPS bulb in [ we're talking about ordinary streetlight class HPS fixtures ]. If you don't feel up to experimenting with it, I suggest getting a 10.0 UVB Reptisun CFL to be used in unison with the HPS during flowering --- for increase in THC quality, that is, and to make up for the lack of UVB the HPS has that you won't be getting from the MH. What better way to top off a fattened, HPS fed bud then to increase the potency of the THC the trichomes are holding with UVB radiation?

The problem with the 150w they sell at lowes and HD is it gives off more heat then lumens.

They don't sell what you need. Check the local paper classifieds ads to try to find a used one. Look on eBay too you can get a good deal there but shipping is pricy.

You are looking for switching ballast but with the little amount of money you have I doubt you will find one for that price. You may find a HPS and pick up a multi spectrum bulb (like Hortilux) that way you can veg and flower with the same bulb. There are also conversion bulbs where you can use a MH in an HPS ballast or HPS with a MH ballast. You just can't use a standard bulb with a ballast it's not built to work with.

1000 bulbs .com you can get a whole system for 120 usd UNDER HORTICULTURE or build it yourself for about 80 bucks...... i built 2 systems from them a 600 hps and 400 watt mh for 150USD plus 50USD for a 600 watt bulb...400 watt ballyst 45.00USD ballyst can 10.00USD bulb 15.00 USD then about 15.00 USD shipping all wires are marked clearly a multi tap ballyst is a ballyst that has 4 different power choices,make sure you get a bulb that matches your ballyst you can call info and ask.wire schematics online.i got a brand new complete 250 mh for 3 bucks at the recycle part of the dump,a fixture for a office building inside was thrown away inside the box and i pulled all the parts out and put it in a (can from 1000 bulbs ).com now i have a veg lite.dont get mad my dayton 1800 cfm fan with 4 speeds was at another dump thrown out by the school district 2 bucks.with the motor and it works great.take a chance someones junk can save a mmj patient alot of money it did for me,use the thrift stores

I ALSO BUILD MY COOL TUBES WITH DIFFERENT GLASS AT THE DUMP

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Originally Posted by Cell54

If none are under $200, could someone reccomend good alternitives. Let me add i cant buy off the net, so pretend thats not a possibility.

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Maybe you could find an e-bayer or store on the Net that was close enough for you to deal with in person.

Theres a local hydroponic shop near me me. Would they carry what i might need? Ill have to check it out. If anyone knows what kind of power im looking ( watts, lumens, Ideal light spectrums, the amount of heat given off) im sure ill find what I need.

These muti spectrum bulbs... please... elaborate.

ok how does this sound a MH bulb and ballast and a HPS conversion bulb.

Econo Gro Mini Compact Lighting System (Sun System 5) with a 400 watt (40,000 lumen) super bulb p.o. ill get a hps conversion bulb later, if I can.

Check the link http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/customkit...=HLCSMH04V&eq=