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=

Yeah, that'd work.

With an Agrosun bulb, because it has red spectrum proporties. Would this make it good for flowering as well?

yes.. u are correct

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Originally Posted by Kush Over

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?

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kush over, plz would u care to inform us more on this UVB reptile lamp?
how does it increase THC content?

thanx

http://www.hydroponics.net/

this place is where I bought my Mylar, very fast shipping, etc .... good prices on lights, too :smokin:

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Originally Posted by dreadydrug

kush over, plz would u care to inform us more on this UVB reptile lamp?
how does it increase THC content?

thanx

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I'm going to just quote a section of a useful link. I'll post the link below with it, as it contains more knowledge for your disposal.

"Another stress to which plants are subject results from their daily exposure to sunlight. While necessary to sustain photosynthesis, natural light contains biologically destructive ultraviolet radiation. This selective pressure has apparently affected the evolution of certain defenses, among them, a chemical screening functionally analogous to the pigmentation of human skin. A preliminary investigation (Pate 1983) indicated that, in areas of high ultraviolet radiation exposure, the UV-B (280-315 nm) absorption properties of THC may have conferred an evolutionary advantage to Cannabis capable of greater production of this compound from biogenetic precursor CBD. The extent to which this production is also influenced by environmental UV-B induced stress has been experimentally determined by Lydon et al. (1987). Their experiments demonstrate that under conditions of high UV-B exposure, drug-type Cannabis produces significantly greater quantities of THC. They have also demonstrated the chemical lability of CBD upon exposure to UV-B (Lydon and Teramura 1987), in contrast to the stability of THC and CBC. However, studies by Brenneisen (1984) have shown only a minor difference in UV-B absorption between THC and CBD, and the absorptive properties of CBC proved considerably greater than either. Perhaps the relationship between the cannabinoids and UV-B is not so direct as first supposed. Two other explanations must now be considered. Even if CBD absorbs on par with THC, in areas of high ambient UV-B, the former compound may be more rapidly degraded. This could lower the availability of CBD present or render it the less energetically efficient compound to produce by the plant. Alternatively, the greater UV-B absorbency of CBC compared to THC and the relative stability of CBC compared to CBD might nominate this compound as the protective screening substance. The presence of large amounts of THC would then have to be explained as merely an accumulated storage compound at the end of the enzyme-mediated cannabinoid pathway. However, further work is required to resolve the fact that Lydon's (1985) experiments did not show a commensurate increase in CBC production with increased UV-B exposure."

http://www.hempfood.com/IHA/iha01201.html

thank you :)

I bought my last ballast and bulb (1000w MH) at a pawn shop for $30. The bulb worked, but I wanted to grow my buds, not fry them, so I substituted a 400w bulb in the mogul base. My kid garage saled a setup with hood and fans for $50. Busted the bulb bringing it home on his motorcycle, so I gave him the 1000w bulb from my purchase. I see them occasionally on bulletin boards at the growers supply stores too.