MH light or CFL'S

[dadogg]

:smokin: What is the benefits of using an MH light compared to useing cfl's. Can I get the same results of a 200 watt MH light using 200 watt cfl's or is using the MH the best way to go. :stoned:

dadogg Reviewed by dadogg on 01-03-2008. MH light or CFL'S :smokin: What is the benefits of using an MH light compared to useing cfl's. Can I get the same results of a 200 watt MH light using 200 watt cfl's or is using the MH the best way to go. :stoned: Rating: 5

[dadogg]

Can I get some help?

[stinkyattic]

MH is the best way to go for lumens-per-watt efficiency but you also have to consider the heat load of the different types of lamps. And you are leaving out a personal favorite of mine, which is a T5 fixture. I use one for starting seedlings- 24" New Wave with 4 bulbs- works GREAT.

[JackHerer]

I use the MH for vegging, but in my first grow I found it a bit strong for seedlings so the distance required to keep it away from the seedlings to prevent burning meant there was some stretching initially. I agree with Stinky on the T5's although I haven't used them as this time for space I used the envirolites. However Ive read a few threads by folk here with good grows started on T5's, one grower I believe actually uses the T5's all the way through. Although not much help to your original question once in full veg I am aiming for a mix of of CFL's & MH because if I used more than the 250W MH in the space I have the temps would get way to high.

[JackHerer]

Sorry re read your first message and think maybe I can give you some comparison as I helped set up some friends with mother clones etc.. after initial tweaking they now use almost exactly the same set-up as me except for lights. Mine 250W MH then 600W HPS theirs 1 x 125W & 1 x 225 W Blue CFL then 2 x 225 W Red CFL's. Through veg my plants develop bigger leaves & stems with more defnition to ridges & look of the leaves a comment we have used is its like your average thin bloke & some dude with a six pack. I also get up to 13 point leaves on all my plants where they max out on 9. During Flower my cola's develop fatter and fuller buds resulting in swollen long cola's a foot long or bigger. There buds seem denser but smaller with the cola's not really getting over 7 inch's.

Although this will never be definitive & a more experienced grower might use CFL's to better results from my experience it suggests that MH & HPS can return better results from the start for a noob although it brings its own set of problems through heat.

[dejayou30]

I've used CFLs and they have been great, but as stinky said MH is the most efficient as far as lumens go.

[stinkyattic]

However Ive read a few threads by folk here with good grows started on T5's, one grower I believe actually uses the T5's all the way through.

I believe that's kdspecial and his results are impressive.