Hi All and thanks for your responses, here's the main reason I'm asking this question, I'm CHEAP!! I recentaly met a guy who's been growing for many years (over 20 years) and he told me that years ago eye hortilux was the "bomb" when it came to bulbs! but that over the last 5 years or so other company's have designed and built better performing bulbs then hortilux and some of them do it for half the money!!

He SWEARS hortilux lives off there name!! he named a couple brands off the top of his head and 1 of the names I rememberd him saying was plantmax! it's a great example!! I'm looking at a 600 watt HPS for a electronic ballast! http://www.gladiatorlighting.com/pro...ULB-2000K.html the cheapest price I can find the hortilux for is on the internet for $86.47+ shipping (just over $95 shipped) Eye Hortilux 600 Watt Super HPS Lamp : Grow Light Supply and all the hydro shops here want retail $129.99+ tax!!!!

Looking at the specs isn't the plantmax a BETTER value and a BETTER light?? the plantmax bulb offers longer life! (almost double) and 2000 more lumens!! at much less money!!! I was told by several people that I was going to go through bulbs once every 8-12 months? and if so why spend the extra money?? one could literally buy 2 of the plantmax's for the cost of 1 hortilux! am I missing something?? thanks again.