MH or HPS to flower with?

[Mrsinn]

Which one do you use when flowering or which one is better?

Also, Im about to start my 4th grow soon but have never really being happy with the thickness of the buds using a 600w HPS. Would a 1000w improve the thickness of the buds?

Mrsinn Reviewed by Mrsinn on 01-10-2012. MH or HPS to flower with? Which one do you use when flowering or which one is better? Also, Im about to start my 4th grow soon but have never really being happy with the thickness of the buds using a 600w HPS. Would a 1000w improve the thickness of the buds? Rating: 5

[silent leprechaun]

I'm sure its a MH for veg and sodium vapour for bloom. The sodium vapour is closer to the red end of the spectrum. I'm sure by adding an extra 400w to the 600w you will get better results. You might need to think about some extra ventilation as those 1000w bulbs are hot. 1,500 degrees+ kinda hot.

I grow with LED primarily but I also use 4x20w CFL just to create some heat in the tent. LED runs totally cool.

Check out my grow here if you have time. I'll never go bulb and ballast again.

LED Logger

[Mrsinn]

Every light in my place is LED except for in my grow tent. Those things are damm expensive ? Which one have you got?

[silent leprechaun]

I picked up the Pro-Grow 260 from Hydroponics hut. Free postage to Europe from the US. I think it was well worth the investment. I think I paid €300 for it but it uses only 190w and the results are looking good already and I have plenty of growing time left. I'd say I have 6 weeks left of bloom left, maybe a bit less.
Check out my grow journal on the link above. I documented just about every week of growing and gave a good description from week 1 onwards.

[JeffersonStateGrower]

It is definitely high pressure sodium for flower being that the preferred light spectrum for flower is around 2700K which is the redder range of the rainbow compared to the vegative state where the preferred spectrum is 6500K or the blue range which the metal halide provides, although the HPS works very well for both veg and flower. One thing you may want to try for thickening up your buds is some material placed around the lower area of the plants to provide some light reflection into the lower and inner areas of the plants, I personally use foamcore for this because it gives plentiful yet soft light reflection, decent insulating qualities, easy to cut, and is cheap at wallyworld. The 1000 watt would give the capability to produce thicker buds for sure, but as silentleprechaun says, they get very hot...besides 2 400watt or 2 600watt lamps will absolutely destroy a 1000watt in all respects like lumens, heat, amperage draw, etc. After changing to a 1000 watt or adding another 600 or 400, extra ventilation will be an absolute necessity.

JSG.

[Mrsinn]

You have a 90 x 90cm tent, do you reckon this kit would be ok in a 150 x 150?

[silent leprechaun]

Have a look at the Hydroponics Hut website. They have a Pro-grow 400 too. It would be more than enough for your tent, maybe too much.

Here is the link: Pro-grow 400

Although the LED light I use has a footprint of 2.4sqm, your tent has an area of 2.25sqm. So perhaps the LED light I have can handle it. The website says so. All the details are stated.

There is also videos and documented grows of the light in action. They really do work and you get a 3 year warranty... how bad.

Personally, I would go with the Pro-Grow 400 for that size tent. It doesn't use too much power either. I'm sure you will have a return in your first grow.

[GanjaRobPDX]

600w HPS is a great light. works well for veg and flower. IMO MH is a waste of money as it puts out less light while using the same energy as an HPS setup.
600w HPS is far more efficient than 1000w lights especially since the 1000w lights have to be so far away from the plants to keep from "bleaching" the leaves or causing heat burn.

You may want to look at your nutrient regiment as the reason why your buds arent filling out. Or possibly the strain.
to increase yield try using a bloom feed with higher levels of P and K or using a bloom booster. I use bud blaster by supernatural. very concentrated and works well. you will notice yellowing of the leaves when using bloom boosters, just add nitrogen to your bloom feed to correct the nitrogen deficiency (yellowing leaves).
Another thing to consider is the use of simple carbohydrates like sucanat sugar or molasses. those are the cheap way to go but every bit as effective as products like sweet or carbo load. just add raw sugar or mollasses at a rate of 15mL per gallon on top of your bloom feed.
Avoid using simple carbohydrates if you get fungus gnats as it will make the problem worse.

so...600w HPS is my reccomendation. if you want to post your feed schedule or at least what you are using, I would be happy to give you some tips to dial in your nutes.

hope this helps...

[mayhamweed]

600w HPS is a great light. works well for veg and flower. IMO MH is a waste of money as it puts out less light while using the same energy as an HPS setup.
600w HPS is far more efficient than 1000w lights especially since the 1000w lights have to be so far away from the plants to keep from "bleaching" the leaves or causing heat burn.

You may want to look at your nutrient regiment as the reason why your buds arent filling out. Or possibly the strain.
to increase yield try using a bloom feed with higher levels of P and K or using a bloom booster. I use bud blaster by supernatural. very concentrated and works well. you will notice yellowing of the leaves when using bloom boosters, just add nitrogen to your bloom feed to correct the nitrogen deficiency (yellowing leaves).
Another thing to consider is the use of simple carbohydrates like sucanat sugar or molasses. those are the cheap way to go but every bit as effective as products like sweet or carbo load. just add raw sugar or mollasses at a rate of 15mL per gallon on top of your bloom feed.
Avoid using simple carbohydrates if you get fungus gnats as it will make the problem worse.

so...600w HPS is my reccomendation. if you want to post your feed schedule or at least what you are using, I would be happy to give you some tips to dial in your nutes.

hope this helps...

I agree with Gandjarobpdx, 600's are way more efficient. Look at any commercial greenhouse, thats all they use. LED... yeah it catching on, but i haven't heard about anyone pulling big yields with it yet... It can't beat the good o'l hps. Light = mass

I've used supernatural's bud blaster for over a year now. it works wonders. Just make sure you use it with your base nutrients, or run it with superboost which is supernatural's base nutrient for your late flowering stage. i just found their feeding chart the other day. Supernatural Brand – Feeding Program

let me know if you got any q's bro!