Buying a light

[Dubsak]

I'm planning an indoor closet grow. I have heard of using both a Metal Halide light and a High Pressure Sodium light. Which one kind is best, and what wattages should I be looking for. Thanks.

/dubsak

Dubsak Reviewed by Dubsak on 07-26-2006. Buying a light I'm planning an indoor closet grow. I have heard of using both a Metal Halide light and a High Pressure Sodium light. Which one kind is best, and what wattages should I be looking for. Thanks. /dubsak Rating: 5

[forwonderbear]

good, i'm glad someone else is asking the same question i'm looking for answers to. i'm SURE the first thing folks will ask you is: how many plants are you growing? how big is your grow space? perhaps what strain? all that. the more info you give the easier it will be to get help. i myself am planning to constuct two wooden "armoir" type cabinets. big ones. use both for different purposes but mainly one to house mother plants and one for active bud cultivation. my idea would be to have intake and exhaust vents on the back, so any light would leak toward the wall, i'd want quiet fans (considering 120mm nexus computer fans, but maybe to complicated or not enough airflow), have two intake on the back near the bottom, and two exhaust on the back near the top.

but i digress. good luck!

[forwonderbear]

HPS seems to be the gold standard around here. some folks are having success with just using compact flourescents. not the same as a hardy HPS, but if you have a small space, and heat is an issue, or you need to use little power, it's a thought. i'm definitely considering it just because it would use less electricity and have less heat issues.

you'll also want a fan inside your closet oscillating, creating a breeze. strengthenes the plants

[Pothead4204life]

well you actually need both MH and HPS..MH has a higher Kelvin temperature which is better for vegging...and HPS is lower kelvin which is used for flowering...i would go with 600w depending on space and vetalation

[ronjohn420]

Pothead4204life good one. youre exactly right, and if you do this dubsak, they make a conversion bulb that both will fit the ballast. If heat is an issue, i would grow with 48" flouro tubes, this is alot less expensive (and is suffecient). but if youre adiment about getting the HPS/MH light kit, you can get a decent one online (1000w HPS for 219.95- 400w HPS for 144.95) and the MH versions are slightly cheaper. im doin a closet grow (about 12 sq.ft.) and ive only used 48" flouros and ive done good (but ill still hit spikes of 93'F with those).... so theres somethin to consider..

heres those links

http://www.gchydro.com/sunsystem/SXH_H100.asp

http://www.gchydro.com/sunsystem/lig_sun.asp

[jamstigator]

I have zero problems vegging with CFLs. So, I dunno that you really need to mess with MH lighting. CFLs for veg, HPS + warm CFLs for flower, works great for me.

[orangeman]

I have zero problems vegging with CFLs. So, I dunno that you really need to mess with MH lighting. CFLs for veg, HPS + warm CFLs for flower, works great for me.

Yeah, I really believe you should just buy CFL's for vegging, dont spend all that money on a MH.

[Dutch Pimp]

400HPS Hortilux.......if you can handle the heat...... equals some serious buds.

[Dutch Pimp]

What amounts are you looking for? ...me?.... I thought a bushel basket would be perfect!.....and thats about what I got...first grow. White Widow (to die for)

[ronjohn420]

dude, im sorry....but....... HPS = buds
warm CFL = alot of hard work for a small to moderate yeild