standard HPS, Super HPS, or "Low K Red" Lamp best for Flowering?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Apollonia, Sep 5, 2009.

  1. I have a question to put to the experienced members of the community. Which of these three choices produces the largest bud - HPS, Super HPS/CMH/PSMH (spectrum enhanced, more blue), or these lights which we'll call HPS Red/Low K. I know that anyone of them will produce good bud, but how do they compare to one another?

    Here's my take on the three:

    1. Standard HPS: Well, it's standard HPS. Tried, true, tested - will surely produce thick buds. You may have stretch issues, but if that isn't a concern is this then the best choice? You know most of the energy from this lamp is enhancing your flower weight. What I wonder is how it compares in relation to the other two types I mentioned and are all HPSes the same when it comes to how much red they put out? And if they aren't all the same, are the redder ones better? WHich brings us to...

    2. HPS Red/Low K: I know this is not common or mentioned a lot - but it got me curious, but there are lamps out there which have a bit higher color rating of 2000K (redder light) as opposed to 2200K which is your standard HPS. Do you think there would be advantages to growing with lights like these negligible or not? I also notice that they are not as expensive (which is nice too, especially if they push the yield that much further). However that concerns me too, would a more expensive standard HPS bulb or CMH be just as good or deliver more of that red spectrum based on the quality alone? What's the general consensus on cheaper vs more popular/expensive bulbs? If your main goal is the most red light getting to your plants, could this be the best option?

    3. Super HPS/CMH/PSMH: Which brings us to the bulbs enhanced with more blue/UV light - the Sunmaster/Son Agro/Hortilux/SunPulse, etc. I've hear some, underwhelming reviews - and they are very expensive so I wonder what's the community got to say about them. Does the extra blue output take away from the red output? I've heard that that is why the SonAgro 430W added that extra 30 watts - it's devoted to powering that extra blue light so that the added spectrum doesn't take away from the other spectra of the original 400W light. Have the growers out there noticed that the added blue actually makes their yield better, the same, or decreased? I know blue helps with photosynthesis, sugar uptake - my question is does making the plant "healthier" in that respect make the buds just as big or better? If stretching isn't a worry and their UVB output isn't an issue - should a grower go with either option 1 or 2 instead?

    Just some info on my setup - I need to vent my lights (2 1000W bulbs) so any UVB that a Super HPS/CMH/PSMH would produce would be blocked by the glass so I will be supplementing with retiple lights for trichome development. So is intense red light (the more, the redder the better?) the way to go? If so I'm thinking these "HPS Red/Low K" lights might be worth a look, I mean if they would produce only a few grams more - well, call me greedy, but that sounds like a good deal to me.

    So please, GC community growers, I'm all ears. Tell me your experiences, your thoughts on the subject - and what light is your favorite/do you grow with & why?

    :gc_rocks:
     
  2. Well standard HPS is like old faithfull, it will work, no gamble. The lower color temp HPS bulbs are just less expensive ones. One's that didn't care to take the time to match up the 2700k that plants flourish at during flowering. I have heard AMAZING things about CMH and actually did a bit of research on them. I'd go for CMH if you ahve the $
     
  3. sunpulse are the pulse start metal halides im trying them out now.

    check out their page they talk alot of smack about HPS bulbs. and why their bulbs rule everyone. sunpulse was at the thc expo in LA, the only other bulb manufacturer that was there was hortilux. so that says something right there.
    these bulbs arent new either .. they have been for commercial grows for the past 10 years in canada.

    SUnpulselamps.com
     
  4. Toss the duel bulbs in there two.
    I have one that runs a 600w hps and a 400mh

    have not done enough science to tell if its making a big difference.
     
  5. Update. Ceramic metal halide bulbs work extremely well for veg but don't work that great for flowering.

    I'd get a enhanced hortilux hps blue 1000w for flower. thats the best results i've had so far. I had a dual arc bulb but it blew up on me so i can't comment on that.
     

  6. What brand was it, want to avoid.
     
  7. it was an eye-hortilux super blue hps /mh dual arc on a lumatek 1000w dimable ballast. blew after about 48 hours of use (5th day of 12/12 ).
     
  8. Any new input since 2009 on the HPS SuperRed/Low K Bulbs?
     

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