Metal halide or high pressure sodium?

**buckettoker** · 02-13-2008, 05:10 PM

i've bought everything i need for my next grow except better lights
i've got scott's potting soil
small pots/ 2 gallon pots for later
b'cuzz nutes/miricle grow
fans/mylar
(am i forgetting anything)?
all i need now is better lights,
would you guys suggest a metal halide bulb or high pressure sodium?
im lookin to grow about 6-8 plants.

-Matt k.

**Skate Hawaii** · 02-13-2008, 05:16 PM

both. metal halide for veg than hps for flower. you should get a 1000 watt

**longlivemtb** · 02-13-2008, 05:18 PM

Both would be the best, but if you can only get one. Go with the hps

**tokin24/7** · 02-13-2008, 05:21 PM

get a mh.. both would be nice. but find some better nutes and stick with the tables i have the 800 ss and luv it

**buckettoker** · 02-13-2008, 05:36 PM

stick with the tables?
800ss?
sorry im very new what does that mean?
and why is one better than the other.

**C_Pac** · 02-13-2008, 05:46 PM

MH provides the best spectrum (quality of light) for vegetative growth (the period from seedling to maturity). HPS provides the best spectrum for flowering. The flowering stage is more important because that's when you're making budzzz. You can use HPS for vegetative growth, but with slower, less lush results. Many people around here have had good results just using compact fluorescents of the right spectrum for vegging instead of MH, too.

**C_Pac** · 02-13-2008, 05:49 PM

Bottom line is, use HPS for flowering if at all possible. If you can't get or afford a MH too for vegging, then make do with what you can.

Forgot to mention, you can also get what's called a MH conversion bulb that will work in a HPS system. That way you can have one (HPS) ballast and just swap out bulbs for flowering.

**kdrush** · 02-13-2008, 05:56 PM

I've been using a 400w hps for 2 plants, and it feels like a little overkill. The plants look great though, I've used it for the entire grow. People say to use a MH bulb for vegging, but an hps will work just fine. you don't want to use a MH for flowering though. so I'm going to go ahead and recommend a hps.

**buckettoker** · 02-13-2008, 06:02 PM

ok so if i get the hps what kind of socket do i use or can i use a normal socket w/ a 500w max?

**kdrush** · 02-13-2008, 06:10 PM

you need a ballast, first of all, and it depends on the size of the bulb. I have a 400w and it uses a larger socket than normal. I forget what it is called, but I just brought the bulb to my local electrical store and they knew what it was.