1000w Dual Arc & HPS or just HPS?

Running one lamp for around 5-6 ladies, heavier indicas. Not sure if it's worth running the dual arc for veg and beginning of flower then switch to HPS, or just take a little stretching with only HPS. I've looked for threads but can't find anything very recent. If it helps I'm
-running dimmable digital ballast
-bare bulb, open hood
-8ft ceiling
-5gal pots
-open room

The dual is $200, HPS $75. Both eye hortliux. Only really care about the dual efficiency and if it's any hotter than the HPS. I don't plan on begging for long either, so i don't want to bother getting the MH to use for 3 weeks ($175). Any input is appreciated, sorry if im a little confusing or short on information.

I run both, I find the dual arc to be an excellent veg bulb, it's good as a flowering bulb as well aslong as you run it bare (no air cooled hoods), cos the glass filters out the uv-b that promotes resin production.

when used on plants in the earlier stages of flowering it limits the stretch and keeps the nodes tight.

it won't ever match the yield of a full hps of equivalent wattage though, if you can live with that and the heat then run it bare, it does run hotter but it's not insufferable. for me I prefer to use them as part of a team of lights looking after plants in different stages. Mainly for veg and early flower then switch to full hps, for resin production consider reptile uv-b lamps

really do reccomend getting one just for veg and first stages of flowering

Double ended all the way!