Need light choice and set up help

Hi everyone, I am doing a legal grow with 50 plants. I am trying to figure out which type of lights and set up I should use to get the maximum yield. I am prepared to spend whatever I need to make sure my room is done right. I have a space
of about 20ft x 10ft. in my garage. I was wanting to use LED lights but now I am not so sure. So much info out there, feel like my head is going to explode.
Question 1 , Are there LEDs out there that will do as good as HPS? I would prefer the LEDs for the low heat and power use but I want to use whatever is going to give me the best yield whether that is LED or not. And if I do go with LEDs
which ones do I choose. Everyone says that THEY have the best lights. Not sure who is just a salesman and who is giving an honest opinion.

2 Would like to do an aero or hydro grow but not sure which is the right choice for an inexperienced grower. Again, I am not rich but am willing to spend the $$$ to do it right. Also I am going to be growing in an unheated garage and live in a northern climate so I am not sure if my room will be warm enough using LEDs. I am going to be insulating the walls.
Thanks in advance for any tips and advice

I'm not there with LED yet. I know there are many success stories and I'm not a hater. I just don't see a mature enough product offering. There are no industry standards and many of the vendors make wild claims which tends to discredit the reputable ones.

i look forward to the day that I personally can realize all of the promises of LED technology in my grow, regardless of what technology brings it. I think when the time comes you'll see 80% of growers go to it and HID lighting will be able to purchased used for pennies on the dollar.

Read up on the LED journals and the HID journals. What will work for you? Also where will you buy them. I know none of the shops in my area carry them. Are you comfortable buying something like that mail order?

i agree with budley. led lights just haven't shown me anything. most of what i have seen is that they are great for vegetative growth but come flowering they don't produce the yield. also, they are SUPER expensive for the quality ones. ustil technology changes and there is more evidence and research i'm sticking with HID. when i have a little extra cash i would like to get some good leds as supplemental lights but that's about it.

if you are not an experienced grower then i suggest you grow in soil. hydro will produce quicker veg times and higher yield per square foot but comes with a TON of risk. most new growers can not master a hydro setup the first few times. you greatly increase your success rate with soil. plus it give you more time to learn the plant and nutrients/defficiences, etc... while not having to worry about reservoir algae, plant shock, leaks, pump failures, etc... set up a soil grow and then figure out which hydro system you would like to grow with. then maybe get a little starter hydro setup of that system and play with it on the side.

if you are going hydro and money is not an issue then i suggest an under current system. guys are getting amazing results with it and they are fairly maintenenace free. plus, you'll end up using half the nutes because the water is so aerated that uptake of nutrients happens more readily than in most other hydro setups.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will go with the HPS lights. I agree that there are so many different LED choices with some of the sellers making some pretty far fetched claims. Even if the LEDs were comparable or close to HPS I wouldn't know which ones to choose. I am also going to take your advice about starting in dirt untill I learn more. Thanks. I see there are many choices for HID lights. I found these that I can purchase locally. I was thinking 10 lights for 50 plants. What do you think? I am going to copy and paste the light info for your input. Sorry it is so much info but I didn't know what to leave out. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks
This complete package includes a FREE Timer to help you to control the lighting time conveniently, especially when you're away from your developing garden. We also include a set of FREE Heavy Duty Yoyo's that make it easy when adjusting the height of your plug and play reflector. Grow your plants safely and environmentally friendly with our LUMA systems!



Package Content:

1 x 6" LUMA Inline Air Cooled Reflector with Cool Tube
1 x 600W Digital Dimmable Ballast (Able to switch from 250W, 400W, and 600W)
1 x 600W Metal Halide Bulb
1 x 600W High Pressure Sodium Bulb
1 x Ceramic Socket (pre-wired into reflector)
1 x Set of Easy Roller Yoyo Pulleys
1 x Free 24 Hour Timer

6" LUMA Inline Air Cooled Reflector with Cool Tube:

Combined 6" Inline Air Cooled Reflector with Cool Tube.
Allows for improved air cooling than other general reflector hoods.
Includes a pre-wired ceramic socket
Multi-surface large hood to reflect most light towards your plants
Standard 6" air vent fits to 6" exhaust fan system (NOT included) and fits inside most grow tents
Includes a 9.5 Foot cord to the Digital Ballast
Overall Dimensions: 27.5in.(L) x 25in. (W) x 7in.(H)
Reflector Opening Dimensions: 26in.(L) x 25in.(W)
Cooltube Dimensions: 27.5in.(L) x 6in. Diameter

Light Weight 600W Digital Electronic Ballast (covered by 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty):

This new Digital Dimmable Ballast Technology is the greatest advancement in hydroponics! Operates both High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Metal Halide (MH) Bulbs.
Switch between 250W, 400W and 600W
Includes built in Cooling Fans.
Includes a 8 Foot 120V cord to the power outlet (US Standard Plug)
FCC, CE & CSA Certified
HIGH OUTPUT! Our illumaLights Digital electronic ballasts are specifically manufactured for the horticultural industry and provide maximum light output!
LOWER YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL AND SAVE MONEY! More efficient and reduced energy consumption means a lower electricity bill. When compared to standard core and coil magnetic ballasts you can save up to $100 a year on electricity!
WORKS ON EITHER 120V OR 240V . It automatically detects the voltage and adjusts between 120-240 volts! Plugs into any standard household outlet.
With a sleek look, the digital ballast is lighter, smaller and more reliable than standard technology "core and coil" ballasts.
The Built in "smart chip" included with the ballast AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS TO HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM AND METAL HALIDE BULBS. There is no need for a "switch" or to change systems, simply change from MH for vegetative growth to HPS for the flowering phase of growth.
Operates at a high frequency (20,000Hz) instead of the lowly 60Hz of standard core & coil ballasts. This allows the lamp to operate more efficiently, produce more usable light for plants and last longer. Lamp lumen loss is minimized allowing for a brighter system over time and extending usable lamp life by up to three times it's normal life span!
LOW HEAT! The digital ballasts run a lot cooler than standard systems improving ballast life.

600W High Pressure Sodium Bulb:

Power: 600 watts (High efficiency)
Expected Life Span: 24,000 hours
Lumen: 90,000 lumens
Color Temperature: 2,000K
Contains more red spectrum, which is best for flowering.
Strong power to penetrate fog
High output, high luminescence efficiency.
Fit for all standard 600 watts HPS grow light systems
Higher lumen output for higher yields!

600W Metal Halide Bulb:

Power: 600W (High efficiency)
Expected Life Span: 8,000 hours
Lumen: 57,600 lumens
Color Temperature: 4,000K
Contains blue spectrum, which is best for vegetation.
Strong power to penetrate fog
High output, high luminescence efficiency.
Fit for all standard 600 watts MH grow light systems
Special good efficiency for leafy plants such as Lettuce and Herb
Higher lumen output for higher yields!

Ceramic Socket:

Fit for E39 bulb cap
Detachable durable ceramic socket
Easy to install if you need to change your reflector
Ceramic socket should be used with ballast for steady power supply.
With a 9.5ft. cord to the ballast

well for 50 plants you would need a few of those, but that is what you would probably want to get.

With a fifty plant count and your statement of maximizing yeild you really need to talk about multiple lighting systems. One 600 watt per plant is the best option to maximize your out put. I also have a 49 count and am running 12 600's hps and 12 girls in my flower room. 2 400's and 2 250 halides for my veg area. You will have more plants in vegging in different stages keeping your flower room full all the time.

Being new I would look into ebb/flow tables and rockwool. It is the easiest set up to learn hydro. Very forgiving and can be left for days without watering (not recommended, but it doesn't kill em). I have set up ebb/flow tables for under $100 not including lighting that produce high volume and quality.

You just have to think out of the box and do some research

Good Luck

1 - 600 watt hps + 1 indica shark = 19 zips. This is the most effective way I have grown