400w HPS, and CFL Questions

A buddy of mine gave me a 400w HPS. Finally a descent light to use. It has always been tubes and CFL's before. Now I have it with 4, CFL's for side lighting. The small home use versions. That is my first question. He also gave me the really big CFL bulbs. I think they're 68w. They say "Self ballasted lamp" on them. Is that just a regular light like I have the small ones in, and are they worth the extra power over the small ones ? I have my 400w about 18" from the tops. At about a foot, it was too hot. It has a regular bulb, like you find anywhere for it. Would a Hortilux or other "plant" bulb make a big difference that is worth buying one before this one goes out ? Thanks for your time, and sorry for all the questions. I'm a noob to actual good lights. lol

CFLs heat is nothing compared to a HID

look into getting a air cooled hood ......this will help with the heat from the energy and IR heat made by the bulb
the other thing is HPS has a good amount of IR heat .......to counter this u want a fan at bud lvl moving side to side blowing cooler air around (removing the ir heat build up on leaves)

as for buying a new bulb and using it ......100% worth it
a new bulb has a higher lumen output then a used one and the color spectrum is more on point (older bulbs light wave shift from filament damage with them being used)

400w hid light is so much stronger and better then any CFL u will like the results once u get the heating/cooling factor under control

Its controversial whether you need a $70 hortilux/ ushio bulb that's enhanced with extra blues. You can get 2 or 3 regular bulbs for one enhanced hps bulb. I've been using both enhanced and regular hps bulbs and honestly is there a noticeable difference?? If there is I can't see it. A new bulb yes absolutely..does it need to enhanced with a eye-hortilux logo? No sir, I'll pass in the future and double up with a regular bulb. The CFL can be dangled on the sides...or you can hang the 400 vertically and circle the plants around it

Cool, thanks guys. The bulb I have is new. It's just not "plant" bulb. It just the Sylvania HPS bulb from Lowes. It gives hardly any info on the box. I have it overhead, with the CFL's around the sides. I finally got some good genetics. So I want to get it right before I start those. Thanks for all the info.

A plain sylvania HPS from lowes is the ticket. It is a plant bulb despite the packaging or industrial appearance. You got the most important items to start: good genes and a new bulb. Post a few pics to follow up when you get a few buds.

Sweet. Thanks Craig !!

New bulb will make way more of a diff on this grow. If your worried about spectrum go with a full spec LED

91GT347 said:

Cool, thanks guys. The bulb I have is new. It's just not "plant" bulb. It just the Sylvania HPS bulb from Lowes. It gives hardly any info on the box. I have it overhead, with the CFL's around the sides. I finally got some good genetics. So I want to get it right before I start those. Thanks for all the info.

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I grow with Lowe's bulbs. Work great

It seems to be doing the job, for sure. 6 weeks in, and it's already bigger than the finished product with just the CFL's.

Reggie Mack said:

New bulb will make way more of a diff on this grow. If your worried about spectrum go with a full spec LED

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I may do that eventually. The wife wants me to. You know "Electric bill, blah blah, cost too much, we're poor, blah blah blah. " lmao