Hey brothers and sisters,
I am running 6-1k watt hortilux daylight blue MH bulbs. This is my first time with this bulb. I have talked to some guys that will run these bulbs start to finish, due to the superior spectrum. I know these are the best bulbs on the market for veg, but not so sure about running them start to finish. Should I switch out to HPS, like normal, or do these bulbs really offer a better spectrum start to finish? I am thinking about running 2 of them and 4 HPS? What do you guys think? any advice? Anyone use these bulbs start to finish?
 

70's natureboy

Well-Known Member
I'd go 4 HPS and 2 MH. I used to run 1000MH start to finish many years ago and got decent harvests. I just like HPS better now. I don't know if it's just me but MH bulbs seem to run a lot hotter and sometimes heat is a problem for me.
 

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
My boy has been providing dispensaries out west for years and all he runs are cheap MH from thousand bulbs or some such he buys in bulk:weed: ...and they love his weed out there
 
Thanks for the info. It's a matter of spectrum. The sun spectrum we get changes as the seasons change, so the early summer spectrum is more similar to MH and the fall spectrum is more similar to HPS, thats why we switch bulbs with the cycle, to give them something closer to what they have evolved to want. These MH bulbs are 250$ each and claim to have the optimal spectrum for both cycles. Thats the claim I'm trying to get information on, are they really the best bulb to use start to finish? Hortilux daylight blue bulbs. So, anyone use them before?
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
Ive used the Hortilux Blue, and the Hortilux HPS in both veg, and flowering.

For all around I prefer the HPS. Its got Blue in it, and you only need so much, but it is vitally important.

The HPS has both higher PAR, and longer life, and works just as good as the Blue. IMHO. Not nearly worth $200 more.

I also replace bulbs every 5 months for veg, and every 2 harvests for flowering, for 60-70 day flowering varieties. That's $1000 worth of bulbs vs $300, and no increase in anything with the Blue.
 
Ahh, I see. It's hard for me to tell. It's my first time with them, and I am getting bigger plants faster, but I am also running CO2 tanks for the first time. So I am seeing a large increase but wasn't sure if it was the bulbs or the CO2. What do you think about running one of them in the middle of the room and the other 5 HPS? So your saying you notice no increase with Daylight blue? Did they cut your veg time down as advertised?
 
I hate paying for them bro. but I grow for the elderly and connoisseurs so it has to be the best possible. Since some LED panels have gotten more intense I think I'll try them next, but right now I have daylight blue and eye hortilux super HPS, and need a home run this harvest. How would you arrange them?
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
I veg at least 60 days regardless of light source.

I grow really big plants, in 20 gallon containers.

I think running 1 in the middle of the room will make no difference.

Ive also used the 1000w Nanolux Dual Ended CMH which is supposed to have the best color rendering of any bulb. Its not as good as the Gavita DE with 3100k bulb.

I would just keep It simple. Im also not saying the Blue is a bad bub, as it is a good bulb.

Also consider a bulb will lose 15% of is power the 1st month. That's 18,000 lumens for the Blue 107,000 lumens, also with a reduction of PAR.

The HPS will have 123000 lumens.

That would be 21000 for HPS, or a bout as powerful as the Blue after 1 month bleed off.

Intensity/Lumens also matter, contrary to popular misconception.

The Sun is 12,000w+ Sq/ft at the equator.

PAR is what matters, and the Hortilux HPS has the highest PAR of any Single Ended Bulb. HPS, or Halide. The HPS has 1600 umole in 4 x 4 at 24 inches.
 
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Thanks for all the information bro. I agree about intensity. The HPS bulbs will give me about 6500 lumens / foot squared. i had an "expert" at a grow shop try to tell me that lumen output don't matter anymore. Of course he was trying to sell me an LED panel that was low in lumen output. I think the vendors of LED panels are spreading the bad word about lumen out put, you know trying to sell a device with low lumen out put. They are doing a good job of it because that garbage information is spread everywhere. There is a new LED panel that runs on 220, and offers 120000 lumen output that never dims and don't need cooling. Of course they are 1500$ each, they will pay for themselves over time, then save money. Thats my next upgrade I think. Whats your thoughts on LED panels?
 

jimihendrix1

Well-Known Member
For $1500 Id buy 3 Gavitas. Not much on LED.

Gavita is 2100 Umole, and 166,000 lumens. No Brainer. Though you have to have 36-40 inches between canopy and bulb.
 
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