CFL vs HPS penetration
- Thread starter smoothopyro
- Start date
AeroKing
Well-Known Member
The red light of an HPS can induce stretch. The CFL may actually keep the internodes tighter.
What's the deal with CFL worshippers anyway? It's almost like CFLs are their religion. No matter how much empirical evidence you throw at them, they just don't want to accept that they're wrong.
They can use acronyms like PAR and CRI to try and reinforce their argument all day long, but in the end empirical evidence always wins. It reminds me of the MH vs. HPS debate where people argue against using an HPS for veging because it's the "wrong" spectrum. The reality is that watt for watt, an HPS will always win, why? Well besides the fact that it's more efficient and emits more lumens per watt than any other light used for growing, it has been shown again and again by people who have actually compared the two. I think we can all agree that a Metal Halide produces a much better quality of light as it appears to us, but apparently to plants, lumens matter more than CRI (to a point, otherwise we would be using Low Pressure Sodium lights).
CFLs definitely have their place. They're great for many reasons. They're widely available, inexpensive, compact, screw into standard light sockets, and are efficient in their own right (especially when compared to incandescent bulbs). They're great for growing seedlings, clones, mothers, and can even be used for full grows if your expectations are realistic. But to compare them to HIDs, and expect that they are just as good or better for plant growth is a fallacy to the point of being delusional.
It has been proven time and again that at present, High Pressure Sodium lighting is the best and most efficient commercially available horticultural lighting on the planet. Period. End of story.
/End rant
They can use acronyms like PAR and CRI to try and reinforce their argument all day long, but in the end empirical evidence always wins. It reminds me of the MH vs. HPS debate where people argue against using an HPS for veging because it's the "wrong" spectrum. The reality is that watt for watt, an HPS will always win, why? Well besides the fact that it's more efficient and emits more lumens per watt than any other light used for growing, it has been shown again and again by people who have actually compared the two. I think we can all agree that a Metal Halide produces a much better quality of light as it appears to us, but apparently to plants, lumens matter more than CRI (to a point, otherwise we would be using Low Pressure Sodium lights).
CFLs definitely have their place. They're great for many reasons. They're widely available, inexpensive, compact, screw into standard light sockets, and are efficient in their own right (especially when compared to incandescent bulbs). They're great for growing seedlings, clones, mothers, and can even be used for full grows if your expectations are realistic. But to compare them to HIDs, and expect that they are just as good or better for plant growth is a fallacy to the point of being delusional.
It has been proven time and again that at present, High Pressure Sodium lighting is the best and most efficient commercially available horticultural lighting on the planet. Period. End of story.
/End rant
Greyskull
Well-Known Member
we were never arguing.... we were stating fact overrides fiction (theory). you were arguing that fiction (theory) overrides fact. you finally see the big bright hps light, and then you unsuscribe.
toodle doo
Toppers
Well-Known Member
Proof is in the grow logs, let people fool with CFL's all day long if they want. I learned the hard way after a birds nest of wires and adjusting those annoying bulbs every single day. It became hazardous on a certain level too. I wish I could get all my money back I spent on those stupid little things, it's hilarious how many I have in my closet.
Now my plants love the 250 HPS. In fact I would put my 250 HPS against 300 watts of your best CFL "lighting" any day. HID's smoke everything, either people realize this or let them keep living the dream that CFLs=HID in intensity.
Now my plants love the 250 HPS. In fact I would put my 250 HPS against 300 watts of your best CFL "lighting" any day. HID's smoke everything, either people realize this or let them keep living the dream that CFLs=HID in intensity.
I am running an experiment. Ive got 1 tomahawk missile and an unlimited number of civil war era cannons. Which ones will do more damage?
Who cares...even if 10000s CFLs are better, who honestly cares?
No I'm using CFL's this time around. I got my EC monitor for 20 euro on ebay from China. So its not a top end one or anything.
9inch bigbud
Well-Known Member
nice sounds like a bargain! i just spent almost $300 on mine
it is the dogs nutz though 5 years guarantee PH/CF,EC,PPM/temprature. im sick of buying a new ph pen every 6 months. bluelab are the rolls royce of hydro control iv got the CF truncheon had it for well over 10 years havent add a clean in the last 5 years i put it up against my new one and its still spot on
Bluelab Combo Meter
Better crops start with the Bluelab Combo Meter, it's all you need for simple and reliable crop management, and it's all within arms reach. It is a conductivity, pH and temperature meter all in one. It comes with a pH probe and conductivity/temperature probe, which are simply placed into the solution and the selected reading is displayed on screen.Mine is just a EC pen. No PH or anything else.nice sounds like a bargain! i just spent almost $300 on mine
Bluelab Combo Meter
Better crops start with the Bluelab Combo Meter, it's all you need for simple and reliable crop management, and it's all within arms reach. It is a conductivity, pH and temperature meter all in one. It comes with a pH probe and conductivity/temperature probe, which are simply placed into the solution and the selected reading is displayed on screen.
I'm using ph liquid lol. Still it works.
ganja zulu
Member
i have a cabinet i intend to use to grow in its 1.2 metres by 60cm by 2meters high i think in feet its about 4 by 2 by 6.5. The only thing stopping me is the choice of lighting. Im determined that i want to use hid because of there obvious advantages. My question is about the hids if i use a 250w mh for veg and a 250w hps 4 flower in that space will it get too hot or can i use more powerfull like 400w. Hydroponic system i will be using is a modified bubbleponics system and will only take up 1foot by 4 foot inside the grow cabinet can the hid spread its light effectively over that area i am only using one at a time but i have not bought any as yet so it is still a decision i have to make nothing about lighting is set in stone. I can make 2 holes directly to the outside of the building the distance between the inside of the cabinet and the outside of the outer wall of the building is only 1 inch.so i plan on putting an intake at the pot level and an exhaust on the inside of the cabinet on the top. Both using in-line fans and 4inch ducting. Please im desperate as this is the final missing piece and its holding me up now.
swazifarmer
Well-Known Member
Ngiyakwemukela, Unjani?
but I think you should start a thread my zulu is kak so please don't reply in zulu
ganja zulu
Member
lol nice one!! im not zulu i just live in the area they come from.. and as for the suggestion of posting a new thread i have.. numerous times in every place i could think of but noone can give me a answer the threads just sit and noone comments so i thought i might as well try post where ppl actually know something... please someone help cos i have everything i need to start but not lights as i cant decide if i decide now its all just fukin expensive guesswork