Getting an HPS system. Need help deciding between two set ups!!

So I have some money. I have a box with half set up for vegging, yadda yadda. Anyhow, my next investment is going to be an HPS system for effective flowering as I don't think CFL's (the current bulbs I am choosing to use) are even worth my time to flower with.

I am split between two set ups. I'm either wanting to get a:

1) 150 watt HPS with a Hortilux bulb (if I can find a decent price on them).

OR

2) 250 watt HPS without a bulb upgrade?

I hear hortilux work wonders. I could run either size for my grow space really. I am just curious. I really like the idea of the 150watt w/ hortilux though. It's smaller, and seems more convenient.

Any suggestions? What do you all say?

How about a 400w cmh? Check into that it's cheap effective and yields like a champ.

puffntuff said:

How about a 400w cmh? Check into that it's cheap effective and yields like a champ.

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I had always thought MH were for vegging? Ha maybe I've been looking at them the wrong way this entire time.

Mh cab both veg and flower but hps is preferred for flowering.

Ceramic metal halide is different than mh. It has the full spectrum. Check them out you will be happy. The bulbs are like $50-$60 bucks. And you can find a cheap ballast.

puffntuff said:

Ceramic metal halide is different than mh. It has the full spectrum. Check them out you will be happy. The bulbs are like $50-$60 bucks. And you can find a cheap ballast.

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Thanks man I'll definitely look into it. Anything to save money. I didn't really even know that CMH were different than MH haha. Checking it out now!

So are there any sites I can order a full CMH set up off of? Or should I just plan to buy a non-digital ballast (apparently these are needed) and get a CMH bulb and whatnot? How big of wattage should I look into? I wasn't really planning on running anything over 250watts with HPS. Not sure how much heat these badboys put off.

Still looking into it, seems worth my while.

Edit: Damn man now that I'm looking into it. There seems to be not a lot of info on the topic. I have a shit ton of questions. I found some bulbs but I plan to run these guys horizontally. So I'm assuming I need a horizontal bulb as well, correct?

Also, I need a standard CMH bulb right? Not an HPS to CMH conversion bulb? I know I could probably run either or depending on what type of ballast I get. But I want to keep it cheap and figured a non-digital ballast would probably cheaper? Kinda confused.

Philips is the only one that makes a 400w cmh. I know riddleme uses those. He uses 2 400w and got a little over 4000g wet from them.

puffntuff said:

Philips is the only one that makes a 400w cmh. I know riddleme uses those. He uses 2 400w and got a little over 4000g wet from them.

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Wow that is very nice. I can't run that much power unfortunately (size and money are a factor).

However, I did add up a package that includes a reflector, a 250w digital ballast, and the 250w HPS to CMH retrofit bulb. The package (after shipping on both), came out to be $169.70

Not bad, though I wish I could find a place that sold the ballast and the bulb I need on the same site (couldn't find one myself).

Do you think 250 watts will be enough light for a grow space that is roughly 2.5' (tall) x 2' (wide/deep) x 2' (wide) ?

Would that size be to small even? Should I just go with a 150 CMH set up instead?

here is a picture of the grow space I'm working with. This is my box when I first got it. It's now split down the middle (vertically) so that one half can be ran as veg and the other as flower. It has an exhaust system hooked up now, along with mylar lining, and a drip feed system:



Sorry I'm asking so many questions. I just want to get this order underway so I can finally complete this grow box the way I want.

You'll be fine with whatever you choose. Scrog it and your height won't be an issue. As long as you get the heat outta there and replace the fresh air alot you'll be amazed at the amount of nugs you'll have.

C.M.H also run a lot cooler then regular M.H
you also have to run them on the H.P.S setting
I am really impressed with the vegging from the cmh, I am going to add one to the flower room in addition to my hps

You need to paint your walls white

Here's a ongoing thread of over 270 pages of info on cmh technology.

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=72215

Also Here's a very respectable company to purchase your ballast and bulb.
http://advancedtechlighting.com/cdmed18.htm