Are the "EYE HORTILUX" bulbs worth the $$$?

[jonnynobody]

400w HPS bulb $6.95 from e-conolight + $6 shipping (approx) or 400w HPS EYE HORTILUX bulb for $89.95 + shipping....i'm one of those people that likes to know i'm buying the best quality product I can buy, within reason which is why i'm having a hard time figuring out if these hortilux bulbs are worth the dough considering I can get a standard 400w bulb for a shade over $12. What do you guys use?

 

[max420thc]

the eye is a excellent bulb..i use 1000 watters though..id check ebay from what im seeing they are a little less expensive there..but not alot.they are a great bulb..eiko makes a good bulb too..for a lot less change..its no where near as good as the eye hortilux...

 

[jonnynobody]

Have you always used the horticultural grade bulbs? Just curious on how a comparison looks between a harvest w/ a standard bulb and a specialty horticultural bulb...

thats more than i'm paying for my ballast kit w/shipping minus the power cord from htgsupply. just seems strange spending more on my bulb than the ballast, ignitor, and capacitor it takes to fire it : )

 

[max420thc]

yea ive alway used the hortilux...there are cheaper bulbs...if you get something other than the hortilux...get a bulb that is made for growing with..not a light built for lighting parking lots...that is what alot of the lights you get for ten dollars are..ive never used one.because i know they are made for lighting parking lots..not lighting plants...eiko i think is the name of a less expensive lamp that is a good lamp..there are a few other companys that make lamps for growing with..the hortilux is one of the best...

 

[jonnynobody]

Thx for the tip max! I think I will go with the lesser priced "eiko" brand....already made a pretty big investment so far, might as well finish strong instead of going with the cheapy lot light

 

[max420thc]

cool..i know what a investment is for sure..good luck..

 

[dazed76]

all i use is hortilux 1000w hps less lummens then sylvania and twice as much but the wavelength is better and it produces bigger yield with more crystals

 

[dazed76]

if your on a budget i woul suggest philps they had an extensive research team when they developed their 1000hps itsa good bulb for half the price but they dont last as long baiscally half the time. I change bulbs every 3 crops.

 

[jonnynobody]

all i use is hortilux 1000w hps less lummens then sylvania and twice as much but the wavelength is better and it produces bigger yield with more crystals

I appreciate the feedback and will definitely spring for the horticultural grade bulb...i'm very excited to see the results so I can brag when it's all said and done

 

[bxke1414]

Honestly, as long as it is in the right color spectrum, a bulb is a bulb. I myself would go for the cheaper one.

 

[Medi4U]

Honestly, as long as it is in the right color spectrum, a bulb is a bulb. I myself would go for the cheaper one.

I'd have to disagree. The actual intensity varies in different bulbs, even though they use the same power. What you are paying for is efficiency. If the electric bill stays the same, but you can provide 20% more light to the plant, you will see a long term payoff.

Lumens is the measurement of the amount of light that the bulb creates. This #1 affects the light that the top of the plant will receive, but also #2 affects the penetration into the canopy. So, a higher lumen bulb will produce more yield.

In essence, buying the better bulb is like adding more bulbs, but without drawing more power (though adding bulbs doesn't always increase the available light to the plant, but that's a different story).

 

[topfuel29]

Honestly, as long as it is in the right color spectrum, a bulb is a bulb. I myself would go for the cheaper one.

I agree.

I'd have to disagree. The actual intensity varies in different bulbs, even though they use the same power. What you are paying for is efficiency. If the electric bill stays the same, but you can provide 20% more light to the plant, you will see a long term payoff.

Lumens is the measurement of the amount of light that the bulb creates. This #1 affects the light that the top of the plant will receive, but also #2 affects the penetration into the canopy. So, a higher lumen bulb will produce more yield.

In essence, buying the better bulb is like adding more bulbs, but without drawing more power (though adding bulbs doesn't always increase the available light to the plant, but that's a different story).

I have to agree with some of the things your saying, but we can't really talk
Lumens. Thats more for our vision, than the plants eyes (Photo-chromosomes)
I allways try and find a high PAR value bulb.
Like they say, "you get what you pay for." You buy a more expensive bulb and its usually made better, lasts longer.

I would get the Hortilux

 

[bxke1414]

It really depends on how much he wants to spend, or if he wants to grow on a budget.

 

[jonnynobody]

It really depends on how much he wants to spend, or if he wants to grow on a budget.

This has proven to be a very educational topic. To sum it up in a nutshell it seems like everybody generally agrees that it is best to spend the extra money on a horticultural grade bulb as opposed to a standard HID lamp for increased spectrum / penetration / efficiency. In a pinch, I gather that a standard lamp will suffice but if you have the extra $30 which I do, buy the horti-lamp. I hope this has been as helpful to others as it has been for me.

 

[jonnynobody]

It really depends on how much he wants to spend, or if he wants to grow on a budget.

This has proven to be a very educational topic. To sum it up in a nutshell, it seems like everybody generally agrees that it is best to spend the extra money on a horticultural grade bulb as opposed to a standard HID lamp for increased spectrum / penetration / efficiency. In a pinch, I gather that a standard lamp will suffice but if you have the extra $30 which I do, it seems best to buy the horti-lamp. I hope this has been as helpful to others as it has been for me...for economic reasons I may go with the cheaper brand horti-lamp. It's amazing how little things add up so quickly

 

[cee]

Used the 400W eye hortilux on my first grow and happy with the results...I think it will be useful for awhile...works better with and electronic ballast-tried both magnetic, and electronic lumatek and found lumatek better....it can be an expensive hobby to get into but it is interesting. I could not find an eye hortilux 400 Whps for less than $90.

 

[Old in the Way]

This still has 2 weeks to go under 1kw "EYE Hortilux lamps" Well worth the cash for a good bulb.....

-OitW

 

[jonnynobody]

that looks mighty impressive OIW. I think you guys are most definitely right, you get what you pay for in the end....and after waiting 90 days, I wanna be impressed

 

[max420thc]

Used the 400W eye hortilux on my first grow and happy with the results...I think it will be useful for awhile...works better with and electronic ballast-tried both magnetic, and electronic lumatek and found lumatek better....it can be an expensive hobby to get into but it is interesting. I could not find an eye hortilux 400 Whps for less than $90.

yea..i noticed they are as expensive or almost as the 1000 watt hortilux..this is what i use also..

 

[Barako]

i'm using home depot 400w hps bulb and got some good results