Veg, under HPS or CFL's?

[RandyRocket]

I got a good deal on a used 430 watt HPS, ballast and reflestor (Hydrofarm). The Bulb is an Osram Vialox 430W. I'm guessing it's around 40,000 lumens and around 2100k. I can't find any info on it.

Now I'm using (10) 27 watt CFL's each has 1300 lumens @ 5500k. I can add more as my plant grow taller.

I have 7 plants from 5" to 8" tall.

I know budding I'll use the HPS. My question is which light set up to use for veg.?

Note the ballast is non-swichable so I looking for the post about installing a switch to turn off the starter so I could use a MH. If I can figure it out I will most likely go that way.

 

[tokintwin]

blue spetrum cfls i dont know if hps is the best for vegging but im sure it'll work no prob

 

[RandyRocket]

blue spetrum cfls i dont know if hps is the best for vegging but im sure it'll work no prob

thanks, i've seen that but i'm not sure what is best.

 

[AlphaNoN]

430w is an odd wattage, but I'm sure you can get a metal halide conversion bulb for it. 400w MH conversion bulbs run about 30 bucks (plus SH).

Metal Halide 400 Watt Conversion

 

[RandyRocket]

430w is an odd wattage,

That's why I got it for almost nothing. $10 yard sale

Thanks for the link.

 

[focus.on.the.grow]

They sell 430W bulbs on HTG Supply and they say it should work fine in any 400w ballast so no worries. Why not use both lights? Your HPS will put out almost four times the lumens as the CFLs, but the HPS lacks in the "blue" spectrum. More light, the better!

 

[RandyRocket]

I picked up a 400 watt mh converter bulb at the hydro store today. I plan to set it up sat. It should work with my 430 watt ballast. Now I'm going from 13000 lumens to 40000 lumens for only an extra 130 watts. I may keep some of the cfls on the sides.