250 or 400 hps?

on sort of a budget, was thinking under 200 dollars. Im sure i could construct a cooltube. Should i drop it down to a 150 hps? and like 6-8 cfls? It would probally give off less heat than a 250. I no it wount be as good but they wont even grow if its too hot.

Check out Ceramic Metal Halide Bulbs... more blue and red spectrum (so can use for both flower and veg) and considerably cooler than HPS or MH.... wish I had heard about this before I bought bulbs

Do CMH run on normal HPS ballast though? Or do you need a specific ballast?

Well just found out the answer so nevermind.

I might be getting a 250 watt setup soon and one of those CMH bulbs look like a perfect fit for it.

I'm using a 250 watt in a open wing at the moment for a 1.5' x 4' semi-sealed(not a perfect suction) closet with 14", 30" fans blowing and a 400 cfm exhaust. I get a 80f canopy without supplemental cfl lamps and 83f max with. Go with a 150 watt.

elduece said:

I'm using a 250 watt in a open wing at the moment for a 1.5' x 4' semi-sealed(not a perfect suction) closet with 14", 30" fans blowing and a 400 cfm exhaust. I get a 80f canopy without supplemental cfl lamps and 83f max with. Go with a 150 watt.

Click to expand...

....with a 6" distance from lamp to the top of canopy.