Basic Lighting Question??

Hey,

I've decided im going to buy some lights by the end of next week. I basically just need to be re-assured that im investing my money correctly..

The problem i have is...
1) Should i just buy a dual spectrum lamp and use that all the way from the start through flowering. (As i thought it emmited both the 'red' and 'blue' light)

2) Buy a lamp which allows for a HPS and MH bulb to be fitted. There fore using the MH bulb while the plant is growing all the way untill flowering where i will use the HPS bulb. MH Blue Light, HPS Red Light right??

3) Use one of the above options but also purchase a CFL lamp for the first few weeks of growing? or untill im ready to flower???

Hope i havent complicated the question too much..Hopfully one of you guys will set me right

well it depends on what you can afford if you can run a metal halide and hps all the way through that would be best ,then it would be followed by the ballast with the switchable bulbs and then the hps for flower and the cfl for veg,hope that helps

kl so buying a lamp that holds both a mh bulb and hps is all i need? will this hit the electricity bill hard? i live in a fairly big house...about 6 bedrooms (which are all occupied) plus the downstairs pretty much has everyfin running all day..My point basically is that my electricity bill is prob fairly high anyways, wud these lights really make a difference if i make sure i turn off all unneccesary things (tv, bedroom lights,etc.). I dont actually pay my bill or know how much it is, but i dnt wan me parents getting too suspicious if its a massive increase..

if money is tight buy hps only,if you can afford both get mh veg hps flower
i recomend digital ballasts like lumatek because they fire both bulbs, since no conversion bulbs are needed you can get high quality halides, rather then hit or miss off brand conversion bulbs

greenfinger08 said:

kl so buying a lamp that holds both a mh bulb and hps is all i need? will this hit the electricity bill hard? i live in a fairly big house...about 6 bedrooms (which are all occupied) plus the downstairs pretty much has everyfin running all day..My point basically is that my electricity bill is prob fairly high anyways, wud these lights really make a difference if i make sure i turn off all unneccesary things (tv, bedroom lights,etc.). I dont actually pay my bill or know how much it is, but i dnt wan me parents getting too suspicious if its a massive increase..

Click to expand...

look in the stickies for electric wattage caculators

or you can google it

Grow Lights > Ballasts > Ventronic 600W Digital Ballast you suggesting that this would be a better purchase and just buy a HPS bulb and MH bulb and switch them around depending on stages??

anyone?.......