MH Bulb ?

ayr0n

ayr0n

Well-Known Member
So I got my Apollo 600 Horticulture ballast in and it came with an MH and HPS bulb...I really don't want to put everything together until I'm ready to start growing...gonna tuck everything away until it's time - but I opened the boxes the bubs were in just to check if they broke while shipping. They both are intact but I noticed the MH bulb makes a sound when you move it - kinda like a bad incandescent bulb sounds when the filament is broke or w.e...is this normal? I know everyones going to say hook it up and test it but it's not real convenient right now, hope that's enough justification lol. If you guys think that sounds off then I will hook it up and check it before I send it back ...just figured someone would know if that's normal or not.

Think it's bad?

Question 2: From what I've read I should run the MH bulb during veg and HPS during flower, but this setup has dimmable options of 75% and 50%...curious if I should even bother dimming it when they are seedlings / starting out or just run it 100% all the way through? Sorry for nooblishness. Also read I shouldn't even start them on the MH and should run something with a lot less output to reduce stress...but it's not like the sun swaps itself out for an incandescent when plants just sprout in nature lol. Not sure bout that one.
 
Indoor Sun King

Indoor Sun King

Well-Known Member
I use 23 watt CFL bulbs for about 3 weeks, then mix CFL (6500k) with 600w HPS at 50% for a week, then 75% for a week, then 100% and ditch the CFL bulbs
 
dannyboy602

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
The bulb makes that sound it's normal it's like a clanky sound?
Floros are even better for seedlings. I use T5's. Phenomenal growth. But 600w is too strong and while u can definitely use it I just think it's a waste of electric and cost.
It's great having a dimmable and u can def use it for the seedlings at like 50%. then acclimate the plants and move them closer but not closer than about 18". Then increase the light intensity.
 
weedenhanced

weedenhanced

Well-Known Member
ayr0n said:
So I got my Apollo 600 Horticulture ballast in and it came with an MH and HPS bulb...I really don't want to put everything together until I'm ready to start growing...gonna tuck everything away until it's time - but I opened the boxes the bubs were in just to check if they broke while shipping. They both are intact but I noticed the MH bulb makes a sound when you move it - kinda like a bad incandescent bulb sounds when the filament is broke or w.e...is this normal? I know everyones going to say hook it up and test it but it's not real convenient right now, hope that's enough justification lol. If you guys think that sounds off then I will hook it up and check it before I send it back ...just figured someone would know if that's normal or not.

Think it's bad?

Question 2: From what I've read I should run the MH bulb during veg and HPS during flower, but this setup has dimmable options of 75% and 50%...curious if I should even bother dimming it when they are seedlings / starting out or just run it 100% all the way through? Sorry for nooblishness. Also read I shouldn't even start them on the MH and should run something with a lot less output to reduce stress...but it's not like the sun swaps itself out for an incandescent when plants just sprout in nature lol. Not sure bout that one.
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I have a similar setup just 400w with dimmable good choice dig ballast I reakon they make plants grow lot faster mag ballast flicker 50 times a sec and dig flicker 28000 times a second u can tell when u take photos of a dig no lines
Definetly run the mh during veg blue spectrum nice tight nodding good growth and I dimm mine to 200w till plant about 7 to 8 inches 3 to 4 nodes then I pumped to 440w cause ballast has a overdrive u can reaseach this if u like but mh hps setup kick the shit outa cfs for growth speed size and yes switch to hps during flower

The noise is normal the rattle well I have it in my bulb siund bit kike glass on glass if u look at ur mh u wil notice it has a chamber in the bulb
 
ayr0n

ayr0n

Well-Known Member
Blindnslow said:
normal sound. I start mine under a t5 then finish veg and flower under a HPS. Use to change the bulbs MH veg/HPS flower but that got old and they do fine under just the HPS.
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Indoor Sun King said:
I use 23 watt CFL bulbs for about 3 weeks, then mix CFL (6500k) with 600w HPS at 50% for a week, then 75% for a week, then 100% and ditch the CFL bulbs
Click to expand...
dannyboy602 said:
The bulb makes that sound it's normal it's like a clanky sound?
Floros are even better for seedlings. I use T5's. Phenomenal growth. But 600w is too strong and while u can definitely use it I just think it's a waste of electric and cost.
It's great having a dimmable and u can def use it for the seedlings at like 50%. then acclimate the plants and move them closer but not closer than about 18". Then increase the light intensity.
Click to expand...
weedenhanced said:
I have a similar setup just 400w with dimmable good choice dig ballast I reakon they make plants grow lot faster mag ballast flicker 50 times a sec and dig flicker 28000 times a second u can tell when u take photos of a dig no lines
Definetly run the mh during veg blue spectrum nice tight nodding good growth and I dimm mine to 200w till plant about 7 to 8 inches 3 to 4 nodes then I pumped to 440w cause ballast has a overdrive u can reaseach this if u like but mh hps setup kick the shit outa cfs for growth speed size and yes switch to hps during flower

The noise is normal the rattle well I have it in my bulb siund bit kike glass on glass if u look at ur mh u wil notice it has a chamber in the bulb
Click to expand...
Ayy thanks everyone - making my life easy ;) I was gonna grab some T5's for side lighting anyways so maybe I'll just start off with those n introduce the MH after a few weeks. Glad to hear the noise is normal cuz I'm def. sick of waiting for things in the mail. Anticipation has been killing me >.<

ErieR33FER said:
Using the dimming switches are not advised for metal halide lights it greatly shortens their life span
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Thx for the tip I'll look into this. I think it said something like an estimated 10,000 hours of life which is over a year so I'm not too worried about the life being reduced. Just gotta make it through one grow n I got my money's worth. Good to keep in mind for future reference tho... If everything goes smooth I'll be getting a couple more ballasts n stock up on bulbs, graduate from the tent..etc...but I gotta be confident enough that I can yield some decent buds before I shell out too much.
 
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malicifice

malicifice

Well-Known Member
weedenhanced said:
Where did u get this info ? Is that in a digital ballast? I have never heard this gota link? But then I use a 400w big deal a new bulbs like 30 to 40 dollars 2 grams of weed loo
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That's bull shit, they are more like 20-30 dollars. I use a 400 too, I'm starting to like it more then cfl set ups now.
 
ayr0n

ayr0n

Well-Known Member
applejohnny said:
Most people say you shouldn't touch the bulbs because of the oils you leave on them - which apparently can cause them to explode. They get really hot ! You can clean them with isopropyl alcohol and paper towel.
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Good call. I did leave a nice big thumb print on it so I'll have to rub it down with alcohol lol.. these things sound dangerous af. According to the box u shouldn't even be near it for more than a couple minutes :?
 
ErieR33FER

ErieR33FER

Well-Known Member
malicifice said:
LOL! THIS!!!
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What it's true, she knows her shit. And has no reason to lie.
Why the hell would she make that up?

She was trying to help me in the long run andim justtrying to do the same for buddy no reason to ridicule...

Albeit lightbulbs are cheapish for 400 watts it's good to know...how much pointless garbage hav u guys perpetrated over te years.
 
auswolf

auswolf

Well-Known Member
ayr0n said:
Thx for the tip I'll look into this. I think it said something like an estimated 10,000 hours of life which is over a year so I'm not too worried about the life being reduced.
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I found with mh bulbs that they are useless after 2 grows, they seem to degrade quickly.
Also something that needs to be noted is the bulb rated to be used in a open fixture.
A cooltube won't stop a metal halide when it blows and sprays laver through your tent.
 
weedenhanced

weedenhanced

Well-Known Member
auswolf said:
I found with mh bulbs that they are useless after 2 grows, they seem to degrade quickly.
Also something that needs to be noted is the bulb rated to be used in a open fixture.
A cooltube won't stop a metal halide when it blows and sprays laver through your tent.
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Its funny that most white street lights used by councils r mh bulbs and fck they last a long time only know this as ive broken a few being a dickhead in my youth lol and so what u need buy shet to grow good shit 30 bucks on nuts 30 bucks on a new mh bulb ill never veg anything ever again under a hps after my latest grow with my new dig and mh fucking best tightest plant ive grown my girls def virgins they so tight and nice lookin
malicifice said:
That's bull shit, they are more like 20-30 dollars. I use a 400 too, I'm starting to like it more then cfl set ups now.
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U may be right I kinda made the price up lol lmfao but I love my new dig ballast they kick the fck out mag ballast absolutely smash em fck cfls mh hps all the way who wants airy buds yeah some reakon u get more trichomes with cfl but that dint mean ur thc is higher ill buy lights designed to grow shit not light to light up ur kitchen lol
 
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