what to look for in a MH?

lowie182

lowie182

Member
hey everyone,

was just checking out an old 400W metal hallide (ballast with bulb) laying around my dads place and was wondering if ANY MH will work for veg? i got a couple 40W t12's right now so a MH would be a nice upgrade for free!

the bulb thats in it. i dont know if it will work cause its color temperature is 4000K with a CRI of 65. will this work for veg? or flower? or do you need something closer to 6500k/3000K for growing?

heres the link to the specs.
http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=COMMERCIALSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=18904&BreadCrumbValues=CATG,_Lamps_High%20Intensity%20Discharge_Quartz%20Metal%20Halide_Elliptical_ED28&SearchFieldCode=null

THanks!
 
jawbrodt

jawbrodt

Well-Known Member
Yeah, that's not a very good spectrum to use. It'll work, but not very well. I'd say to spend $20 and at least buy a cheap bulb with the right color temp. :)
 
lowie182

lowie182

Member
yeah fair enough. ill just keep my ladys under the flourecents for now till i get a bulb. the problem is i was looking it up and i think i can only get those kinds of bulbs. something to do with the ANSI code? M59 is this important?
 
lowie182

lowie182

Member
justperk said:
dude. nice find!



its not that bad dude..the ballast is the most expensive part..replacing the bulb is the easy part
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yeah no kiddin!!


i was looking at GE website and it looks like theres not any MH with a color temp much hotter than 4300K.... is this right or did i just smoke too many joint lol

sorry im a noob on the first grow lol
 
lowie182

lowie182

Member
So whats the average color temp on a Metal Halide?

im finding that at both GE and Sylvania there around 3200-4300 K
 
doc111

doc111

Well-Known Member
lowie182 said:
So whats the average color temp on a Metal Halide?

im finding that at both GE and Sylvania there around 3200-4300 K
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Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a Sylvania 400w MH. Make sure that it says M59 and look for the burning position. It should be U for Universal (vertical or horizontal). The ones they sell should be all you need. That's all I use with my 400w and it works great! Should be under $30. Best of luck my friend. :bigjoint:
 
snutter

snutter

Well-Known Member
I'm using one that must be 20 years old, if not older in my veg room. All I did was go to my home depot and bought a new bulb. and i was in business. so the answer is yes....but get a new bulb. use it!!! you won't be disappointed!
 
lowie182

lowie182

Member
doc111 said:
Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a Sylvania 400w MH. Make sure that it says M59 and look for the burning position. It should be U for Universal (vertical or horizontal). The ones they sell should be all you need. That's all I use with my 400w and it works great! Should be under $30. Best of luck my friend. :bigjoint:
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Yeah man picked up a light from the local light shop (lumisque lighting) and the plant turns to it so it likes it im sure!!! hopefully good growing from her on in
 
Hawk

Hawk

Well-Known Member
lowie182 said:
well yeah, but people are saying the spectrum is off cause best is like 2500k and 6500k and i got 4000k and that all i can prettymuch get for this ballast.
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Don't listen to those people. There ain't a damn thing wrong with vegging with a 4000K 400w MH lamp. There are plenty of people who veg under a 2100K HPS for goodness sakes (or flower with MH).


With fluorescent lights I'd conciede the color spec of the bulb would/could be significantly important. But HID generally puts out so much light overall that good things happen no matter what.
 
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