What's new
  • ICMag with help from Landrace Warden and The Vault is running a NEW contest in November! You can check it here. Prizes are seeds & forum premium access. Come join in!

Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)

minds_I

Active member
Veteran
its the strain. i have double dutch and white widow growin under the 400 watt CMH. 2 of the WW started a week after the DD. they have already out grew the DD in a few weeks.

Hello all,

WT, the WW could have done that under a hps or mh as well.

As far as my observations.... I re-installed my cmh on the 26th of March.

Since, I have two cycles of SDOG ...one started under a HPS and vegged for two weeks before changing the bulb (temperature mitigation) to the cmh.

Well, what I have observed is the first two weeks of the hps had a greater bud site production and some stretch.

Since, I have noticed a slower bud production under the cmh with the older SDOG's. Its its as if they stalled.

I have also noticed with the batch that started flowering under the cmh have grown quite a bit and the stretch of the lower branches has been advantageous. Also, longer internodal lenght but plenty of budsites. Thats a plus.

The bud growth of the second batch is not as pronounced at two weeks under the cmh as with the hps.

Finally, I have a batch of superskunk x northern lights#5 that are 3 weeks under the cmh and are finishing up slowly for this strain. I am thinking a week longer then I usually go (today is 56 days). As to the frostyness of the buds....that is top shelf to be sure. However, I only see a marginal difference in frost between the hps and cmh.

I like the bulb for the heat reduction. As far as growth enhancement in the buds....I don't see it....I am still waiting.

If I have the time tonight I will take some pics...then maybe someone can tell this old stoner how to get them on the page...since the change I have not been able to effectively get images to the screen.

minds_I


EDIT: The plant on the right is 2 weeks older.
picture.php


side view
picture.php
 
S

Seismic

Hey simba, right now I am using an 8bulb 2 foot T5 for vegging. What would be the advantage of switching out my 6500k bulbs for the pure blue phosphorus bulbs? Will the growth be accelerated a bit? Less or more heat than regular T5 bulb?

Thanks for the help,
Seismic:joint:
 

simba

Sleeping Dragon
Seismic, i would say your using the light emitted more efficiently,


Heat is same You can actully raise your lamps a bit because your outputting Massive Blue energy Perfect for the plant

for veg in a 8x 1 5k or 6.5k, 4 Blue, 3 red lamps you will have some Uber compact Plants

for flower id say in a 8x 2 3,k 2 Blue, 3 red lamps to give uniform spd (uses this after initial flower stretch)


I will say the SPD of the red mimics HPS and in hps i don't like it
but in Non HID that output actually works better than standard K Lamps
(Red/Blue Combo did same as K lamps using Little less total wattage)
also by the time the energy reaches down in there there's barely any left in 3k, 4k, 5k lamps they have spikes in nice areas but its minimal in the Grand Scheme.


Hey simba, right now I am using an 8bulb 2 foot T5 for vegging. What would be the advantage of switching out my 6500k bulbs for the pure blue phosphorus bulbs? Will the growth be accelerated a bit? Less or more heat than regular T5 bulb?

Thanks for the help,
Seismic:joint:

Philips true red & blue T5 bulbs in flower

Same fixture with 3 red, 2 blue & 3, 3000K bulbs - rather like an american flag, eh?

Basically, anybody who uses T-5's should install these bulbs or at least mix them with the reg 3-6k china cheapo's shipped with most fixtures.
The quality of the Philips is very appearent next to the others.
 
S

Seismic

Thanks simba, I'll have to save up so I can get 8 of them to try out. Is there any heat difference between those and regular run of the mill t5 bulbs?
 

asde

Member
dont use pure blue for flower in such a high ratio imo you should use only pure red and add a 70w or 150w cmh in a cooltube instead
 
S

Seismic

Who said anything about using pure blue for flower? I would be using them in a veg only setup.
 

Che

Active member
Veteran
lightingsupply.com has decent prices, I don't know if there's a better deal to be had though
 
S

Seismic

looked a lot like simba suggested to use pure blue's for flower and you accepted

if you had read my post, you would have seen that I was specifically asked simba for information on a T5 setup for vegging. Simba provided information on the blue bulbs, as well as information on the other. I thanked him for said information, not agreed to try out a mixed spectrum setup.
 

Wacky Tobacky

Active member
Hello all,

WT, the WW could have done that under a hps or mh as well.

As far as my observations.... I re-installed my cmh on the 26th of March.

Since, I have two cycles of SDOG ...one started under a HPS and vegged for two weeks before changing the bulb (temperature mitigation) to the cmh.

Well, what I have observed is the first two weeks of the hps had a greater bud site production and some stretch.

Since, I have noticed a slower bud production under the cmh with the older SDOG's. Its its as if they stalled.

I have also noticed with the batch that started flowering under the cmh have grown quite a bit and the stretch of the lower branches has been advantageous. Also, longer internodal lenght but plenty of budsites. Thats a plus.

The bud growth of the second batch is not as pronounced at two weeks under the cmh as with the hps.

Finally, I have a batch of superskunk x northern lights#5 that are 3 weeks under the cmh and are finishing up slowly for this strain. I am thinking a week longer then I usually go (today is 56 days). As to the frostyness of the buds....that is top shelf to be sure. However, I only see a marginal difference in frost between the hps and cmh.

I like the bulb for the heat reduction. As far as growth enhancement in the buds....I don't see it....I am still waiting.

If I have the time tonight I will take some pics...then maybe someone can tell this old stoner how to get them on the page...since the change I have not been able to effectively get images to the screen.

minds_I


EDIT....I have the pics to illustrate...but lack the knowledge to post them...HELP ME!

Minds_i you bring an interesting point. i was just saying that it could perhaps be the strain because my DD is slower the the WW. the WW has more vigor. i may switch to HPS for flowering. i dont have any heat issues, in fact im only running my fan at 50% with barely a temp difference and i have a HPS bulb already. my girls are now 11 days into flower right now.

To upload pics you can go to your user menu and go my my album. create a new album and uplaod the pics then post them here. im interested in seeing the difference.
 

onegreenday

Active member
Veteran
I agree the plants grow a lot slower under CMH.
I'm still in veg and I'm still going to veg for a while to get a feel for the CMH.
So far I'd say that plants grow quicker/better under HPS but
I'm patient (gotta be with nature) and i'll observe some more.
 

simba

Sleeping Dragon
if you had read my post, you would have seen that I was specifically asked simba for information on a T5 setup for vegging. Simba provided information on the blue bulbs, as well as information on the other. I thanked him for said information, not agreed to try out a mixed spectrum setup.

not to sound rude or notin but i never toughted BLUE for flower only.
and blue is needed during flower just less than the % of red (short Version)
i said
for veg in a 8x 1 5k or 6.5k, 4 Blue, 3 red lamps you will have some Uber compact Plants

(tel me in there how its to much blue)
for flower id say in a 8x
2 3,k
2 Blue,
3 red lamps to give uniform spd (uses this after initial flower stretch)
That to me is a perfect mix..for
If you take out the blue you get stretch <Fact>

just to give ya an idea..for my seedlings i use 2 blue, 1 red and the most basic reflector.. and plants are 12"below light with NO STRETCH>>I cant say this about any other T5 out there using only 3 lamps

Asde, my advise given is not only mine from my experience but others threw me..
 

Vorsprung

Active member
just to give ya an idea..for my seedlings i use 2 blue, 1 red and the most basic reflector.. and plants are 12"below light with NO STRETCH>>I cant say this about any other T5 out there using only 3 lamps

Asde, my advise given is not only mine from my experience but others threw me..

So in my 6 bulb reflector that i use for seedlings, clones and 1st month veg you think 4x blue and 2x red is the right combination? Or maybe 4x blue (on outermost ballasts) and in the middle two ballasts use 1 red and 1 6500k floro?

Thanks!
 
S

Seismic

not to sound rude or notin but i never toughted BLUE for flower only.
and blue is needed during flower just less than the % of red (short Version)
i said
for veg in a 8x 1 5k or 6.5k, 4 Blue, 3 red lamps you will have some Uber compact Plants

(tel me in there how its to much blue)
for flower id say in a 8x
2 3,k
2 Blue,
3 red lamps to give uniform spd (uses this after initial flower stretch)
That to me is a perfect mix..for
If you take out the blue you get stretch <Fact>

just to give ya an idea..for my seedlings i use 2 blue, 1 red and the most basic reflector.. and plants are 12"below light with NO STRETCH>>I cant say this about any other T5 out there using only 3 lamps

Asde, my advise given is not only mine from my experience but others threw me..

My response wasnt to you simba, I was just stating to asde that I was only asking you for the performance gains of a pure phos blue T5 bulb and a regular 6500k T5 bulb. I dont know where you assumed I was asking about blue for flower, or saying that you were toughting them as being good for flower, I was only saying that in response to my original question you provided information on both bulbs. So unless you meant to respond to asde you need to re read the posts simba.
 

foo_bird

Member
Horizontal or Vertical
whats the advantages and disadvantages of both
I'll be growing in a 55gal drum with 250w cmh
can't find a horizontal reflector that will fit the drum
I did find a vertical reflector that fits so
Horizontal or Vertical do I go with what I can get
or make my own horizontal reflector

thank you
 

simba

Sleeping Dragon
Vorsprung, i the reason i use 2B's 1R and no whites is cause i wouldn't be able to get a even spread/mix of all lamps over all the trays..
In a 6x FOR seedling/clone-early Veg id say
(W=5k)
BWBRWB
BRBRBR
WBWBBW
BWBBWB
your choice.....


Seismic, i wasnt being mean or replying to ya..
i re-staed what i had said so asde could quote me correctly.


a 250 in a drum are u growing vertical scrog or just few at the bottom center... a 250 is pushing it heat wise any bulb in that unless u have serious ventilation.. id go for a 150 and see how it does.. in vertical id be easier to cool
 

habeeb

follow your heart
ICMag Donor
Veteran
simba, on the topic of the blue / red phillips bulbs

you believe / see there is no need to add a white bulb to the red and blue setup? the blue / red bulbs hit all the required spectrum to not use a white in there? I am using them with a white to make sure and didn't know if I could ditch the white for more "power"

also I am understanding these bulbs are marketed in Holland for the specific use of our beloved plant?

thanks
 

asde

Member
simba adding blues to such a small setup is contra productive, you can also grow with red standalone and get good results..!
add an cmh or white t5 will do it, pure blue are only for veg/greenhouse and not for getting big buds.
 
Top