grow light confusion

[KroNik224]

hello,im thinking of buying this 400W Metal Halide ballast for grow lighting. Made by Sunlight Supply Inc. Sun System X model.the guy wants $50.but it is just the ballast.do i have to buy the lamp and lamp socket from sun systems?any alternatives hopefully cheap.i have about $110 to spend.
would i have to buy another ballast for hps light.or can i use the same ballast just a diff lamp socket?
or should i just stay wit my florecent gro light.
thanx

kroN

 

[punx777]

Floro will do you long into vegetative stage... Many digital ballasts work for both MH and HPS (my digital lumatek cost me 145 on ebay) You should probably use an HPS instead of MH, at least for flowering... Anyway, buy a hood.... find a ballast (preferable a HPS or a HPS/MH ballast) the hood probably already has a lamp socket..

post your links

 

[KroNik224]

thx punx.i been doing alot of reading for several hours and have a much clearer idea what i need...for now.

 

[punx777]

No prob, don't be afraid to ask questions you gunna go with an HPS?

 

[KroNik224]

i checked ebay and am going to go with the same digital lumatek.it comes with 2 bulbs.but will prolly get another hps bulb seperate.horti blue or something like that.heh.lights will be setup in 9sf shower we dont use.afgahn maz and some kind of skunky freebies.they are little over a mth in right now.but i really want to start grandaddy purp after the maz and skunk are done.i really like that purple stuff .

 

[JackTheGrower]

Ah I remember researching..

Some folks like the Ceramic metal halide CMH I would buy that if I was to buy a new unit.

I'm thinking the very best investment is the 600W digital.. look for a combo unit with a hood and ballast then buy a great bulb.

.. Myself i bought a combo ballast MH/HPS and used that huge 1k MH bulb a little.. LOL I now just use the HPS for veg and flower..

Actually i have 2 250 MH units I need to wire up as I am going for that little extra boost during flower.

There are the cool tubes and I am in the process of renovating my unit.

One this is very true.. Most of us continue to tinker with their setup.. It's half the fun IMO.. My grow box/room has evolved!!

My three cool tubes on their adjustable rack.

 

[KroNik224]

i just bought the lights.400watt mh/hps.digital lumatek ballast.160 bones ebayed.
the 2 i have now i started outside may 5.there about 5 repoed homes around my house.thought id be safe until landscapers and fix it guys started cleaning the properties up.some ac guy on a repos roof sees me in the back and he says loudly "LOOKS LIKE SKUNK DUDE"!!...my wife says something to me and in the house my little plants come and i hooked up the growlux.they been in for 7 days.they look like they doing fine though.i just want to do it right with the best tools my financial advisor authorizes me to buy.
btw my plants started from feminised beans.
cya for now.
kron