hid lighting mh or hps

[lamellata]

are any of you here using these and if you are which one and what do you think of it

[Ross]

Welcome to the Orchid Board! I don't personally use (right now) either, but have used both in the past. I think what is in vogue right now are T5 florescent straight tubes which run much cooler, give off just as many lumens and tend to be cheaper to operate. Hope this helps your descision.

[lamellata]

to put out the same light as my hid to cover 75 various plants would require approximately 10 t5 bulbs. this dose not sound cheaper to use. this is why i opted for the hid one bulb covering the total area. t5 lights really do not put out the lumens unless you set them right on top of the plants. t5 puts out 75 t0 90 lumens per watt my hid puts out 125 lumens per watt

[jim blanford]

I use a combo light it has a 400 watt MH and a 400 watt HPS, it moves on 9ft track.
The bench has two levels hight light in the back lower in the front I'll post a pic. hope this helps. Jim.

[lamellata]

i have been looking at the track set up but will wait for now. how well do you like your setup and do you have any complaints so far

[Pals]

Hi,
I use mh and have no trouble flowering vandas, I use 250 watts which give out an average light measurement of 4,500 fc. Hps are supposed to be good for flowering but I wouldn't touch them, the light is very unnatural, makes the plants and flower colours look unnatural and is a very dingy light. My vandas flower 2-3 times a year so can't see what the fuss about sodium is?

Pals

[jim blanford]

I have no problem blooming all kinds of plants, I've not tried Vandas. No complaints at all. Jim.

[Pals]

Sorry Jim, just re-read this thread and realised you use sodium!, didn't want to give the impression I was running down your set-up, I wasn't. Just stating my own personal preference, its whatever turns you (or your lights) on!

Pals

[jim blanford]

I understand Pal's, I also grow under fluorescents I'm doing some testing w/CFL's. That's what makes this crazy hobby much fun. Jim.

[Pals]

Originally Posted by jim blanford

That's what makes this crazy hobby much fun. Jim.

When it comes to information, I think "That's what drives us much crazy about this hobby!" would be more accurate. I was in the same situation as lamellata whilst looking for lighting: footcandles, lumens, kelvin, sodium, metal hallide, fluos, compact fluos, mercury vapour, blended mercury, T5, T8......aaaargh
I'm no lighting expert so maybe you need sodium in a basement but I'm fortunate that I get north daylight so perhaps that's sufficient red without using sodium. (Going to attempt to attach photos of the growroom light but even re-sizing pics are still more than the max 19k). I like the metal hallide light, its a clean, white colour and very pleasant to be in.

Pals