[mutabaruka]

This all began when one of my customers showed me some MH equipment he gets for his Hydroponics biz. I thought I would investigate the differences or similarities between what he was buying and what we in this hobby use, since there was HUGE difference in the price. He showed me reflectors, sockets, ballasts, water pumps etc at prices 1/3 to 1/2 what is being charged at LFS stores.

I figured there must be some differences otherwise hobbyists would be already buying them there. I spoke with the manufacturer's rep to get more info on the bulbs. They are available in 250W and 400W models; 23,000K initial and 14,400 mean over their lifespan. Their spectrums tend to the yellow and white end. I am not an expert, I know very little about these things and am not offering anything as such. I merely thought that if people were interested they were really cheap at hydroponic supply stores. To me it was obvious that since they were intended for hydroponic use, they would be intended for photosynthetic lifeforms.

In reading the many BB's and sites I have perused in the year and a half I prepared to get into this hobby, there is a wide variety of opinion on what spectrum/intensity/modality light is best,required or recommended.

If you are interested in checking these lights out, check out a local hydroponics store. Please stop emailing me and telling me to get my info straight. I should have known better than to start this after what Stephane went through.