Thread: Got new light... which one to use?

My grow box is approx. 2x2x3 and am currently using six 55/200w 2700k CFLs producing a total of 22080 lumens. I just bought a 150w HID. Not sure if the bulb is MH or HPS but it produces an orange looking light so I assume its HPS? (bought it used for $25 so I dont know anything about it). My question is do I keep the CFL's, use the HID, or use a combination of the two? Heat is an issue as I am barely keeping the box in the low 80s using the CFLs. Thanks.

If you're already having problems with 330W of CFL light, adding 150W of HPS lighting will make it worse. Use the CFL's for veg and use the HPS for flowering.

I'm not having any problems... I simply bought a new light. Plants are looking great, I just wanted some opinions/options as to the best solution with what I have. If I use the HPS exclusively in flower I am losing about 7000 lumens, but the HPS is a better light. Again... just wanting a solution thats best for the plants (all HPS... all CFL... HPS with 2 or 3 CFLs... ect.) They have been in veg for about 4 weeks (about 10 inches tall and very bushy) and I had planned on going to 12/12 this weekend. Thanks.

You said that you were having an issue keeping the temperatures below 80 with the CFL lights. I'd consider that a problem if you're going to consider an addition of a HID light. Just use the HID for flowering and use the CFL's for veg, that's the best way you can go, unless you can combine the two during flowering.

I tried just the HID, with the light as high as it can go the temp went up 10 degrees. Gonna have to use just the CFL's.