How much life are you getting from your bulbs?

[Vitreous]

Just wanted to post what I wrote to growace web site following a read about reasons not to use any Hortilux HPS bulb. Chances are the moderator will delete my comment, but what ever.
I have a lot of light experience and testing. And here is what I wrote...
""I would like to mention, this review and comparison seems to be lop sided and based solely on a single opinion. Lets say not fair. I would like to begin to explain the light life of the 600W EYE HORTILUX HPS BULB provided and documented high light life for 5 sixty day flowering cycles using the bulb for exactly 3480 Hrs. Each cycle produced amazing fruiting results. Using other bulbs on the same strains did not produce anything near what the Hortilux did. Light intensity to the max is clearly to much for any plant to handle, people tend to add more distance between the plants. I will say…I would only agree with the price being stupid high, but the price was easily absorbed and paid for from the first harvest. So just because you do not promote this brand, you do not need to falsely tell people reasons not to buy the product.
Growace... don’t be like others and walk the crooked road.""

I would really like to know what yall are getting from your bulbs, also please dont pitch any LEDs, These are not high yielding lights and I will never use them. I seen these in action and compared yields side by side and HPS wins everytime.

[OzBud]

Not everyone wants a max possible yield. Some want to save some money on electricity by using LEDs, some find it easier to manage temperature compared to HID lighting, some grow strains for particular tastes or appearance regardless on what the yield is going to be. Every grower has their own situation and needs and there's plenty of growers out there with great grows using LEDs

[Vitreous]

OzBud --> I understand all of that, and that's great, but I think you missed my point a little. Your signature is very close to exactly my type of set up and grows and yields! At the end of the day I would be pleased to say that a good yield plays a huge part of everyone's end result. Don't you remember your first grow and harvesting, being very proud of the final weight produced?

[D.A.A.S.69]

Leds, have come along way in the last year or two , still maybe not quite as good as hps, but still fine for growing weed, with lower heat an lower power bills. You can still get hard,dense nugs using the right leds, just look at all the people using them, on GWE.

[oldjarhead100]

hey V I run my hps for 1 year then change my bulb , I have both hps and leds in my bloom room ,just leds in my Auto room ,and I have leds attached to my t5s for vegging .

[Vitreous]

That is the GOLD i'm looking for, thanks oldjarhead.

[kingfish]

I'm on my second year on my HPS bulb.

[kingfish]

Hey jarhead, I don't have a lux meter, so I don't know how much degradation there is. I hav'nt noticed any difference in my weed production. The last bulb lasted for 3 years. It finally burned out.

[Vitreous]

I just purchased a light meter, so by the end of 2018 I will have enough data recorded for the hortilux bulb.
It is important for me to understand light output and others need to know.

So Kingfish...are you saying you yielded the around the same amount of grams throughout 6 harvests? I'm guessing you did not grow the same strain each time, and I do find it hard to believe the amount produced was similar 6 times. My harvests went like this for 4 grows.
1 = 463g
2 = 308g
3 = 203g
4 = 336g
5 = TBA - still drying

The 1st grow was the largest produced and the 3rd just seemed weak and the other 2 and 4 we kinda close but still lower.
The 5th we will bring to light shortly and it will tell the biggest story.

[kingfish]

Vitrous, No I did not get the same yield, because I use different strains. The point I made was that I did not see any difference in the way it grew. The size of the buds, keeping in mind that different strain yield different amount of weed. But I did not see a need to replace the bulb. Keeping economics in mind. I don't want to spend a lot of money to grow weed. I try to keep my expenses down to about $30.00 per oz. I'm shooting for 4ozs. per plant, but I don't always get it.

[Vitreous]

As I had mentioned earlier, I was going to add the total for the fifth grow. Here it is:
1 = 463g
2 = 308g
3 = 203g
4 = 336g
5 = 273g
Wow it was significantly lower than I expected. I was unable to see what my bulb had for a lux reading, since I had changed it already for my new girls, before I received the meter.
I have the bulb inside glass tube and taped, so I will not be able to get a reading until MID March, where I will change out the bulb to the original and read it then. I will be able to decide if I can continue using the original.
I can say at 18" away with a new 600HPS I'm reading 50000+ as I get towards the corners of the 4x4 gorilla, I get reads 35-40000 @ 18" level...
Kingfish I'm with ya, on spending as little as possible, but at the same time I want the most out of the grow, just because of the time and effort alone, I want the best and nothing less.
And its funny, because I don't even use it for me!
I'ts all for family and friends. and Don't want to let them down, know what i'm sayin, sayin!! lol

[kingfish]

You're a good friend.

[Vitreous]

lol kingfish. I would do it for you too, just so you don't go spending loot on the street quality crap, which is fine and it'll do, but No match compared to what I can produce.
Not that I enjoy to brag, but Impressed and happy people tell a story I can not ignore!

[dontknownuttin]

6 pack of 1000 watt bulbs for under $100! gota be junk https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZM4CL9C...-X69-HI-M5X27Q

[Vitreous]

This ipower company, does not appear to be a stable company, the home page *error404* and claim to be in business for 10 years, but here is the biggest problem, You cant find whom actually manufactures the bulbs, so my best guess is imported from somewhere with there name on the box. Bulbs work, but I can find no Lumens tests on this product, just peoples opinions. I would stick with what the majority use, (mostly branded) because really, just ask yourself, "how can this many people be wrong"!?