hps vs halide or both?

[JCfans]

I am new to hydro and am planning a setup. If I am building a system for mainly tomatoes, peppers and perhaps some lettuce what would be my best lighting option. I would rather not have 2 different lights if can I get away with just a halide or hps or do I need to have both 1 for vegetative and 1 flowering? Thanks

[willard3]

If you use HPS/MH mix, you reproduce sunlight temperature pretty closely and can grow plants from seed to fruit. I use them together.

MH favors vegatative growth, HPS favors flowers/fruit

[SouthernIllinoisBonsai]

start with a metal halide, get a metal halide/hps switchable ballast and just buy one metal halide bulb until about 3-5 months down the road when your ready to flower your plants then buy a hps bulb.

This is a better idea anyway as hydro shops write the date in marker on a new bulb when you buy it, and they will only replace the bulb one year from that date. Even if you had it sitting in the box on a shelf never being burned.

good luck and post us some pictures of your plants!!