What kind of lights you use depends if you are just starting seedlings to transplant outside or going to grow them entirely under lights. I grow my for an inside start and use the cheapest 40 watt fluorescents at Wal-Mart. I have tried mixed bulbs and those desined as grow lights but didn't see any difference. I have no idea what it costs to run them

very nice setup, and yes i want to use them to get a head start, so as soon as seedlings emerge put the lights on...for how long do you think a day?

I have them on for about 16 hrs. per day

I don't have a picture but we also use metal shelving with cheapo shop lights with the cheapest fluorescent bulbs you can get.
We use 11"x22" trays with 2"x2" individual seed starting pots for each plant and we use a clear plastic humidity dome to get things started.
We use the lights as a heat source in the chilly basement, also since the heated seed mats are expensive, so we leave the lights on 24hrs a day even after the seedlings germinate.

kendra

This is my hydro greenhouse. I use 250w MH and 250w HPS.

{{gwi:1142328}}

What color temp are those 40 watt flouro's? I have some extra 4100K "cool whites", but I've heard they miss the chlorophyll peaks pretty badly.

I use the cool white and have not found them to be a problem for what I'm using them for--I'm not trying to get them to fruit at this stage.