Dionea lighting

[D_muscipula]

What is a good 18" flourescent fixture that I could buy for about $20-$25

dollars? one suitable for vft's?

[Zakhren]

Well I don't know where you would get one, but make sure it's the right type. Cool white (I think is about 4500K-6500K, I think 6500K would be the best) And I think you need around a total of 120watt 6" above the plants. Well that's for optimum I'm sure the plants would be fine with less.

[D_muscipula]

What about two 40 watt bulbs?

[Zakhren]

It should be enough. I'm trying that now but only been growing for a couple weeks. Not sure if the mouths will turn red. But they're growing.

[D_muscipula]

well I haven't seen any 18" 40 watt bulbs.

[Zakhren]

Try looking for compact. Twin tubes or stuff like that. Looked at your local aquarium shop?

[brad]

The cheapest fixtures, cheapest bulbs, cheapest operating costs, very low heat output, ideal light output for VFTs is:

Fixture:

48 inch (4 foot) two bulb florescent light fixtures (sometimes called shop light). Two of these fixtures would be ideal.

- Good is 40 watt fixtures for T12 bulbs.

- Better is a fixture for T8 bulbs, this is what I recommend. (Less energy useage than T12 and more light output than T12). T8 is great.

- Best is a T5 fixture, but this may be hard to find and the bulbs will probably be expensive.

Bulbs:

Cool White bulbs are ideal for growing VFT, and the cheapest.

In my area T8 2 bulb 48 inch florescent light fixtures cost approximately $15, probably less if you shop around, definitely less than $20.

T8 48 inch florescent Cool White light bulbs are about $2, probably less if you shop around.

Note: A shorter fixture will be more expensive, shorter bulbs will be more expensive, shorter will not provide as much light.

Good luck,

Brad

Ventura California

[D_muscipula]

I will take bacvk the light fixture I bought for $31 dollars.