FlyTrapCare Forums

Hello,

I have been reading about tissue culture since I found this site, I am wanting to give it ago so I'm looking into getting things I need for it. I need a light obviously however I don't know where to get one. I am on a low budget, I want a light which I can just plug into wall plugs as I don't have the time or the expertise to wire them in any other way. I have been looking at ebay and also aquarium shops however I'm worried about postage of them. Can someone advise me on getting lights on a budget and also being able to easily wire them in. I think max I'm willing to spend on lighting is about £30 (told you my budget was tight). If thats not enough money then I might have to leave this idea for a while.

Thanks

Go to Home Depot or Lowes (try Home Depot first) and get the cheapest two-bulb 24" or 48" shop fixture they have that has an electronic ballast (electronic ballast will be rated for use with both T8 and T12 lights - if it's only for T12's don't get it - magnetic ballasts put out a lot of useless ambient heat). The fixture should be around 20 bucks, give or take.

Then buy any two brand name (GE, Philips, TCP, Sylvania) 6500K ("Daylight") fluorescent T12 or T8 bulbs. If you have a Home Depot, Philips 6500K T8/or T12 48" "Alto - Daylight Deluxe" are what you want - Lowe's sadly doesn't carry these. The bulbs you want are either 40W 48" T12 tubes, or 34W 48" T8 tubes. T8 tubes put out more light but produce more heat. If the cultures will be in a cool room (as opposed to a room in the house that tends to be warmer than other rooms) you can easily get away with T8. If in doubt, get T12. Either will do.

If you're thinking shorter, then you can go with 24" fixture and 24" T8's or T12's. Same rules apply otherwise.

I believe even Wal Mart might have what you need in their hardware department, but I'm not certain.

You do not need "grow" lights and in many cases you will get better results with a 6500K daylight tube. Either way, 6500K "daylight" is ideal; don't get 5000K "sunlight".

If you don't have any hardware stores to find such a thing, just run a search on Google Shopping and go from there.

Good luck

Hello,

Thanks for your quick reply, I don't believe there are Home Depot or Lowes stores in the UK. I'm wondering if anyone knows any stores in the UK that would supply me with what i need. I keep searching eBay and finding lights but i don't believe i could wire them in using a normal plug. I can't use lights which need wiring really, i want a light i can simply plug into wall sockets but like i said in my first post I'm on a budget with a maximum of £30.

Thanks in advance.

Look for envirolite on ebay, you may pick one up with a reflector.
6400k blue spectrum and 125w would be fine.

Thanks for your suggestion, I will be buying one or two of these soon. These are in my price range and look like they will do the job just great.

Again thanks so much.

you might be able to get a second hand one quite cheap. and you will be able to plug them straight into the wall, presuming that that relector/holder has the rigght connector i think they all have standard mains sockets.
a lot of people use these and in general should be fine for carnivorous plants, although there may be cheaper or better options, but i would go for these.