can i light my starter seeds with a fish tank light?

[sewcool]

Is a fish tank light a good enough light for my indoor seeds to start? i dont have any windows inside my apartment for sun and i dont want to leave them in the hall window for someone to ruin... any thoughts? it says natural light on it??

[sewcool]

since i have sprouts im gonna say yes!

[cschick]

Depends on the light. I know that if you want to keep aquarium plants in your aquarium, you really need a combination of lights across the spectrum, and multiple strips--the full spectrum ones are kind of considered a joke. But here, you're just trying to spout and grow a little, so one of the "full" spectrum single strips will probably do fine.

[glowbug508]

What other lights can I use?

Can anyone recommend other cheap lights that I can use? I am just starting a couple varieties of seeds for fun and don't have much invested in the outcome. Do you think they'll be ok with just a sunny, south-facing window and a little bit of regular, everyday lamp light at night? I would be willing to be a light if it is really cheap and I can use it for something else afterwards. Ideas?

[CozMama]

You can buy inexpensive shop lights at Lowes or Home Depot and just brand new lights every year. They don't necessarily need to be grow lights but you do need to put your light just a couple inches away from the plants and they need about 14-16 hours a day.

[HeatherAtHome]

What about using a desk lamp? You know, the kind with adjustable necks? I don't have anything to attach a light to in order to hang it over plants.

[ambersrose]

I have always just used floresent lighting with no issues. The fish tank light should be floresent.

[Pepper44]

I got a couple $7 metal clamp lamps at Lowes. (They are in isle with the florescent lights.) I put 100 watt equivalent compact florescent bulbs in them. Those bulbs don't get hot. They've worked great so far and it was really cheap and easy! I just have to rotate the plants around them often.

I think you could probably put one of those compact florescent bulbs in a desk lamp too if the wattage is safe. A regular bulb might get way too hot.