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Grow lights
The choise of the lamp is closely connected with the space that we have. For the indoor growing we can use two types of lamps: the HPS/MH lamps and the fluorescence lamps.
Fluorescence lamp
(neons and CFL). They have these advantages: they don't produce a lot of heat, they are easier to install and they are less expensive. But these are some disadvantages: they produce few lumen occupying much space, and they are inappropriate for greater growings.
Among fluorescence lamps we find tubolar neons, CFL and the new MG Envirolite
Tubolar neons are those that we often find in offices: the dimensions are mainly 60cm and 120cm, they consume 18 watt (6cm) and 36 watt (120cm). You can find them in a specialized store of eletrical supplies. Each tubolar neon is composed of a tube of neon, the starter, the ballast and 2 neon holders. You can often find them already mounted.
Neon is perfect for the vegetative phase, and it's optimal for a "low" indoor growing. Infact plants, that can be approach the lamp at 5cm, will grow low and wide, favoring the ramification. During the vegetative phase, neons with a "whitest" or "cold white" shade are right. But the scant penetration of neon light, thwarts its use for the flowering stage. The produced light is effective whitin max 20-25cm from the beam of the tube.
The other disadvantage of the neon is the length. 60cm, infact, could be too many for a little growing. So you can resolve this problem using a CFL.
The best thing to do would be to construct a reflector, also handmade, with the silvered paper, in order to make the most of the light.
CFL Lamps (energetic saving) are the common light bulbs that we have in our houses. Their formats are various, and your choice must be done for watts and colors.
CFL lamps are optimal for the vegetative phase and for "low" growings. Indeed, plants can nearly touch the lamp (but it's better if they will not directly touch the lamp, or leaves will be locally burnt), they can grow low and truly brushy. For a micro-growing these lamps could be appropriate also for the flowering phase, but results would be very minimal. The generated light is efficacious within max 30cm from the light bulb.
The MG Envirolite are fluorescence lamps of last generation and they are purposely created for the indoor growing. They are made in the 125 watt format (12000 lumen) and in the 200 watt format (17000 lumen), and they can have a white or red light spectrum (that is they are respectively adapted for the vegetative stage, 6400 kelvin, and for the flowering stage, 2700 kelvin). Just the color seems to be the different value of these lamps: because they have been created exactly for this purpose, they produce the necessary light spectrum, avoiding wastes.
Other advantages are: the poor issued heat (with the possibility to nerly approach plants to the lamp) and the lack of ballast to buy and wire. But they are not particularly indicated for great systems, because of their weak penetration and because of few watts.HPS/MH Lamps
are the best for the growing, but they have some disadvantages: they produce a lot of heat, it's more difficult to install them, and you will not find them very easily. On internet, you can buy them in specialized stores (links are in these pages or on google), otherwise they can be found in an very equipped electrical supplies store.
They are composed of various elements, that you often can buy separately (but you will have to wire them, and the next scheme will help you): bulb, E40 ceramic socket, ballast, reflector.
We can find the HPS and the MH lamps in various forms: 70, 150, 250, 400, 600 watt.
MH lamps produce a white light and they are right for the vegetative phase. However, they are not so much used, because you can easily replace them with fluorescence lamps.
HPS lamps produce a "yellow-orange" light, the best working one for the flowering phase.
--HPS/MH Problems:
if elements are individually acquired, you have to wire them. You will need an adequated cable and have to wire the lamp, following this scheme.These lamps yield a lot of heat, and this often involves various consequences: they must be held at a right distance from the plant. You can use the values of this table, but you will find out the best just trying.
Lumen table
Source of light - Lumen Incandescent lamp 100W 1250 Fluorescent lamp L40W 3200 Hg vapors light (high pressure) 125W 6300 Fluorescent bulb 400w 23000 Metallic halide lamp 2000W 190000 Questions from users
How much does a lamp consume?
It's not easy to make a precise count, because electrical providers often apply various rates, depending on the consumption range. But we can make an approximate calculation, adding the consumption of the lamp, fans, and eventually the tools for the hydroponic growing. The sum of watts (HPS lamp 430watt + fan 70watt = 500watt), or it's better with kilowatts (0,5kw), must be multiplied for the hours of light (for example 12h on 24h), and finally multiplied for the days counted in the electricity bill. This is the number of kW/h consumed.
Where can I find the right lamp, and how much will it cost? And if I try with a writing-desk lamp, will it work?
If you are looking for a HPS/MH lamp, you can try on search engines or in specialized stores. Price will be variable from about 100 euros or less. Also you can try on ebay.
Instead, if you prefer a smaller and more economic lamp, you can use tubular neons (those of offices) or a simple CFL lamp. Remember to choose them white coloured for the vegetative stage and red coloured for the flowering stage.
A writing-desk lamp is not very effective and its colour is not suitable.
It's a reflector necessary?
It's fundamental. It leads all the light towards the bottom, so you will not lose lumen. It can also be handmade, realized with an alluminium wrought slab or, if it will be used for a small lamp, you can make it with whatever material, covered by alluminium paper.
How can i construct a neon for my growing?
Elements for a ceiling light with 2 lamps: 1 reactor, 4 sockets (lamps holders), 2 starters, 2 starter holders, 2 neon tubes and an electrical cable. They must be linked according to the following scheme.The reactor, the starter and the socket must be appropriated to the watts of the neon that we are going to use. 
Anyway, you must pay attention while you construct this lamp, because it will be used near the water.
