Full Spectrum Lighting?

[Stackie]

Due to recent circumstances I had to move and the only space available for all the kids was down in a (finished) basement. Unfortunately the room they are in has no windows. I have just been leaving the regular room light on during the day and turning it off and plugging in a night light at night, but I would like to look into full spectrum lighting. All of the lamps and bulbs I have found online are very expensive, so I was wondering if you have bought some, where you got them and how much they cost?

If WalMart has them that would be awesome! I'm really just looking for a few desk lamps or something. The actual bulbs on the ceiling are the long fluorescent tubes and I always have a nack for breaking them, so I really dont want to mess with them.

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

The light fixtures themselves are best to get at Walmart, but the tubes I get from Lowes. I'm bad with remembering names, but think the brand is sunshine or something like that. Basically you just want to look for the words full spectrum. A lot cheaper than online!

 

[addictedtochins]

Is there a door that you could replace/convert with a windowed door?

 

[ABBY W.]

I have the same problem. I have several daylight bulbs in the room, and put the lights on a timer so I can set them to come on with the sunrise and off with the sunset. That allows me to simulate the seasons.

 

[Stackie]

Is there a door that you could replace/convert with a windowed door?

This is just a temporary housing situation until I move again in a few months, so that really wouldn't be practical. Thanks though.

I'll have to go to Wal-Mart and take a look today. Thanks!

 

[Aneesa's Muse]

Any of the plant bulbs ..or even aquarium (usually, they are one and the same, at hardware stores) ..will offer full spectrum. The thing is, they come in tubes more often than bulbs... but they do come in "cushiony" cardboard covers that should prevent you breaking them before you get them installed. Well.. unless you are playing laser games with them or something

 

[Spoof]

Both Wal-Mart and Lowe's have the daylight bulbs and tubes.

I bought a box of 12 daylight florescent tubes and it was $10.

A box of SPF65's is $14 at Lowe's.

They also sell a nice multi-outlet digital timer at Wal-Mart, I'd recommend investing in it! The only one Lowe's had I had to return as it didn't work.

The only downside to regular bulbs is that they do produce quite a bit of heat. The fluorescents do not.

Edited to clarify. I use the fluorescent tube lights, but you can buy the compact fluorescent lights that go in a regular bulb fixture in Daylight for a bit more money. They are worth it as they do not produce near as much heat as regular bulbs. Not to mention your power cost. I'd recommend getting the compact 75-100 watt ones if you can find them, same with regular if that is what you choose. 50watts is just not bright enough to see much.

 

[lydz]

I was planning on moving my chins to the basement when we finish it since that's going to be our family room. Would there not being any windows actually affect them? I don't think I ever thought of this or thought it would be a problem.
Your question made me wonder.

 

[Spoof]

Would there not being any windows actually affect them?

Nope. Mine and several of the ranches I've been to are completely windowless. Helps with the heat, and some believe it keeps the females from going into anestrous. I have mine set to 14 ours on, 10 off. Many do 12 on 12 off.

 

[lydz]

What do you mean by 12 off 12 on?

 

[ABBY W.]

12 hours with the lights on, 12 hours of darkness.

 

[Spoof]

The lights are on for twelve hours, and off for twelve = 24 hours in a day. )

Mine are set for longer as I go in there a lot, they turn on at 8am and off at 10PM.