Daylight/sunlight is sufficient, it just takes a bit longer to germinate because of the hours of darkness. Got an inexpensive fluorescent you can put on them 24 hours till they germinate? Lots cheaper to run than the halide. Even an incandescent will work.

Dave

What? Dave saying something good about sunlight?!?!?! ;-) Just messin...

- Steve

Thanks for the tip Dave. I have a 16 watt aquarium light that would fit well over the tray. Do I have to worry about that light creating too much heat inside the dome?

On a side note, regarding heat, several people have recommended placing trays at a small elevation above a heating vent. However, when recently looking at the back of a Miracle Gro seed starting bag, I noticed a warning to keep away from heat registers (the trays, not the bag). Any input?

Thanks again.

Far red light inhibits germination of most seeds and incandescent lights typically output more FR light than another other bulb. I would avoid them.

YMMV,

Mike

This is actually a flourescent light (24" 17w). The color is pinkish but the color temp. is supposed to be 8000K. Of course, there's no real industry standard for color temps. but it sure isn't the relatively stark white of a daylight 6500K or 10000K. My guess is that, like the 9325 GE bulb so extravagantly praised by planted tank enthusiasts, it doesn't have much in the yellow/green spectrum, but instead relies on blue and red.