Ok, I got my cover built, and stained today to enclose this cabinet I'm working with. Don't feel like taking pics of them on atm, but they cover each of the 3 sections below, and can be taken on and off to access each section w/ alen keys (so nobody can accidentally open it up without some effort). Each section will be it's own grow chamber, and I have plywood cut to size to have a board that goes up and down in each section which I'll attach lights to. My problem here is I have limited height to work with so am trying to really try to get the lights and hydroponics system as shallow as possible. My questions are: 1) Does anybody have experience with a good way to affix the lights to the board to make it shallow as possible, and decent priced? Initially I was planning to put them sideways to save space. At Home Depot today I browsed the electrical section to get an idea of what the lighting system would cost me, I can't seem to think of a way to do it shallow and reasonably priced. By the time I buy boxes, wire, sockets, bulbs, and plugs (optional), I costed it out $12 per bulb I want. When you multiply that by 24-30 bulbs it starts to get to a price where CFL's aren't cheap any more. And, they need to be flat too, can't be wasting valuable inches. Is it possible to use regular tube florescent? 2) I need some kind of medium to grow the plants in, and it has to be as shallow as possible. Don't really have a preference if it's organic, or hydro, whatever can be done thinner. I can cut into the bottom to embed it down a little more, and grab an extra 5 inches of space. I was thinking either a "Shallow Water Culture" or an ebb and flow with a ~5 inch deep flood table sitting directly on top of a ~5 inch deep reservoir, but am very open to suggestions. Thanks for any help.
Actually, perhaps it's cheaper to find some super cheap light fixtures on Kijiji, and then use those parts to make a light systems? I found 5 of these flush-mount lights (2 bulbs per), for $20 for all 5. Without the glass cover, and a little re-wiring I think something could be worked out. Maybe?