Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I don't envy you the task of researching this because there is lots of mis-information floating around so things are pretty confusing.

A little info and some thoughts to get you started;

Some of the more reasonable sites recommend mixing cool and warm fluorescents or cool fluorescents with a few plant fluorecent type bulbs for the red spectrum. Apparently "daylight" fluorescents would also work for you but are less energy efficient than regular fluorescents.

Compact Fluorescents are good if you want to add light to a particular area with a clamp on light.

The standard wisdom is that the blue end of the spectrum is good for growth and will help reduce stem elongation due to low light. The red end promotes bloom and more rapid growth.

The down side to growing under lights is it's much easier to grow short plants because of how close the lights have to be.

LED lighting will eventually be the way to go (if not already considering longevity of the lights and operating costs). High up front cost is really a stumbling block for these - at least for me.

So the grow trays are cattle feed troughs? What kind of plastic are they? Can you provide a link so that I can get my hands on some?

Bunk feeders...talk to Larry.....http://www.2kreeksranch.com/

Dave,

I love the arrangement and small foot print of the double-stacked system! Are you running that one as a continuous flow? This looks like something that would make a nice replacement for rafts that are taking up space in my plant room.