I've a question in regards to my new project.
I'm trying to grow a few vegetables that are not exactly 'growable' where I
live, and so I decided to try and re-create their eco-system indoors.

I am almost done, I've made a cupboard out of wood and literally no external
light comes into it, on each side of the box I've installed a fan so that
air can circulate in and out, and I've installed a not-so-elaborate, yet
reasonable watering system..

Now comes the tricky and as I am about to find out, not so fun part..
Lighting.

The box itself is 4' wide, 2' deep and about 4 1/2' high. It's farely big.

The inside has been painted white so that light will reflect.

I've been told that growers have a MH set-up for seedlings and vegetative
growth, and HPS for flowering.
Now.. HID lights are extremly expensive, at least where I am at..
I'm not exactly sure if I am in the right NG, but I'll ask anyway..
I live in Melbourne, Australia and.. I don't know of many places where they
even sale these lights.. I've been looking around websites, and a cheap one
(which you can switch from MH to HPS) retails at around US$300..
Around AU$500, and is more than what I can afford..

Does anyone know if a: i NEED to have these lights, or they're just the
recommended types?
b: a place where I can find either cheap ones, or second hand ones?
c: the direction to the correct forum where this question can be answered
properly? :P

Thanks for your time and help..