What solvent do you want to use?

If you want transparent (and that is the most important) gels: 

In water you should work at room temperature, or even lower. For that redox initiator system is the best (for example APS/TMEDA, but be careful, because of the exotherm). You can also use THF or pure MeOH (no added water) and in these cases you can utilize thermal initiators (Va-044, AIBN, etc.). The cross-linker should be soluble in the given solvent.

If you need a specific example, check: X. C. Xiao eXPRESS Polymer Letters Vol.1, No.4, 2007, 232–235,  or Y.S. Chen Biomaterials Vol.34, 2013, 7328–7334 (even if this last apply also nanotubes)

Hey, 

So I am mixing a 19:1 ration of nipam to bisacrylmide and making a 30% solution of that by diluting it in water. I am not able to get a transparent hydrogel.

I believe there are lots of papers related to PNIPAM gel. PNIPAM gel is a typical LCST hydrogel. I remember its LCST is around 32 deg, so that at room temperature it is transparent and at >LCST it is opaque.

In our lab, we usually prepare it by UV-polymerization. It is not so difficult.