Lighting help for a bigger setup

Hello everyone - I have just bought my 10 month old bearded dragon a new 180x60x60cm viv (6ftx2ftx2ft - not sure how to work out gallons!) His current viv is much smaller, so I am buying new lights to suit the larger space. But I am a bit lost as to how many lights to get and where to position them.

For my tube lighting I am thinking of purchasing a T5 54W (45inch/116cm - the biggest I can find) with a reflector. My question is, where should I place it in the viv (in terms of height and depth), and will one be enough? I am conscious of the UVB not reaching him if I was to put it at the top of the back wall (which is where it is now in his smaller viv). For his basking spot, the vet recommended a combination UVA/UVB bulb - hoping one will be enough! 8)

I also wondered whether to provide a small box of sand for him to dig? The main flooring will be reptile carpet and I don't feed him in his viv, so is this safe?

I have linked the lighting stuff I plan to buy below, any advice on anything would be so great! Thank you

UVB generally:
https://www.reptilecentre.com/arcadia-t5-d3-reptile-lamp-12-54w-46in_p22366944.htm
and a reflector!

Basking spot:
https://www.reptilecentre.com/arcadia-gen2-d3-uv-basking-lamp-160w_p22267897.htm
https://www.reptilecentre.com/arcadia-ceramic-reflector-clamp-lamp-200mm_p26633312.htm

Aliceandgus":28ul0wvh said:

Hello everyone - I have just bought my 10 month old bearded dragon a new 180x60x60cm viv (6ftx2ftx2ft - not sure how to work out gallons!) His current viv is much smaller, so I am buying new lights to suit the larger space. But I am a bit lost as to how many lights to get and where to position them.

For my tube lighting I am thinking of purchasing a T5 54W (45inch/116cm - the biggest I can find) with a reflector. My question is, where should I place it in the viv (in terms of height and depth), and will one be enough? I am conscious of the UVB not reaching him if I was to put it at the top of the back wall (which is where it is now in his smaller viv). For his basking spot, the vet recommended a combination UVA/UVB bulb - hoping one will be enough! 8)

I also wondered whether to provide a small box of sand for him to dig? The main flooring will be reptile carpet and I don't feed him in his viv, so is this safe?

I have linked the lighting stuff I plan to buy below, any advice on anything would be so great! Thank you

UVB generally:
https://www.reptilecentre.com/arcadia-t5-d3-reptile-lamp-12-54w-46in_p22366944.htm
and a reflector!

Basking spot:
https://www.reptilecentre.com/arcadia-gen2-d3-uv-basking-lamp-160w_p22267897.htm
https://www.reptilecentre.com/arcadia-ceramic-reflector-clamp-lamp-200mm_p26633312.htm

Click to expand...

For a 2 ft tall tank , I recommend at LEAST a T5HO 12% UVB in a good quality reflector hood (mounted UNDER the lid) , a T5HO 14% UVB will be even better.

A very good option is an investment in two Arcadia SLIMLINE LUMINAIRES , these are designed to be able to be easily daisy chained , so 2x 24W T5HO SLIMLINES , one with a 14% UVB tube (for warm/basking area) , other with a 12% UVB tube will be a very good way of establishing a nice UV gradient in a 6ft long tank ( your ideal is to have UV covering 2/3 the length of the tank ).

Clamp lamps are dangerous - they have a habit of working loose and falling , or being bumped and falling.
The better option for an open top viv or even for installing inside a tank is one of these :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Komodo-Adjustable-Height-tortoise-tables/dp/B00PX4AYDQ/ref=pd_sbs_199_35?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00PX4AYDQ&pd_rd_r=b29dcd2e-cc56-11e8-99e0-63ec986ade82&pd_rd_w=aabrF&pd_rd_wg=NnH2q&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=V4R507RSDFJW7XF46AN6&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=V4R507RSDFJW7XF46AN6 , if used entirely inside the tank - place a concrete paver on the foot to keep it from falling over , these are adjustable height and the boom is rotateable.

I use a Komodo Lamp stand for my portable basking globe for when one of my BTs or beardies are freeranging in the house (I place an old 12V m/bike battery on the foot).


Better off having a ventilated solid timber lid and mounting the MVB using something like :
https://reptiledirect.com.au/collections/reptile-heating-lighting/products/mounting-block-for-flat-ceramic-light-fitting
+


or
https://reptiledirect.com.au/collections/reptile-heating-lighting/products/mounting-block-for-flat-ceramic-light-fitting

and making it bearded dragon proof (to keep the dragon from touching the hot globe or fitting , one of these is a good idea : .
The draw back is the mesh will block about 45% of UV, but in this case it's worth it to prevent burns.

I don't provide any sand for my bearded dragons to dig in, they don't need it.
He'll have more fun with leaf litter for digging.

Thanks so much ^^

I find it so overwhelming looking at lighting so thanks for your direction - I had not thought of making a UV gradient through different lights!

Very excited to get it all set up.