Please somebody help me with the lighting of my beardies tank before he gets sick I am so worried I don’t know how to fix it

[haleyking]

Please help me with the lighting I am struggling and worried about my beardies well being. I have a new 120 gallon tank and cannot get the heat up. I have a 150w basking light, a ceramic heat emitter that runs 24/7, a uvb tube and a led tube for extra light. I can’t get the temp over 95 and it usually stays between 92-94. I have the lights on top of the screen (except the uvb) because when the lights are inside, I’d have to have a lot smaller of a climbing wall and basking spot/cave in order to keep him 12 inches away from the bulbs. When the lights are on the inside they hang low and dramatically decrease the height in which his climbs can be. Right now the basking spot is 12 inches from the screen, it’s a larger cave/basking spot/climbing wall that I put a lot of time energy and money into building so I don’t want to have to get rid of it because of having to put the bulbs inside. I’m wondering if a faulty dome could cause the bulbs not to work to their full potential because it seems like everyone else has a 150w bulb and no CHE in the daytime and still get their temps correct. Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong or what I can do to fix this? I would really like to get the temps right with all bulbs being able to stay on top of the screen. I hope someone can help me.

I have been looking at Arcadia deep heat projectors and Arcadia halogen flood lights. I was wondering if I should replace my ceramic heat emitter with the Arcadia deep heat projector, or if I should replace my 150w basking light to the Arcadia halogen flood light. Or both. Any opinions?

The hard part that is that I rescued this dragon and wasn’t fully prepared so I do not have a ton of funds at the moment to just be buying and trying out different things that I can’t get refunds on.

 

[haleyking]

You could cover some of the screen to help keep the heat in. But keep a very close eye on your temps till you know for sure what it maxes out at. I would only cover the hot end your beardie will still need a gradient.

You could cover some of the screen to help keep the heat in. But keep a very close eye on your temps till you know for sure what it maxes out at. I would only cover the hot end your beardie will still need a gradient.

do ceramic heat emitters lose efficiency over time? It’s about 2 years old supposedly. It still feels hot the touch though. But maybe not as hot as it should be? I’m not sure.

 

[haleyking]

Also, what could be used to cover the screen safely ?

 

[xp29]

Yes they can start to produce less heat

 

[haleyking]

Yes they can start to produce less heat

What can be used to cover the screen safely?

 

[Axil]

I'm in the same boat. I'm currently using three lights totaling 275w to get Beebz basking temps to the appropriate level.

It looks like you have the same screen top as me (dubai 120?). I suspect the screen top absorbs more heat than some other types people use.

I've got a couple different bulbs I'm going to try. I'll let you know if I run across anything that improves the situation. Good luck!

 

[xp29]

I have used towels and cardboard but be careful not to get what ever you use close enough to your domes to become a fire hazard.

 

[haleyking]

I'm in the same boat. I'm currently using three lights totaling 275w to get Beebz basking temps to the appropriate level.

It looks like you have the same screen top as me (dubai 120?). I suspect the screen top absorbs more heat than some other types people use.

I've got a couple different bulbs I'm going to try. I'll let you know if I run across anything that improves the situation. Good luck!

 

[haleyking]

I put a few baking sheets over the screen for some insulation just to test it and the temp went up 5 degrees. Please do let me know! I feel like I’m out of options! And I really don’t wanna add a whole extra light because I live in an older apartment and running 5 strong lights out of one plug would make me nervous. Thank you!!

 

[haleyking]

I have used towels and cardboard but be careful not to get what ever you use close enough to your domes to become a fire hazard.

I put baking sheets on the screen to test this and it has gone up 5 degrees so far thanks again!!

 

[xp29]

Your welcome

 

[Axil]

I put a few baking sheets over the screen for some insulation just to test it and the temp went up 5 degrees. Please do let me know! I feel like I’m out of options! And I really don’t wanna add a whole extra light because I live in an older apartment and running 5 strong lights out of one plug would make me nervous. Thank you!!

So I had a much better results using this bulb in a chick brooding fixture. I believe the brooding fixture I have is 8.5in. It put out more heat over a larger area than the 2 100w bulbs it replaced.

Mine is not deep enough to fully cover the bulb so I had to suspend it. There are deeper 8.5 in fixtures that will make that unnecessary, but I can't speak to how well they work as I've not tested one.