~~Basking Light Q~~

[VegasBeardieFans]

Ok, so my issue is this... I have been trying to get the basking area dialed in correctly, so far I have these items, acurite-digital thermometer, and I have a few different bulbs I have been experimenting with, household clear 100w, zoomed basking bulb 75w, philps natural light plus 75w flood, and philps halogena spot indoor/outdoor 75w.

Now the biggest issue I keep running into is, Ill get the temp correct i.e (giving it an hour adjustment time), however what I keep noticing is that even thouh the temp is perfect like 107-108f, the lights are just not very bright, and my new baby dosent seem to be interrested without them being bright, and its affecting her appetite, it is very dim on all the floods and the zoomed.

Im not sure if I need to get a stand to raise the light in order to keep it bright while maintaining the propper temerature???

Do you think its possible a lower wattage bulb may be brighter, and keep the temp correct?

Please help, Thank You in Advance

 

[midmichicer]

I don't understand how it wouldn't be bright. Are they on a dimmer? What size tank are you using?

 

[MrWhite]

are you currently using a dimmer to obtain the desired temperature?

 

[VegasBeardieFans]

I don't understand how it wouldn't be bright. Are they on a dimmer? What size tank are you using?

Its a 30 gal as she is just a few weeks old, and yes I am using a dimmer!

 

[VegasBeardieFans]

are you currently using a dimmer to obtain the desired temperature?

Yes, I am if I do not use the dimmer it gets too hot, and using the lower wattage bulb dosent quite get hot enough.

So right now I have the 100w clear household bulb, with the dimmer on MAX strength, after 45 min it read 104f, so I just added a river rock, which is about 1'' high so Im hoping this does the trick.

Now on the other hand if I use either the spot or the halogen, it gets way too hot and I have to use the dimmer, but as I stated when using it with the dimmer, it is not very bright.

Now, again even the clear 100w household is quite bright, its not centered in one certain spot like halogen or spot lights, but it is bright, and it read 104f before the river rock I just added, so Im hoping this does the trick.

 

[MrWhite]

are you currently using a dimmer to obtain the desired temperature?

Yes, I am if I do not use the dimmer it gets too hot, and using the lower wattage bulb dosent quite get hot enough.

So right now I have the 100w clear household bulb, with the dimmer on MAX strength, after 45 min it read 104f, so I just added a river rock, which is about 1'' high so Im hoping this does the trick.

Now on the other hand if I use either the spot or the halogen, it gets way too hot and I have to use the dimmer, but as I stated when using it with the dimmer, it is not very bright.

Now, again even the clear 100w household is quite bright, its not centered in one certain spot like halogen or spot lights, but it is bright, and it read 104f before the river rock I just added, so Im hoping this does the trick.

sounds like you are well on your way to solving the problem. I use a 45watt indoor spot in the summer and I adjust the height of the platform to get the right temp. In the winter, I use a 60watt halogen indoor spot just because my house is cooler. I don't use dimmers at all and I allow my basking spot to fluctuate +- 5 degrees, in my opinion, I don't think the actual temperature has to be perfect all the time, just somewhat close to the right temps (again, this is just my opinon) };-)

 

[isearch12]

Maybe adding a full spectrum florescent might do the trick. They add light without all the heat you get from incandescent.

 

[VegasBeardieFans]

Thanks, I may do that for the next round, I finally got it dialed in, found out she loves 107, that means all white belly and chin, w/ no stress marks.

I think I may go that route when I build her custom enclosure.

Thanks!

 

[Nixiemaiden]

Maybe adding a full spectrum florescent might do the trick. They add light without all the heat you get from incandescent.

This is what I do. The dome I have has 2 bulbs in it..one is the basking bulb and one is a compact fluorescent. I added the compact for brightness and it didn't raise the temp at all for me.

 

[VegasBeardieFans]

Maybe adding a full spectrum florescent might do the trick. They add light without all the heat you get from incandescent.

This is what I do. The dome I have has 2 bulbs in it..one is the basking bulb and one is a compact fluorescent. I added the compact for brightness and it didn't raise the temp at all for me.

thats a good idea too, however my dome is only for 1 light, hence why I am wanting to build her a custom enclosure, so I can use good fixtures in a more perminent scenario, what Im saying is they will be in a fixed position, obviously after I have it all set up correctly, and dialed them in.

thats my plan at least.