Ok, my new 40B tank has been given a tiled floor and a hammock; a friend is giving me his extra hides and some driftwood tomorrow. My thoughts are now centered on the basking spot.
I bought a 100watt bulb for my ceramic dome fixture, but I didn't realize until I pulled it out of storage that it's a deep dome... the surface of the bulb is several inches inside the dome. When I checked the floor temp a few minutes ago, the temp was 92... since I'll be providing a branch for basking, the prime basking spot will be closer to the lamp. But should the basking spot temp be measured from floor level? Do I need a wider/lower dome, a higher wattage bulb, or both?
I'm trying to make sure the whole tank has the right heating gradient. Please advise?
You wont know until you get your basking surface in and measure the temps. Your floor temp in the hot side is fine, so hopefully once you place a basking surface in there it will be within range.
But, no sense changing bulbs or fixtures until you know whether or not you need to.
You wont know until you get your basking surface in and measure the temps. Your floor temp in the hot side is fine, so hopefully once you place a basking surface in there it will be within range.
But, no sense changing bulbs or fixtures until you know whether or not you need to.