Can't hit right temperature

[TallBoy]

I have a 40 gallon tank, and a 150 watt heat bulb, and my temperatures won't seem to go above 90.. any suggestions?

 

[charmander16]

Go back to a 100 watt bulb and put in a rock or piece of wood that gets within 6 to 8 inches of the light.

I don't like 150 watt bulbs, they get really hot and can cause problems.

If that doesn't work (I'm sure it will) you can always use a 60 to 75 watt halogen flood light. Those can easily get temps over 120 degrees from 2 feet away. You typically need to use a dimmer if you use a halogen light to help control the temps.

 

[TallBoy]

I am switching my compact uvb out with a fluorescent uvb. I was going to try to put a 100 w ceramic heat emitter in my double dome along with my 150 w bulb

 

[charmander16]

Don't do that. The problem is not that the lights aren't generating enough heat, it's that your basking spot is too far away from them. A CHE and 150 watt bulb together, especially with no regulatory thermostat, is a fire risk.

 

[TallBoy]

Noted..
I will be switching him to a 90 gallon in a month, and I am concerned about how this will work. Switching back to a 100w doesn't make sense to me if the 150w isn't putting out enough? I have temporarily lowered the heat light 12" above the basking spot until i can figure out a better solution.
I have tried under tank heaters, but the last one I had cracked the bottom of my tank.
I will try to bring the basking spot higher in the tank

 

[kyleena29]

What kind of bulb is the 150w?

 

[TallBoy]

What kind of bulb is the 150w?

I believe it's an exo terra intense basking spot bulb 150w

 

[kyleena29]

ok, try getting a flood lamp from Walmart or hardware store. I would try a 75 watt first. They will put out way more heat in a lower watt than a bulb like that. I have found the best thing though is to have a lamp dimmer since room temps can fluctuate with the different seasons.

 

[TallBoy]

Update:
This morning the temperature was over 100 and my beardie is loving it. I fixed his basking spot last night.
I am curious about the flood light so I'm going to wire in a 75w halogen flood light with a dimmer for backup!
Thanks everyone

 

[TallBoy]

Hey guys, just an update on my temperature situation.

Today I switched my beardie from a 40 Gallon to a 90 gallon.
I'm using the same 150 watt bulb as before, and have fixed up a nice basking are for him. However, temperatures still aren't right. I even bough a digital thermometer and it's only reading 80. I've got him as high up as I can, within 12-10 inches of the light.

 

[diamc]

Does your digital thermometer have a long wire & probe end? If so, did you put the probe right on the basking spot (touching) and then wait about 45 min for the temp to stop rising before getting the final reading?

Could you post some pictures of the tank so we can see how the lights are set up? Here's the link that will help you do that: https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/