Ceramic heat emitter question...

[MurderVictim]

Well, it's been getting pretty cold lately. Been getting down to 40 degrees lately, and my mom has agreed to take me to get a CHE on Friday (been keeping Wolfgang warm until then with an extra blanket covering his eyes and a red bulb set on just high enough to keep the temp at 75 degrees.)

I know this must be a really stupid question...But is there any specific brand I should look out for? I think I saw a brand at Petsmart, and a different one at Petco...At least I think. Or are they all pretty much the same just with different wattage and packaging?

Also, what wattage should I think about getting? He's currently in a 20g. So...60 Watt? Because I read somewhere that putting them in a dimmer won't work, so obviously the 100 Watt I saw is out.

 

[Claudiusx]

I don't think you need to worry about brand as much as you do with UVB bulbs.

You will want a pretty low wattage CHE, definitely not a 100 watt haha.

If you can find something in the 40's or so it should do, 60 should work. If the 60 gets it too hot you could always raise the fixture up.

-Brandon

 

[MurderVictim]

Thanks! Hopefully it'll fit in the wire lamp I have.

 

[Claudiusx]

Make sure its not a plastic fixture.

The CHE gets really hot at the base, and can melt the plastic fixture and cause a fire.

-Brandon

 

[MurderVictim]

It seems to be all metal. Will double-check in the morning. Thanks for mentioning that...I wouldn't have thought about it till after buying it xD

 

[ray01]

I have a 90g tank and a 160 watt che would that be ok or is that a little overkill. The heat is never below 65 degrees in my apartment so it usually stays around 70degrees at night

 

[ButterflyGirl89]

I just thought I'd mention that I have a CHE in a dimmer fixture and it works fine... I currently am using a 60 watt for my 20 gallon and even so I keep the dimmer at about half power in the middle of the tank... :|
The dimmer/CHE has been on 24/7 the past couple days because yes, it has definitely gotten colder! It helps get the basking temp to 104 during the day and keeps the tank no lower than 70 at night.