Ok, so I understand in a 40 breeder tank using a mvb for heat/uv's and then a possible other regular light on the cool side for a little bit of lighting/some small heat. Anyways if that all sounds about right for daytime, I get a bit confused for night. Many say use ceramic, which I understand, but then do you swap out one of the other domes with one with a ceramic bulb, just not sure on that...also assuming there will be some sort of screen top, do you just place the domes right on the screen top, unless with the mvb you need more distance, than use a stand?
and if you are sectioning this tank off for a baby is this lighting ok as well assuming you can hit the slightly warmer temps?
Hi there, If you will be using a mvb in a 40gl, I am assuming you will need a stand to get it higher. There will be directions with it telling you a safe distance for the light to be from your beardie. You may not need additional heat on the cool side, if thats the case then get a strip light to lay across your screen for extra light. As far as the che, you will need to use this if your home gets under 65 at night. I had mine set on timer to come on when lights went off and had it on a dimmer so I could turn down the heat. I had everything laying right ontop of the screen. GL
I have a 40 gal breeder with no screen top. The 'ambient' light in the room is pretty good. So with the mega-ray, I don't need any extra lighting, but do find that i need a little more heat.
So I have the megra-ray about 2/3 of the way down from the cool side. Then I put the CHE on the far end close to the mega-ray. This keeps the hot end, cool end, and basking spot just right.
My viv is kept under a shelf (my water dragons custom viv actually) and I just clamp the bulbs under that. I don't use the screen top at all anymore.
At night, my timer turns off the megra-ray, but leaves the CHE on.
If you have a regular bulb on the cool side, maga-ray + CHE on the warm side, then you'll need 3 domes. Placing them on top fo the screen is fine, but not ideal, depending on type of mesh. Distance depends on a few things. 100watt mega-ray needs 10-14 inches. Adjust your basking spot height or lamp height as needed. Measure basking temp carefully until you find just the right distance.