Floorcent Lighting Tubes and Compact -Wattage and Time

[Lk4sturns]

Like to ask.Got 40 gallon breeder with 3 foot 30 watt ex-terra 10.0 for UVB(and A).Uses 100 watt halgon spot for basking,get around 102 to 105 this time year,and infare redfor night when need to keep over 72 or day if need extra heat.I run floorcent 14 hr. each day and when I take out add that time back in,so 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and add if out two 2hr. that day back in so run to 11 p.m. that day(try to take out 1 to 2 hr. each day-make sure gets atleast 12hr. each day).Is one floorcent tube enuogh or should I run two or add floorcent spot for total of 60 watts and would cut time down to 12hr to 10.What about idea of adding extra 30 watts only 3 day to act like mid day outdoors and if did this would you reduce total time for day down to 12hr. to 10 hr..Also with Silver or White on light fixture which is better at reflexing light and heat and is deeper fixtures I see better or only for keeping bulb from sticking out.Study alot and have my thought's but they are people here who know more and like to hear and learn more about this.
Thankyou,
Scott

 

[smurfthebeardie]

Just keep a good basking temp of 95-100 with a temp gradient of 80-90 in the rest of the tank.
UVB all day. Probably around 14 hours a day.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Scott,

Normally, most keep them on either a 12 or 14 hour cycle. Of course, you can cut that down when fall & winter comes since the days are shorter. If you are using the Reptisun 10 tube bulb, one flourescent tube bulb is plenty for UVB emissions. If you get a light fixture that has silver reflective backing on it, that will help increase the UVB exposure & reflect more light too. I believe a 12 hour day is fine.
The halogen flood or spot lights are superb for the basking light they are nice & bright white, too. So there should be no need in adding a compact flourescent for extra brightness. I normally do not recommend the compact or coil UVB lights. Most are not good quality, but there are a few that are ok, but they are so weak. Bearded dragons have high UVB requirements & compact/coil lights just do not put out enough.

Tracie

 

[Lk4sturns]

Try keep not to long and comeback with more.Per first reply keep basking over 100 but you tell if move light close to fav. spot to make warmer it moves away,mine seems to like 90 to 95.Think we all agree 12 to 14 day and seems to work with One floorcent tube.But wonder if benefit from second tube and could you drop time little and run only say 6hr. like mid-day sun.Second tube 60 watt total(40 gallon) and if ran MVB it would be 100 watt.Not only if correct do MVB put out more at same wattage but it's 100,that alot more.Also see if run MVB you don't use calium with D'3 cause getting so much D'3 from MVB.Also if remember correctly from another area how mention giving lower level over longer time is easyer on them.But could not help to think this.Also if added second (with one tube 10.0,run ex-terra)should not be as important if tube or compact floorcent(saw article so should be ok now) cause be second UV source.If correct All UV(a&b) come from floorcent,incandent and halgon only give small amount's of uva,there only for brightness and color and HEAT.This is my first breardie from a resue(had alot other thing's) and like learning so this site has been great find.

PS;Thought mine was girl,then got book by Philip Purser and it shows pores under there rear legs if large it boy and mine looks like that and on site show go by bump in vent area.Any way this Jan. apoxx. 2 years old,if was female would lay unfertized eggs ?

Thankyou,
Scott

(feel dum,got on photobucket and still cannot get pic. up)

 

[Drache613]

Hello Scott,

If you are going to use a mercury vapor bulb, you really do not need any other UVB lighting at all, especially if you use a Megaray or a T-rex active UV heat. You can do whichever setup you want, there really is not any "right" way to set it up, as long as you have a bright white light & a UVB source. You can overdo it with UVB though so if you do use a MVB I do not advise using a flourescent tube.
Keep it simple, that is usually the best way to go about the lighting. Yes you are correct. You can have a patch of sunlight type of setup using a MVB, which will warm them up pretty quickly while giving them UVB in the same area. Or you can have a lower spectrum of sunlight using a long flourescent tube bulb, that they get lower levels for longer periods of time, in combination of heating.
It really is up to you. Technically you could run one tube for a specific time frame, & run another for a shorter term yes. You will need a few timers to do so, for things to shut on & off. That sounds like a lot of trouble, & some planning, really, but if that is what you want to do then it would work though I have never done our lighting that way.

If there are large femoral pores, then you do have a male.

Tracie

 

[Lk4sturns]

It sound like if MVB would run only 10hr. cause put out so UV,understand why then don't need floorcent and MVB also work as heat source.Like idea of floorcent being easyer on them just run longer time.I did wonder if benefit from second floorcent tube (40 gallon with one 30 watt)for extra in same time 14hr. or run second say 6 to 7 hr. for added UV(still be less than 100 watt MVB-should be alot less-two floor. total 60 watt-for same wattage MVB put out more and comparing 100 vs. 60) .For my set-up can add second tube in floorcent fixture(but have to run same time,or add compact floorcent in seperate fixture.Have extra fixture and timer so only cost buying another light.
If mine was girl would have layed egg's by now,being 1 year and 8 months old.

Thinking resueing another,can put two female together and male and female together,but not two males,is this correct and with female and male together have to watch if mate cause male can get to rough ?

Thankyou again,
Scott

Got check again but thought 10.0 tubes from repitsun and ex-terra were close but no body seem to like ex-terra !

 

[Drache613]

Hello Scott,
If you are going to use a dual flourescent to save wattage, what are you going to use for the basking light? The flourescent tubes do not put out enough heating to be considered for basking. So, really, all in all, you wont really save that much with the wattage switching back & forth with the flourscents for varying hours per day. They need some type of consistent schedule of lighting on a day to day basis as that is normally what the weather is for the most part during the peak season for them. They need a 12-14 hour daytime cycle during the spring & summer days with shorter days making up the fall & winter of course.
I wouldn't say that a flourescent is easier on them really, more than a mercury vapor bulb. They are just different, that's all.
As for housing a rescued male & female, that is an absolute no. Anytime you rescue a dragon, you do not know the type of conditions it has been in, & a rescued female depending on the shape she is in should never be bred. It is not advised to house a male & female together for any amount of time except for breeding purposes. If you house them together permanently you will overbreed the female & most of the time there will be problems.
As for housing two females, that is up to you. It "can" be successful, however, it is no guarantee that they will get along. By introducing 2 adult females, that may not go over very well. It is different when they are tank mates/hatchies they have kind of grown up togther getting used to each other, etc. Two adults if housed alone previously may not take it so well all of the sudden being housed with another female. It is quite common for females to be aggressive towards each other or even males.

Tracie

 

[Lk4sturns]

Hi,I was not going to use floorcent to save wattage.Have dual fixture already running only one tube,and have extra dome if choose compact floorcent(so guess go MVB and not floorcent),and timers,so have everything.Thought from reading here MVB got to get right but seems floorcent have similar problems.Got you on just being different(try see find graph comparing two),thought easier and safer,but not the case.One note on MVB is,it's spot so if he in middle or other side not getting coverge like tube(mine only spend's about half time in basking area).Other reason shy away from MVB was cost,alot at chains but I will check out online.Electric not issue,just trying to do best and use what I have.Also if running 30 watt floorcent vs. 100 watt(some run 160 !) MVB think give off alot more UV,and they seem to benefit from that so would think adding another 30 watt floorcent would be thing to do(is there range UV per sq. foot to go by and understand distance to,mine being 40 breeder keeps light apoxx. 6 inch's away all time,on timer 14 hr. day.With extra could I reduce time to 12hr.14 hr. long time to leave on plus have add back in time when out which is 1 to 2 hr. day and fall-winter inside when out.Also how much reduce this time year 2 hr. ? Currently running 100 watt halon(understand MVB serve's as both UV and basking-would not use with MVB) for basking.
On resue know never house new pet with another.How long if everything look's good do you have to wait and if two males or females can you try if not raise together,not sure if something to try,do get to know each better over time if tanks are next to each other and let them spend time together being watched.

Thankyou,
Scott

 

[vickson420]

Hi
I answered on the other UVB thread before I realized you had a new thread going but I said pretty much everything Tracie said already except not as detailed of course...lol.Either way you choose to go MVB or fluorescent you still want to give 12 hours of UVB time.I saw you mentioned compacts and I wanted to clarify something,MVB bulbs are not compact fluorescent.They are very different and much greater in quality.I would not recommend using the fluorescent UVB at all.You could however use a non fluorescent energy efficient household bulb to boost light without heat if you feel you need just extrat lighting.

Vicky

Also since I read your post in the other thread,yes I am certainly from LI Nassau county!In case you didnt know the LI reptile expo is just around the corner in October so thats a great place to get some new lighting if you want :wink:

 

[Lk4sturns]

Hi,again.Live naasau county also with family on north and south shore.Talking about show at nassau col. ,yes been going for long time but seems like over time they have less.Be back little while ans. thread.

Bye,
Scott

 

[vickson420]

No not the pet expo at the coliseum thats not as good as it used to be.There is a reptile expo that comes 2 x a year.Here is the link:
http://reptileexpo.com/lifirst.htm
Get there early if you go,its always packed.

 

[Lk4sturns]

Thanks for show info.,saved it,should be there.Got what you said MVB verus Floorcent tube that they are different,but MVB got put out more UVB at same wattage and that one big difference I see being example my 40 gallon run 3 foot 30 watt,if ran MVB be 100 watt.I know different's also between compact floorcent and tube and MVB agree.Only thinking if adding more UV(If run one UV it tube floorcent only)in addition to tube I could go either way tube or compact cause have fixture's already and timers.No one has said how much wattage to supply to given sq. foot at 6 to 8 inch distance(with wide gauge mesh top-lose's 15%).If understand perfer MVB over Floorcent 10.0 tube's,I heard and read about them being better but cost was crazy at pet store's like $80 and tube like $30.Will look on line so have price when go to show,I could make swicth,got 3 month's on current tube.Last you mentioned adding household to boost light which they do but if refering to incandent they also supply heat for basking area.Piont just want make sure supplying right wattage so ask same also on MVB with my size tank would you go with 100 or 160 watt or go 100 and if need extra heat add cermic or incandent,room temp. about 75 in warmer months and 68 to 70 in cooler so need to adjust for this.Sometimes swing is bigger so always keep eye on temp.,run 3 total with one under basking,in middle tank,and cool side which maintain min. low 80's

Thankyou,
Scott.