Getting cooling area temps down

[Philly215]

What are the best ways to get the cooling area temps down. I have a baby beardie in a 30g tank and temps in the basking area are between 100-105 in the middle I am getting 98-100 and on the cool side I am getting around 88-90. Are these temps alright?

 

[diamc]

Yes, temps can certainly be difficult. :roll: What wattage basking bulb are you using in the 30 gallon now? What you could do is use a lower wattage basking bulb, even try a household bulb and then raise the basking site, that will help lower the cool side. Temps of 88 to 90 on the cool side are too high and don't allow for proper thermo-regulation. Getting them down to 78 to 82 would be much better.

 

[Philly215]

I am currently using a 75W basking lamp and a 60W daylight bulb. In the basking spot the temp are between 103-108 and the rest of the temps seem good except for the cool side. If I use a lower wattage won't that bring the basking spot temps down?

 

[diamc]

If you raise the basking area, then it shouldn't lower the basking temp but will help the cool side to be cooler. What type of thermometer are you using? The 60 and 75 watt are both on the basking side now? Do you have a bulb on the cool side?

 

[crazyerick]

I'm having a similar problem with my new viv but I think its lack of ventilation. I got 95-100 on the basking side and 80-85 on the cool side. I actually lowered my basking temp to try get the cool side down but it didn't help. I am going to drill two more round vents and see if it helps. Might be an idea for you too.

 

[Maize]

I'm having the same issue. I have a new beardie and I'm a first time owner so everything is new to me. I was a little confused about what should actually considered the "Basking Spot". Is it either the whole one side which includes the basking log or just the basking log. I was informed the the "Basking Spot" is the log. Which now I'm glad that I know, but I need a digital thermometer to test the heat on the log. So since I know what is considered the "Basking Spot", what should the temp be in the area of the Basking Spot? I have a 150w Basking Light and a UVB\UVA bulb on same side. Right now the basking "area" is around 95-98 and cool side is 85-90, which I think is too high but could be wrong. If I'm wrong how can I lower that without lowering the basking area?

 

[GoFast]

many of these problems seem like ventilation issues to me. If you have doors on the front of the tank, try sliding the cools side open an inch or so just get some more airflow in there. If you have a top access tank then do what you can to keep the cool side as open as possible.

 

[Philly215]

I do have both bulbs on the same side. Is this wrong? It took me a while to get the basking area up to 105-107, so wouldn't a lower wattage bring that down? would providing shade around the cool side help at all? I'm a first time owner and I am working my butt off trying to get these temps right. One more question, is it alright to leave a couple crickets that he didn't eat when I fed him in the tank during the day? when I leave them in there they are all gone within a couple hours. I do take all of them out at night.

 

[GoFast]

philly, how far from the basking area are those heat bulbs becasue that seems like an awful lot of wattage to achieve your temps in such a small tank. I have a 4x2x2 and it only takes me one 100w flood light to achieve 108basking and 78-80 cool side.

 

[Philly215]

The basking spot is about 6-7 inches from the basking spot. I have one of those hoods. Do you think it would help if I put the basking bulb on the other side of the tank it is currently more in the middle? Do you think I should switch to a lower wattage because it was hard enough to get the temps up to 107 because I have the air on my house? (I dont like the heat as much as him)

 

[GoFast]

I am assuming you are using a tube style UVB right? If yes, what I would do is go to teh hardware store and buy a 45w par 30 or 20 FLOOD light and that will provide plenty of heat. You may need to adjust the height a bit but, you will use much less energy and cut down on your ambient heat as well.

 

[Philly215]

Thanks I will try that.

 

[Maize]

GoFast.... do you use the flood light for Basking or UVB? I have a Red Heat bulb for the basking spot and two UVB\UVA bulbs.

 

[GoFast]

GoFast.... do you use the flood light for Basking or UVB? I have a Red Heat bulb for the basking spot and two UVB\UVA bulbs.

EEEK! The flood light from a hardware store would be for basking only as it does not provide any UVB. If you wanted to use a MVB flood than it would do both. Red bulbs should never be used as it is very very hard on your dragons eyes and can cause some very serious issues. Also, you normally don't really want 2 UVB bulbs. What kind(s) are you using?

 

[diamc]

The basking spot is about 6-7 inches from the basking spot. I have one of those hoods. Do you think it would help if I put the basking bulb on the other side of the tank it is currently more in the middle? Do you think I should switch to a lower wattage because it was hard enough to get the temps up to 107 because I have the air on my house? (I dont like the heat as much as him)

Since you have the basking spot in the middle, that is what is causing the cool side to be so warm. The basking bulb & UVB should be on the same side and way over on one end, then the cool side should be on the total opposite end.