Getting really confused about lighting!!

[beardieLuuv]

Okay so right now i have my beardie in a 75 gallon tank and the right side is his basking side. I have a 100W All Living Things basking bulb. And for the uvb i have a reptiglo 10.0, yes i know these are bad but i have ordered a reptisun 10.0. I ordered the wrong one it is the screw in one not the long tube one. What size of reptisun flouresent tube do i need for my 75 gallon and i also want to mount the fixture inside my viv so im gonna go to walmart and get a mounting fixture. What size of reptisun tube do i need and what size of mounting fixture do i need for my 75 gallon. Also what is the best kind of light fixture to use for your basking bulb. I have a flukers dome light right now and it sits on top of his cage. Please help me out! This lighting stuff if stressin me out! I want what is best for my beardie

 

[XiDiS]

I agree the lighting can be abit of a stressful thing to figure out. Its because there are so many options out there. For your Reptisun 10.0 UVB you wanna have the light covering 1/2 to 2/3 of the tank. So for a 48" tank (which i assume your 75 gal is) you would need a minumum 24" bulb. You could go 36" if you wanted to. Your basking light fixture is fine as long as the socket is rated for W of bulb you are using. Are your basking temps getting to the proper level?

 

[beardieLuuv]

Right now my hot side is reading 91.7 F . I am scared to put a 150 W basking bulb , it might cook my little guy. So i can call the pet store and ask if they can order me 24" reptisun tube or 36"? Which would be better for my 75 gallon

 

[XiDiS]

36" would proably be your best bet. but keep in mind they usually need to be changed every 6 months..... so if there is a big price difference you might wanna consider that. The basking temps are way to low. How are you taking the temp? are you using a stick on dial thermometer? if so you need to get rid of it. Get a digital temp gun or a digital thermometer with a probe. If your fixture can handle a 150w bulb then you may want to try it.... if it is making his basking spot too hot you just adjust the height of the lamp or the basking spot. Sometimes it takes a lil trial and error with bulbs and wattage to get the right temps.

 

[beardieLuuv]

Is there a certain mounting fixture i should get to fit my reptisun tube? What one size of tube would you recommend for my 75 gallon? Please help! LOL

 

[beardieLuuv]

My light fixture says it can take 150W bulb so i think im gonna try that. So you think i should order a 36" inch reptisun tube?

 

[XiDiS]

Lots of people are getting Under counter light fixtures from walmart or home building stores. they are pretty cheap 10-20$ usually. Just make sure they fit a T8 bulb. You can also use 3M mounting hooks and mount it anywhere in the tank. I already answered your second question twice. 24" is the min length of bulb you wanna use for a 75gal tank. 36" would be better if you can afford it.

 

[beardieLuuv]

I have a zoo med digital therm. The little white probe thing suction cups inside his viv. And ok i will order 36 inch tube.

 

[XiDiS]

Yha if your digital thermometer is reading 91 you need to raise that quite abit. younger beardies should have a basking spot of 105-110 for proper digestion.

 

[Erok000]

sounds like youre on the right track. Just make sure you set the probe on the basking spot, actually touching it to get the proper temp readout. Oh and wait like 45min to an hr then see what the temp is.

 

[beardieLuuv]

I have to wait a while for my new uvb light to come in is there any other good uvb light i can use in the meantime

 

[RuselBro]

The only Problem is I'm pretty sure no Walmart's carry a 36 inch fixture, as I've been to 6 different Walmart's and the biggest Fixture they carry is the 24 inch, and most people use the 24 inch 17 watt Fixture with the Reptisun 10.0 24 inch 17 watt Tube Bulb. And if you want to mount it inside the Tank, then the 24 inch Fixture that Walmart carries is best because it is very light weight and has 2 hole's in the back of it for the 3M Command hook's. Every fixture I have seen people use from homeDepo and Lowes are way to heavy to be mounted inside safely.