Heating with a household bulb...CONFUSED.

[amazingparkour]

I've heard that you can use a regular bulb for keeping the basking temperature up to 110F and creating the heat gradient throughout the tank. So I made a trip to the hardware store today...and I was totally lost haha. I saw lights ranging from 9w to 100w. I know that I need to get a light with a wattage that'll provide enough heat to raise the temperature high enough for basking...but I'm confused about the wattages.

I saw some energy-saving bulbs, you know what I'm talking about, those lights that only use 20w to have the same output as a 60w. Both lights have nearly the same light output, which is measured in lumens, but one uses 1/3 of the energy. Now, I'm wondering if having the same light output means they'll generate the same amount of heat. Does anyone have experience with this? I dunno what's a surefire way to measure how much heat a bulb will generate...should I look at the light output rating? The wattage? The bulb type? Help me out...ANY input is appreciated .

One more thing, I've heard there's a specific spectrum of light that BDs prefer...in other words, "white light." It's measured in K (e.g. 6500k)...anyone know what range is best? Thanks much.

 

[chickcasa]

If by energy saver bulbs you mean the spiral ones, those give of virtually no heat. Lower watts = lower heat regardless of how much visible light they give off.

You need a normal, round (incandescent) bulb. First check your fixture and see what it is rated for. If you put a 100 watt bulb in a fixture only good up to 75 watts, you may have problems with lights burning out, the fixture over heating, etc. I tend to go with 100 watts bulbs, but realistically it is going to depend on how close their basking spot is to the bulb and what the ambient temperature is.(the temperature in the room) Among other things. If you get a bulb that makes it too hot, you can always raise it higher or use a dimmer to lower the temperature. If it doesn't make it hot enough, then you have to either add another bulb or get a higher wattage bulb.

~Katy

 

[Bradleyv1714]

Well, Right now I am in the same situation but for different reasons and a little ahead... lol! yesterday I changed my Bd's into new viv's and I was using 60-75w bulbs in their old tanks... but now that is definitely not enough! I was using regular house white lightbulbs, but in the new vivs these dont even get to 90 degrees! I currently have one tank with a 100w regular house bulb and the temperature is still not reaching 90degree's, on the other hand I found a 75w halogen flood light in my garage (which I think I read about using those on this website) and that is keeping the temperature in the mid 90's! the way I figure it is that since the regular housebulb has a wide beam it is giving heat everywhere and since the floodlight is giving heat to a concentrated area it works better! I am currently on my way to buy some of those bulbs for the viv's since they work!

 

[ClydesGirl]

Well, Right now I am in the same situation but for different reasons and a little ahead... lol! yesterday I changed my Bd's into new viv's and I was using 60-75w bulbs in their old tanks... but now that is definitely not enough! I was using regular house white lightbulbs, but in the new vivs these dont even get to 90 degrees! I currently have one tank with a 100w regular house bulb and the temperature is still not reaching 90degree's, on the other hand I found a 75w halogen flood light in my garage (which I think I read about using those on this website) and that is keeping the temperature in the mid 90's! the way I figure it is that since the regular housebulb has a wide beam it is giving heat everywhere and since the floodlight is giving heat to a concentrated area it works better! I am currently on my way to buy some of those bulbs for the viv's since they work!

You're right about the halogens giving you a more focused beam and therefore warming up the basking spot a little better than a regular incandescent bulb. Another option is to get a smaller dome fixture to help concentrate the light onto a smaller area.

 

[fresnowitte]

I currently use the Phillip's halogen flood bulbs....I have the smaller size bulbs and the larger size flood bulbs ranging from 35watt to 75watt. I'm currently using the 35watt to 45watt bulbs due to hot weather. In the Winter I need to use 60watt to 75watt. I also want to point out that if you go with the tight beam halogen flood rather than just the flood they are much hotter. So as ClydesGirl said you may want to use a smaller dome sit a regular halogen flood not tight beam. If you use the domes for reptile lighting then you won't have to worry about it getting to hot or frying. Flood bulbs do get hot so it's always best to use in a ceramic fixture.

 

[Bradleyv1714]

I went out today in search of some 75watt halogen narrow spot or spot bulb and I did not find any... I looked in Home depot, Lowes, walmart and target with no success! so I decided I would look them up and buy them online, which I did! I found that the cheapest place online to buy them was www.1000bulbs.com I will let you know how things go with the light bulbs and if they are any good. lol! if not I am screwed with 4 lightbulbs!

 

[amazingparkour]

Thanks for the input all...I guess I'll find a halogen flood light and use it with a dome fixture.

Does anyone know how bright the light needs to be? I read somewhere that it needs to be "bright white," which doesn't really help me out. All lights have a value measuring how bright they are...like 4900k for example. Anyone know what's the range for BD light?

 

[Bradleyv1714]

I don't know about that... but I think as long as it's not brighter than one of those flourescent (don't know if that's how you spell it) bulbs!

 

[chickcasa]

The brighter the better. No heating bulb is going to be brighter than the sun, after all. There's more of a problem if it is too dim.

~Katy