Help with my heating & lighting question Reptisun 5.0 or 10.

[Dragonsrule]

Hi to All!!! I am trying to get better lighting and heating for my
BD so I want to buy the Reptisun UVB light strip but which
one is better??? My tank is 30x12x12 and by BD is about two and half
months old and we live in southern california. I want to get like a
50-75 gallon tank when he gets bigger in about 9 months(guessing).
Also the UVB bulb I have now is a coil which I heard is bad . . . where
is a good place to buy a Retisun 5.0 or 10.0 on the internet?

So for my heating bulb question?
Currently I have a 150W day blue bulb, i posted the size of the tank
above! It doesn't seem to be doing the trick as the temps are
getting slightly lower in my house so i want to buy a Zoo Med Repti
Basking Spot Lamp, but what wattage should I try for his tank size or should I
buy a range of wattages?

Also one more question about humidity, how do you change the humidity to get more humid or less humid??
Thank you I hope I have posted enough
information, if I have left anything out please let me know, thank
you to everone in advance !!!!!!

Heather and Spike

 

[ilovebeardeddragons]

Well im guessing you know what humidity is and as you know its well in short water in the air. So do you mist his tank? Because if you do you shouldn't and about the lights thye uvb should be a 10.0 im pritty sure im not to smart though lol. And how long it is depends on how long your fixture for it is the longer the more its gonna cost. About the heat one im not sure im sorry i can't answer that question but heres a link to were you cna buy a uvb bulb.
link for an 18"
http://www.petguys.com/-097612343180.html
link for a 24"
http://www.petguys.com/-097612343240.html
heres one that has 5 different sizes for sale
http://www.bigappleherp.com/Zoo-Med-Reptisun-Ten-10-0-Fluorescent-Bulbs

i hope this helps good luckJessica & Nyroc & Athena

 

[cla6665]

Try also http://www.petmountain.com. Very good company to work with.
Good luck

 

[LJean]

Hello there!

Try to go with the Reptisun 10 if you can, as it is a better light. Links have been posted on where to buy. I would get at least the 24" bulb and fixture if you could.

As for basking (heat bulbs) that is hard for me to say. It seems people get different temps depending on what the household temps are and where the tank is located. I would try a reg. 60 watt first. If you use a regular bright white household (lamp) type bulb it may be cheaper than buying the reptile basking bulbs. I can't imagine using a 150 watt bulb in the size tank you have now.

What are you measuring the basking spot temps with? Heat gun, digital thermoter with a probe or one of those stick on thermometer types or?

 

[Dragonsrule]

Hi Thanks for responding I have a digital thermometer with a probe it tells me what temp my house is and what temp the enclosure is. My household temps are usually in the seventies, but as its nearing winter I think he might need a higher wattage, as the temps can drop into sixties my heating bulb I have now is a 150w (so it says) but the actual bulb is blue in color and I just don't think it works as good as it should (his basking spot stays between 100 and 110 degrees depending on the time of day), i wanted to try a 75 watt heat lamp but wasn't sure if I should buy a 100 watt just in case it gets colder or just to have on hand just wanted to know which one would be good for my size enclosure (very long 20 gallon)(now don't get me wrong I live in southern califonia so it doesn't get too cold like snow but it can get chilly!!!! Burr) Also the way my tank is set up now I just have the heat lamp resting on the top, would anyone recommend either getting a clamp to adjust the hight or a lamp stand(From experience which one works better,easier?) Thanks again . . I am a new beardie owner and I have already done a lot of research but with some unanswered questions which is why I love this site I found!!!!!!!!! So Helpful!!

 

[LJean]

My house temps stay pretty consistant throughout the year, but dropping slightly in winter.

I haven't bought any reptile bulbs for heat. As I said I use household bulbs. I think for my 20 gallon long tank I was using a 50 watt spot light bulb. This was spring and summer.

Right now in a regular 30 gallon tank (which is the same dimensions as a 20 gallon long, (except the height is a bit more) I am using a 65 watt spot bulb and getting temps at 105 on basking spot.

You could try raising or lowering the basking spot a bit to get the right temps. Or go with a regular bulb.
Sorry I can't be much help. I just see a difference in the temps people get with the same wattage bulbs. I can't imagine, in my house which is always in the 70's using a 150watt bulb for a 20 gallon tank.

 

[Dragonsrule]

I forgot to say thank you to all the posts in my last post . . . petmountain.com looks like a good spot so does bigappleherp.com!!!!!!!

"I haven't bought any reptile bulbs for heat. As I said I use household bulbs. I think for my 20 gallon long tank I was using a 50 watt spot light bulb. This was spring and summer."

And again thanks for the info you gave on the heating, I have not tried just a regular household bulb yet but i will (I have only had my BD for a little under a month), I do also agree with you about the 150W it is too high(but the temps in the tank seem fine??? I don't understand maybe it has to do with the bulb being blue??? hmm donno??)i guess thats what you get for going to a pet store (do I dare mention it- Petco) to get help!!!!

 

[LJean]

LOL.. yeah, it's just so hard to tell someone what wattage they need because there always seems to be a difference. I thought the blue basking bulbs were supposed to be hotter but I am not so sure.