Sulitlana
Member
I am having a light issue keeping my ambient temperature for my juvi/baby bearded dragon warm enough during the day without using a CHE centered about in the middle of the tank.
The highest ambient temp I have gotten on my warm side is about 86 using a 100 watt CHE. My basking temp surfaces range from 100 - 110 F, so that has been okay, the cool side of my tank is usually about 78. I am using a 75 gallon glass aquarium without a lid but covered with towels and blankets for most of the tank to try and trap the warmth in. I have a T8 currently, hanging with twine, on the inside of my tank so there is enough UVB while I wait on a T5 Pro12% kit to be shipped in this week. I also have a 100 watt basking bulb that I keep up pretty high because right now the fixture it is in from arcadia only has an on and off switch, no dimmer, so if I have it at a normal height it makes the basking spot too hot.
I mostly see everywhere that CHEs are for night time use only, but I have been having to use it around the clock to keep the air warm enough, and at night I have it at half power with most of the tank covered because I haven't had a chance to observe night temps. We live in an old house and keep it at 69 minimum but even morning temps have been in the 40s recently, and with our thermostat in the hallway I believe our front rooms stay colder than the 69 minimum.
I have a hinging mesh lid and while its not optimal I am hoping to be able to line it with foil and cut out spots of foil for my lights so they can be on top of the tank. With the stronger bulb and the UVB meter I got I am hoping I will be able to make sure there is enough UVB even with the mesh, so I can solve the heat escape problem modifying the mesh lid with the foil. I also have a stand that I am waiting on so my tank wont have to be on the floor, hoping that will help as well for sure.
Is it acceptable to continue to use a CHE during the day to keep those temps until I get this set up going to hold in the heat?
The highest ambient temp I have gotten on my warm side is about 86 using a 100 watt CHE. My basking temp surfaces range from 100 - 110 F, so that has been okay, the cool side of my tank is usually about 78. I am using a 75 gallon glass aquarium without a lid but covered with towels and blankets for most of the tank to try and trap the warmth in. I have a T8 currently, hanging with twine, on the inside of my tank so there is enough UVB while I wait on a T5 Pro12% kit to be shipped in this week. I also have a 100 watt basking bulb that I keep up pretty high because right now the fixture it is in from arcadia only has an on and off switch, no dimmer, so if I have it at a normal height it makes the basking spot too hot.
I mostly see everywhere that CHEs are for night time use only, but I have been having to use it around the clock to keep the air warm enough, and at night I have it at half power with most of the tank covered because I haven't had a chance to observe night temps. We live in an old house and keep it at 69 minimum but even morning temps have been in the 40s recently, and with our thermostat in the hallway I believe our front rooms stay colder than the 69 minimum.
I have a hinging mesh lid and while its not optimal I am hoping to be able to line it with foil and cut out spots of foil for my lights so they can be on top of the tank. With the stronger bulb and the UVB meter I got I am hoping I will be able to make sure there is enough UVB even with the mesh, so I can solve the heat escape problem modifying the mesh lid with the foil. I also have a stand that I am waiting on so my tank wont have to be on the floor, hoping that will help as well for sure.
Is it acceptable to continue to use a CHE during the day to keep those temps until I get this set up going to hold in the heat?
