Lamp Troubles with Buzzing

[RequiiemRaven]

Hello! I'm working on setting up a new 4x2x2 enclosure for a beardie I recently adopted who's still in a 40 gal. I have been having an absolute nightmare of a time with heating lamps and really need some help. First of all, he has a minor case of MBD and I can't raise his basking spot too high due to his poor walking, so I need some pretty strong bulbs to get the temps accurate.
Now the real issue, I cannot figure out how to get the lamps to stop emitting a high pitched buzzing/electrical noise. I am very noise sensitive and cannot deal with it, and I know from his current enclosure that it should not be making the noises I'm hearing with the new bulbs and new lamp.
I have an unbranded bulb that came with him that doesn't buzz, and I purchased a 100 w and 150 w flukers bulbs and a 100 w arcadia bulb and all three make buzzing sounds no matter what dome I try them in. I have 3 domes, two I am unsure of the branding but support up to 150 watts, and the new one I purchased is the 150 watt dimmer (which I know can cause the noise, but they make the same sound in the other lamps that do not have dimmers too).
Is there any domes or bulb brands people swear by that doesn't cause this issue? I feel like I'm going insane.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello! I'm working on setting up a new 4x2x2 enclosure for a beardie I recently adopted who's still in a 40 gal. I have been having an absolute nightmare of a time with heating lamps and really need some help. First of all, he has a minor case of MBD and I can't raise his basking spot too high due to his poor walking, so I need some pretty strong bulbs to get the temps accurate.
Now the real issue, I cannot figure out how to get the lamps to stop emitting a high pitched buzzing/electrical noise. I am very noise sensitive and cannot deal with it, and I know from his current enclosure that it should not be making the noises I'm hearing with the new bulbs and new lamp.
I have an unbranded bulb that came with him that doesn't buzz, and I purchased a 100 w and 150 w flukers bulbs and a 100 w arcadia bulb and all three make buzzing sounds no matter what dome I try them in. I have 3 domes, two I am unsure of the branding but support up to 150 watts, and the new one I purchased is the 150 watt dimmer (which I know can cause the noise, but they make the same sound in the other lamps that do not have dimmers too).
Is there any domes or bulb brands people swear by that doesn't cause this issue? I feel like I'm going insane.

What brand of domes are you using? It sounds like your going to need to put the basking dome in the tank you can use heat resistant cable ties found at Home Depot - use a dome that has a hanger on it - he is not climbing at all? You dont want your basking lamp any closer than 6" directly above his basking spot- I am unsure why your getting the buzzing noise - I am going to flag a few people that can maybe help out here
@xp29 @CooperDragon

 

[RequiiemRaven]

What brand of domes are you using? It sounds like your going to need to put the basking dome in the tank you can use heat resistant cable ties found at Home Depot - use a dome that has a hanger on it - he is not climbing at all? You dont want your basking lamp any closer than 6" directly above his basking spot- I am unsure why your getting the buzzing noise - I am going to flag a few people that can maybe help out here
@xp29 @CooperDragon

The one with the dimmer is Flukers, the other two I’m unsure. He does have a raised basking spot and climbs a little bit, but he’s very unstable when walking and I don’t feel safe to give him a higher basking area than I already have (about 7 inches up from the bottom of the enclosure).
I was considering looking into the internal mount light fixtures and wiring them secure to the mesh top, would that be a good idea to go for? (I have a 120 gal from dubia)

 

[Sue E.]

I cant speak to what is best for all, but I personally use the zoomed deep dome, (ceramic where the bulb screws in) fixture rated for 150 or 160 watts, with a zoomed 150 watt bulb, bulb on top of mesh but of course the bulb itself doesnt touch the mesh at all. I get no buzzing and my bulb is lasting a long time. That said, some people here have had trouble with zoo med bulbs, so I am speaking only from my personal experience. I bought my fixtures and bulbs from petsmart, not online. Could your beardie climb up on and bask on something like this (see pic)...I know you said he has trouble climbing? Im not sure the deep dome will give you the temps you need at a lower point...mine reaches 98.5 to 102.5 on the lower branch of his tree. First pic is the suggested climbing piece, second pic is the height at which my beardie basks under the light. (I know the tree most likely wont be a good option for you). Im assuming your beardie is an adult?

 

[KarrieRee]

ramp for bearded dragon at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Look for something like this if this would work better- as far as the domes you want name brand - dont buy Thrive they are junk- I use Zoo Med domes and I have bought mine on line from Pet Smart and other places - here is a brand that I have heard of but not used Reptile Systems Ceramic Clamp Lamp - Black Edition
I also use the 8.5 dome but mine sit on top of screen I have a stainless steel screen on my tanks

 

[KarrieRee]

I have also used Flukers domes and I am using the Flukers basking bulbs

Shop By Product - Heating and Lighting - Fluker's Cricket Farm

flukerfarms.com

 

[xp29]

Are you 100% certain its the basking bulbs tast buzz? The uvb will have a ballast in it, those can buzz.
If you are using a power strip, maybe try a different one or plugging the dome straight into the wall. I've had issues with power strips in the past. Not buzzing but causing longevity issues with my bulbs.

 

[RequiiemRaven]

I cant speak to what is best for all, but I personally use the zoomed deep dome, (ceramic where the bulb screws in) fixture rated for 150 or 160 watts, with a zoomed 150 watt bulb, bulb on top of mesh but of course the bulb itself doesnt touch the mesh at all. I get no buzzing and my bulb is lasting a long time. That said, some people here have had trouble with zoo med bulbs, so I am speaking only from my personal experience. I bought my fixtures and bulbs from petsmart, not online. Could your beardie climb up on and bask on something like this (see pic)...I know you said he has trouble climbing? Im not sure the deep dome will give you the temps you need at a lower point...mine reaches 98.5 to 102.5 on the lower branch of his tree. First pic is the suggested climbing piece, second pic is the height at which my beardie basks under the light. (I know the tree most likely wont be a good option for you). Im assuming your beardie is an adult?

Thank you for the suggestion! I've constructed him a pretty decent sized basking spot with some brick and slate pieces so he has a large area to lay and bask without wobbling, I've just been struggling with heating it properly. He's roughly 5 from what I was told, so def an adult lol. I think I may have just received a defective ceramic lamp causing the buzzing sound, I'm going to buy new ones and pray that stops the issue.

 

[RequiiemRaven]

Are you 100% certain its the basking bulbs tast buzz? The uvb will have a ballast in it, those can buzz.
If you are using a power strip, maybe try a different one or plugging the dome straight into the wall. I've had issues with power strips in the past. Not buzzing but causing longevity issues with my bulbs.

I am 100% sure its the basking bulbs, I still have him using the 40 gal until I figure out the lights on this one so the UVB isn't installed in it yet. I did also try plugging the lamp directly into the wall, and even using a different power strip and it still had the same buzzing sound. I'm going to buy a new lamp and see if I just received a defective one.

 

[RequiiemRaven]

ramp for bearded dragon at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Look for something like this if this would work better- as far as the domes you want name brand - dont buy Thrive they are junk- I use Zoo Med domes and I have bought mine on line from Pet Smart and other places - here is a brand that I have heard of but not used Reptile Systems Ceramic Clamp Lamp - Black Edition
I also use the 8.5 dome but mine sit on top of screen I have a stainless steel screen on my tanks

This is basically what I've made for him out of slate and brick, with some driftwood as ramps. Thank you for the dome recommendations!

 

[KarrieRee]

This is basically what I've made for him out of slate and brick, with some driftwood as ramps. Thank you for the dome recommendations!

Slate gets really hot - and brick is coarse -

 

[RequiiemRaven]

Slate gets really hot - and brick is coarse -

I've been monitoring it over several days with a temp gun, its sitting at proper temps if not still under temp sometimes. The brick isnt really brick its some other cut stone, and I have the smoother portions upward