light help please

[doe222]

i just got a 4ft double bulb fixture. http://www.lightsofamerica.com/en/Categories/Fluorescent/Shop%20Lights.aspx
the first one in the list.
the wattage is not available so im assuming it can be any wattage? will a 36watt reptisun be fine. also can i run a regular bulb and a reptisun (i was going to get arcadia but they only have 46in) a regular florescent bulb wont hurt my beardie will it? can i run 2 UVB bulbs or would that be to much?

 

[ClydesGirl]

How big is your enclosure? 46" is pretty huge for a UVB bulb. It should only run 1/3 - 2/3 the length of your enclosure and be all the way over toward the basking side so your beardie can soak up UVB while basking and escape the UVB over on the cool side when he wants.

As for a second bulb, what you will need/want is a "Daylight" bulb with a color temperature of 6500-6700. That will emulate real day light. Anything with a warmer or cooler color temp can affect your beardie's internal clock and reduce their appetite.

Two UVB bulbs is WAY too much.

 

[Catalyst]

I don't think there's any reason to put two UVB bulbs in there - a single reptisun 10.0 and a different regular bulb would work fine. In a normal enclosure it should be just fine to have the UVB bulb that goes the entire length of the tank - they are good bulbs for providing what the dragon needs but are still much weaker than natural sunlight or the MVB type bulbs so there's not as much of a danger of over exposing them.

 

[doe222]

it runs the entire top but i have custom enclosure with multiple levels to escape the UVB. the whole backside is kind of a ramping system which he can choose various temps and uvb exposure he wants. he has temps ranging from 5 below room temp all the way to 105. where do i get one of these color temp 6500-6700. the bulb i currently have does not state the color temp.

 

[ClydesGirl]

it runs the entire top but i have custom enclosure with multiple levels to escape the UVB. the whole backside is kind of a ramping system which he can choose various temps and uvb exposure he wants. he has temps ranging from 5 below room temp all the way to 105. where do i get one of these color temp 6500-6700. the bulb i currently have does not state the color temp.

They are often used in aquariums, so I would say to check pet stores.

 

[doe222]

the other bulb is a 3200k so obv this is not what i want. will it hurt him? or is it just not recomended because its not a bright white light that helps the uvb from causing damage to his eyes.

 

[ClydesGirl]

A low color temperature will simulate dusk or sunset and your beardie's internal clock will think it's nearly bed time and he may not eat properly.

 

[doe222]

i finally got my 48in reptisun in the mail and it does not work in this fixture? is there a reason for this? can the ballast not handle this bulb?

 

[ClydesGirl]

It's possible. Can you take the fixture apart and read the label on the ballast?

 

[doe222]

well see the label is on the outside of the box that holds the ballast and it says nothing about watts. 120v 60hz 800ma max.

 

[ClydesGirl]

The ballast itself should also have a white label stuck to it and that usually has a several numbers on it that end with "T8" and/or "T12". Something like "F28T8". In that case, the number preceding "T8" is the wattage, so it would accommodate a 28 watt bulb. Hope that helps a little. In the case of the 48" Reptisun 10.0, that's a 36 watt bulb, so you want to see something that says "F36T8".

The good news is, ballasts can typically be replaced, so if the one in your current fixture is insufficient, you could order a new ballast online or check your local hardware store for one that can handle a 36 watt bulb.

 

[doe222]

the old bulbs says f32t8 but the ballast itself does not. the ballast casing nor anywhhere inside the ballast box. its an electronic ballast BTW. i posted a new topic. im just going to get a new one. i need a single 36watt minimum 48in fixture, where can i get one w/o spending a horrible amount of money??

 

[SeanFred]

You can upgrade your fixture to a T8HO which is what you need to drive a 36W bulb. Standard fixtures from home depot and lowes have a 32W ballast as that is the standard for T8. If your fixture is a 48" single bulb T8, you can use the Workhorse33 ballast available at http://www.1000bulbs.com/search/?q=workhorse+33+ballast and wire it to the following specification for the T8HO application.