Lighting Help

[ScatterBrain]

Hello, recently I made a post "New Beardie Mom" regarding the setup of my habitat. I was informed that I should change my lighting, which I plan on doing as soon as possible. I want to make sure the new lights I'm getting are good enough for my beardie. He's a juvenile currently living in about a 20-30 gal breeder (30 inches long, 12 inches wide, 10 inches height).

For his basking light, I am planning to replace the zilla 150 w bulb for this:

https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Bask...1104951&sr=1-1&keywords=flukers+basking+light

For his middle light, I am planning to replace the zilla 75 w infrared night light for this (I am going to keep the CHE on 24/7):

https://www.amazon.com/Floureon-75W...1&keywords=floureon+ceramic+heat+emitter+75+w

For his UVB, I am planning to replace the zilla 20 w coil light for this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009YJ3BE/ref=twister_B00ZJTLCYA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I will not have any light on the cool side. It will just be a CHE in the middle, basking bulb on the right, and uvb tube placed in the back of his tank.

Is this a good enough light setup for him, or do I need to make some adjustments?

 

[ScatterBrain]

Oh sorry, also forgot to mention I'm replacing his zilla thermometer/humidity gauge with this indoor one:

https://www.amazon.com/ThermoPro-Hy...qid=1491105422&sr=8-1&keywords=thermopro+TP50

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That particular UVB light will be fine, no problem at all. It will be better than the Zilla coil.
Be sure to mount it directly overhead & beside the basking light for better exposure. Do you plan on mounting it on top of the screen or underneath of the screen?
The temperature monitor looks good, but you will need one with a probe to place inside of his tank. Or a temp gun is accurate also.
A 30 gallon tank is fine for a young dragon. You will definitely want to upgrade to at least a 75
gallon tank when he gets bigger.

Tracie

 

[ScatterBrain]

Hi Tracie, thanks for the reply!

I planned on mounting it underneath the screen, but should I mount in on top of the screen instead?

 

[CooperDragon]

Which fixture do you plan on using? With a T8 I highly recommend using a fixture that has a reflector or add a reflector after the fact to direct more light over the basking area and increase effective range of the bulb. With only 10'' of overhead in your tank I'd mount it on top in something like a Zilla Slimline so it sits about 6'' over the highest basking point for best results. Remember to remove the clear plastic from that fixture because plastic will intercept all UVB.

For heat monitoring, I recommend using an IR temp gun like this https://www.amazon.com/Nubee-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK Or get a couple of these and put a probe on the basking surface and a probe on the cool end https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017N8W90/ Adjust your lighting so you get about 100-110 on the basking surface and about 75-80 or so on the cool side. I wouldn't worry too much about humidity.

 

[ScatterBrain]

What is a fixture and refletor? I didn't know I needed those things... I was just gonna stick it on to the tank with glue or something and keep it about 4 inches away from the basking area.

 

[CooperDragon]

Instead of the T8 ReptiSun I'd just pick this up. You can replace the bulb that comes with it for a ReptiSun 10 if you wish but the Zilla Desert 50 is OK too according to my (limited) testing. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/zilla-slimline-desert-50-uvb-t8-fluorescent-fixture I'd just put it on top of the tank and build the basking area to within 6'' of the top of the tank which shouldn't be much issue in a 10'' tall tank.

When you upgrade to an adult sized tank (at least 4'x2'x2') you'll need to upgrade to a more powerful UVB light such as this one http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22-t-5-ho-fixture-high-output-with-arcadia-d3-12-ho-bulb/