Lighting Hood question?

[tillywally]

I'm getting a new tank soon that's 48 x 24 x 12 and I'm looking for a hood light for a good price that is 48 inches. I was wondering if maybe a hood that's used for an aquarium be fine or if the fluker's fluorescent hood light was any good? Please help! Oh and I am wanting to put a Repti-Sun 10.0 tube light in it.
Thank you.

 

[fresnowitte]

Ashley we just recently bought a Reptisun 10.0 for one of the baby enclosures we purchased the fixture(48inch) from Home Depot...I don't remember off hand how much it was but I do remember that it was cheaper than ordering the fixture from any of the reptile online suppliers.

 

[tillywally]

I wouldn't have thought to look at Home Depot. What a great idea! I was looking at all the pet suppliers and they were way over priced and not the size I needed. Thanks for your helpful reply!

 

[babydragondaddy]

Purchasing a fixture is much cheaper at a home improvment store. Just remember these few things...
Size: 48 inches
Bulb Size: T5? T8? T12? <--- Important
Watts: Make sure you find a fixture which will provide the right amount of watts.
I would suggest bringing the bulb's box into the store so there is no confusion.
If you do end up with a specialty hood fixtures, make sure you find one made out of metal and as little plastic as possible. The UVB will dry the plastic out and make it very brittle... like the sun would

 

[tillywally]

Thank you! I wouldn't have looked for those things! Very helpful! Thank you again!

 

[glitch_in_the_system]

I work at Home Depot and we have some really cheap florescent fixtures. Reptile specific ones are going to cost more but do the same thing. You will not want to use an aquarium one because they often have a glass or plastic lens (shield) to prevent water from getting to the bulb. This however is detrimental for reptile use because the lens will filter out the UVB rays making the whole point of the fixture obsolete.

 

[tillywally]

Alright I got another question for you guys:
The only light fixture I can find at Home Depot/Lowe's is a 4 foot one that is 32 watts. The light is 36 watt that I am getting. Would this make a difference if the watts were lower? Would it effect my beardie any? Thank you.

 

[tillywally]

bump.... for the question above.

 

[bigdave]

Craigslist.org and sometimes mom and pop pet stores will sell one realy cheap if it has a defuser just remove it I bought mine for 10. Bucks at a mom and pop pet store used but in great shape these pet stores can sell them so cheap because they sometimes get them with the used tanks they pick up along the way

 

[JeffSimpson]

Alright I got another question for you guys:
The only light fixture I can find at Home Depot/Lowe's is a 4 foot one that is 32 watts. The light is 36 watt that I am getting. Would this make a difference if the watts were lower? Would it effect my beardie any? Thank you.

I could be wrong, but typically the fixtures are rated for a "max" wattage. In reality it's probably OK, but I wouldn't be able to suggest using a higher wattage bulb than the fixture is rated for. It could cause the fixture to get too hot, shortening it's life. The bulb is still going to put out 36 watts, but the fixture isn't designed for that much.

 

[tillywally]

I could be wrong, but typically the fixtures are rated for a "max" wattage. In reality it's probably OK, but I wouldn't be able to suggest using a higher wattage bulb than the fixture is rated for. It could cause the fixture to get too hot, shortening it's life. The bulb is still going to put out 36 watts, but the fixture isn't designed for that much.

Thank you. I think I'll try it... I have been to Lowe's and Home Depot and I can only find that one fixture. My tank is coming in tomorrow so I need something...