Mounting a UVB fixture

[Oboro]

This is my dragon's tank. I have recently read that you should mount the UVB inside so he gets the full amount of rays. I have had him for a year and have always left it on top. I also had a fixture with an open bulb and the current one has a plastic cover on it. The fixture and lid I have make it difficult to mount. So I am wondering if it absolutely a must to mount it inside? Also should I leave the plastic on the UVB or should I take it off? Any help is appreciated, thank you.

 

[diamc]

[Moved here from General Discussion forum]

Definitely take the plastic cover off as no UV rays will go through the plastic.

Is the UVB bulb a T8 or T5 (high ouput) bulb?

 

[Oboro]

[Moved here from General Discussion forum]

Definitely take the plastic cover off as no UV rays will go through the plastic.

Is the UVB bulb a T8 or T5 (high ouput) bulb?

It is a T8 bulb.

 

[diamc]

Ok, so for a T8, it should definitely be mounted inside the tank then. You can use 3M strips, hangers, shelf brackets, etc to hold that hood in the tank. I used shelf brackets and they worked very well.

 

[Oboro]

Ok, so for a T8, it should definitely be mounted inside the tank then. You can use 3M strips, hangers, shelf brackets, etc to hold that hood in the tank. I used shelf brackets and they worked very well.

Oh OK, thank you. What if I switched to t5? What else would I have to adjust?

 

[diamc]

If you switch to a T5, you can put it on top of the screen since the output is so much stronger. Would need to be at least 12" from your beardie while in the basking spot. Since those bulbs are narrower, you would need a different fixture though.

 

[Oboro]

Thank you. I will probably end up mounting it.

 

[diamc]

Tomorrow I can share pictures of the brackets if you want.

Here's one way: http://www.everythingreptile.org/mounting-uvb-inside-glass-enclosure.html

 

[Oboro]

Yes please, my only concern is getting the wire through the lid. So I don't know if I have to cut a hole through it what, I'll have to play around with it.

 

[diamc]

When I used the shelf brackets, I was able to bend the brackets and hook them up behind the tank and then bent the bottom part of the bracket so that they went right underneath the hood. I used 3 brackets and they were totally secure.

 

[Oboro]

I wanna see how you did it, I'm looking at stuff and it looks like the strips will be the easiest, I just don't want it falling .