Mvb wattage ?

[Arniebeardie94]

I have a 50 gallon glass tank just wondering what wattage of mvb should I get I hear they get pretty hot and since im in Australia its getting really hot I don't want to spend heaps of money on a bulb that will make the Viv too hot. So I'm getting the solar glo I think there's 50,80 and 125 watt. What should I get? The light will sit about 20-30 cms away from my beardie in the Basking area depending where she sits. The tank is not long about 2.5 ft so will she get enough uvb if she's at the cooler end? Any tips or advice please let me know I'm just sick of buying uvb internationally since where I live dont sell Arcadia or reptisun. Where as they sell the solar glo near me.
Thanks

 

[Arniebeardie94]

Btw she's about a year and a half

 

[Savora]

The only reputable MVB bulbs are the PowerSun and the MegaRay brands. You can check to see which one is cheaper in your area or on your online stores (I don't have experience with Australian vendors). For a 50 gallon tank, even in a hot part of Australia, I'd think that a 100watt would work just fine for you.

 

[CooperDragon]

I'm not crazy about Solar Glo based on test results I've seen, they can be quite inconsistent. A PowerSun would be better but they are ridiculously expensive in Australia. For the same price I'd get a T5 UVB tube with hood (also ridiculously expensive, but better bang for your buck). I'm hopeful that the newer Solar Glo bulbs are more reliable than in the past. I have yet to test the latest ones. The mounting distance determines the wattage you'll need. At 20-30cm I agree a 100w should do the trick as long as there isn't any thing blocking the output. The 160w bulb would need more like 30-40cm (generally speaking, the bulb outputs can vary).