Need help setting up lighting in enclosure

[brooksnk]

Hi Guys, this is my first post here.
I am getting a bearded dragon in a few weeks and need help setting up my enclosure.
I recently purchased this second hand custom made glass enclosure that originally made home to a water dragon.

The dimensions are 4ft long x 3ft high x 2ft deep.

As you can see from the pictures, I plan for the basking spot to be the little extended area on the left hand side of the back wall rock formation, it seems to be almost a perfect size for my future dragon to bask on.

As it stands. The distance from the basking spot to the tip of the heat bulb is 17". I think this should be okay as long as the bulb is strong enough to allow the basking area to hit the right temp.

My problem is with the UV situation. The tank came with a reflector that houses 2x 48" fluro's.
Because my tank is rather high (3ft), I am worried the dragon wont get enough UV light. From the floor it is 3ft and from the basking spot it is 23". Can anyone recommend my how to set up a sufficient UV lighting situation.

I understand the reflector helps a lot (doubles the uv effectiveness from my research). Should I perhaps use 2 UV fluros given the height of my enclosure? They are T8 fitments as well, but I understand the T5's are much better.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Side note: the reflector unit came with a 6500k daylight tube. Is this good to have or do I not really need it to pair with a UV tube? Also the reflector unit says it is rated to power 2x 36W tubes. I assume that I shouldn't put a higher wattage tube than 36W in this then?

 

[Taterbug]

Nice cage!
My suggestion would be to keep the fitting you have and use two daylight bulbs. For UV pick up a reflected T5 (22-36") and use that on thebbasking side. This will give you a nice bright setup.

 

[brooksnk]

So if I get a 36" could I leave it at the top of the enclosure (3ft) high?
Or should I suspend it lower (closer to the bottom) somehow?

 

[Taterbug]

Depends largely on the furnishings. A reflected T5 would be fine at the top. It shouldn't be closer that 12" to the animal, but 12-14" is a good spot for max UV basking. I keep a spot at 12-14" from the tube and options all the way down to the bottom of my cage.

I'd get some nice logs or cork tubes for an enclosure that size.

 

[brooksnk]

What is the advantage of getting a 36" reflector as opposed to the 48" which would fit the tank perfectly? (Assuming its okay to have it at the top of the tank as you say rather than being able to fit inside it and hang closer to the bottom surface)

 

[brooksnk]

and for that matter, would a 2ft t5 suffice?

Finally, I came across a picture of your set up in a different thread. Just wondering what sort of fixture you have in this picture for your t5, it looks like something I could utilise in my set up. However, it doesn't appear to be a reflected unit?

Edit: I seem to have found it - Sunblaster unit

Edit 2: Gone ahead and ordered a 36" Sunblaster unit off Amazon. Seems perfect for my setup as it is easy to hang and very streamlined!

 

[Taterbug]

Looks like I'm a little late, but yes I use sunblasters. The reflector is only about 1/2way around the bulb.

The difference in length just makes a difference in exposure. As long as you have a gradient and shade a longer lamp is fine.