New enclosure (pics) - Just need help with lighting..

[lloydy]

Hey guys, so ive posted befor but didnt really get the answer i was looking for.
Ive recently built a enclosure (4ft x 2ft x 18inch high) of melamine.
Here it is (unfinished)

Here is a picture of what it will look like, well kinda, lol. when i put on the sliding doors. You will see in the pic above that the two small pieces at the front, which will have the runner for the glass or plexiglass on the right side (looking at your screen) actually sits on the end of the side piece of wood, i did this on purpose so i am able to slide both pieces of glass or plexiglass off for easy cleaning.

This is where i need you guys help.
Im looking at buying the lights very soon.
Ive read a fair bit about this Megaray, and well, i have decided i am going to get one.
I have a couple of questions about it though..
What is the difference, (and which one would be best suited for me) between the SB and the EB??
Also what wattage would be best? (has anyone get a megaray in a simular enclosure that could share what wattage they use?)
I know with the Megaray it has to be atleast 12inch?.. ill most likely have to cut a whole on top and mount in like 2inchs in or so. If i was to do that, would i risk burning the melamine? mind you, the Megaray will be in a deep dome fixture.

I know in the pic above that it has also the Retisun 10.0 tube towards the back, but i thought that i would put that in too, as when the beardie goes to the cooler side, he or she will be still getting the UV.
The Ceramic Heat Emitter is for the night time, (if it drops below mid 60's?), this will most likely be on a dimmer.
The normal household light bulb im thinking of putting in there just for more light, but im going to wait till everything is set up before i decide to put that in or not.
Ill also be getting the thermostat with the probe on the end to get the right temps =).
I have one last question, and its actualy about the temps and the thermostat.
Ill be getting a baby beardie, and im just wanting to know what the actual temps for the basking spot should be? is it 100-110 degress (Fahrenheit) and what is the best temp for a sub-adult - adult beardie.
I know the cooler side of the temp should be around 80 degress (Fahrenheit).
Which leads me to my next question..
With monitoring the cooler side, how do i actually measure the temps? do i need 2 thermos with probes, one for the basking and one for the cooler side? If so, where do i actualy put the probe in the cooler side? just anywhere or..?


Well, they're pretty much the only questions i have.

I look forward to hearing from any if not all of you =)

cheers.

 

[zarrianna]

I cant say much bout MVBs cuz Im new too.The basking spot can stay 100F to 105F throughout the beardies entire life. You do need two probes for both sides and place them at the hottest area the beardie can get to on the basking site and what you think would be the coolest part on the other side.Hope this helps!

 

[kirby]

thermostat wont work for the MVB it will BLOW VERY QUICKELY..

your best testing it for a while, and adding a bunch of vents, particularly in the roof.

 

[bdchip]

mega ray is very good i would go with the 100w because ur enclosure is 18 tall therefore the lights will hang down a few inches. since you cant use a thermostat you dont want to get a wattage that is too hot cuz u cant turn it down. so therefore go with the 100w and add another fixture in there incase its not hot enough that way you can dim the other light.

i would not put a baby beardie in that size enclosure or i would portion it off, it will stress it out and be harder to find food.
temps for a baby should be 105-110.
sub adult are same for a baby
and adults 100-105
my hot side prob is directly under the light so you know the hottest spot.
the cool side probe is farthest away from the light. so if basking light is on front right then prob goes back left side vice versa

tank looks good by the way

 

[kirby]

i would not put a baby beardie in that size enclosure or i would portion it off, it will stress it out and be harder to find food.

im sorry, but this is gobble to my ears. i see it repeated all over the forums, and really its unnecessary. i have raised hatchlings in a 6x2x2 foot enclosure. and TRUST ME they can see a cricket from a mile away, and the 4 foot trek to get to it, takes them less then a second as the scramble over and gobble it up. it's unnesessary really to step up from a smaller enclosure, IMO its another way a pet shop can make a few more hundred dollars off you, and a breeder to convince you it will stay small and easy for a long time.

good point tho about the height of the enclosure Vs megaray, you will have to install the MVB on the outside of the enclosure, via steel mesh.

 

[gregorydragon]

good point tho about the height of the enclosure Vs megaray, you will have to install the MVB on the outside of the enclosure, via steel mesh.

Is this because the height is only 18"?

 

[kirby]

good point tho about the height of the enclosure Vs megaray, you will have to install the MVB on the outside of the enclosure, via steel mesh.

Is this because the height is only 18"?

yes, megarays need to be a certain distance from the animal, because they emit such a high amount of UVB. its usually 12-16 (or 18 inches) from the animal. depends on what particular globe you get.

 

[lloydy]

Hey, thanks for your help guys.
still got some questions though, if someone is willing to answer.
im just wondering what the difference is between the SB and EB Megarays? and also which one is better to get.
Also, can a lizard get to much UV? say if i did end up having a Megaray aswell as a reptisun 10.0?

cheers

 

[gregorydragon]

I don't know which is better between the SB and the EB, but too much UV is harmful. If you have a megaray MVB then I don't think you really need any other UVB source.

 

[h0ndap0w3r]

SB = self ballasted, EB = externally ballasted

 

[chels1983]

Just a remark on having a baby in a big cage. I have mine in a large cage, and he doesn't have a problem with it. I actually expected him to have a few days of adjustment period after moving from a 10 gallon into what is about 100 gallon (its fairly tall), but he got used to it almost right away. That may be different depending on the personality of the beardie.

I do feed him in a separate 10 gallon tank mainly because it makes it a lot easier for him to catch crickets, and for me to catch them once he's done.

 

[lloydy]

SB = self ballasted, EB = externally ballasted

i know that what it meant, but what is the difference between the 2?

thanks for all your help guys, really appreciate it. im going to be ordering my lights and what not this week.

will be getting my little on in a couple weeks =)

 

[alyel]

Just thought I'd put in my 2 cents haha. We have a 6 month old in (almost) a 150 gallon! She had NO problems finding food. It didn't even take long at ALL to adjust!

 

[h0ndap0w3r]

the SB is its own contained unit, like plugging in a normal light bulb. the EB has its own ballast box, similar to that of a florescent tube light.