Please critique my setup

[leighmck]

I have a 24 inch ReptiSun 10.0 inside the tank
coolside light is a 60 watt energey saver bulb
middle lamp is a CHE bulb
right side is basking it is a 75 watt halogen basking bulb
using papertowl for substrate right now

running the all lights etc for 30 min after setup has the cool side at 73 degrees and basking side at 100 degrees
Not sure if the top of the log is close enough to the basking light. its about 8-10 inches.
I have 2 digital thermometers 1 on the cool side and one resting on the high point of the basking log

I have a surge protector that is on a timer BUT I don't know the timing that all the lights should be.

Please let me have your harshest critizm because I want this tank to be perfect before I bring my baby home.

Thanks!

 

[leighmck]

Anyone?? Please??

 

[NateDeth]

sorry no one got back to you. your setup looks like most I've seen, as long as the temps are right and you cycle the light 10-14 hours a day I'm hoping your dragon will be alright. I'm not sure how CHEs work.. I always see them on top of tanks, but I figure heat rises so Im not sure how to effectively use the damn things.

 

[Jess]

Looks good! I like the beach theme! The only thing I would potentially change is to use a shorter tank if you can. It can be difficult to regulate the temps in a taller tank like that. And even though the basking spot is close the the UVB, your beardie won't beneift much from it when he hangs out on the floor.

 

[SpitFyre]

Just curious, why do you have a light for the cool side? Aesthetics? All light bulbs will give off heat, no matter whether they are CFLs, LEDs, or just regular incandescents. I like the paper towel. If all goes well, I recommend reptile carpet. Soak it in a 10% bleach solution so that all the bacteria and smell gets off of it. Then put it in the wash with an extra rinse, or hand wash all the bleach out. You may want to make a fake rock that doubles as both a basking spot and hide so that s/he can have a lot of floor space, or just put the cave beneath the wood. Where are the water and food dishes? For my lightsI have the plug in timers that you can find at home improvement stores. They plug in to the outlet, then you plug in your device(s). They are bulky, though. What you may want to do so that everything is on the right time is plug a timer directly in to the wall, then put it to be on in the daytime. Plug a small power strip in to the timer, and whatever you plug in to that power strip will be on in the daytime. For the CHE, you may want to plug it in to a timer set to a night cycle, directly in to the wall, because if you plug it in to the "daylight strip" it will be off because of the "master timer" regulating the electricity to the strip. For the CHE, I like the placement. You don't want her to be running around in the middle of the night because she's too cold. She can sleep anywhere and be warm. Hope you enjoyed the novel :lol:
@NateDeth- The CHE radiates heat. The radiation itself doesn't tend to rise, it's the air it heats. There is cold air that is denser, and so sinks towards the ground. Hot air is less dense, so it rises. It's the same as having a cold wind blowing, but the sun can still heat you, regardless of the air temperature.

 

[FfelixalEx]

Looks good. I personally go for the look natural effect, but your tank looks good to me!

 

[leighmck]

Thanks all for the replies!! Just reading them now as I had company all weekend. This tank is only temporary as it was what we already had in the house so I figure it's good for a few months while I get my husband and son to build a crossfire enclosure. My goal in the new enclosure will be a tile floor that is slightly rough to help keep the nails trim. I also want to try to build my own basking area with hide underneath it for the crossfire tank.

I do have these lights on a timer. I have run them for a few days now. I have them coming on at 5am and going off at 7pm. That way I can feed him at 7am and 6pm. Does that sound right>

I do not have water or food dishes in the tank right now. For feeding, while he is small enough, I will be feeding him separatly in a 10 gal tank for his dubia roaches and then his greens in his tank. I bout the Juvinelle bearded dragon pellets and will soak those in warm water and put some on this greens so he gets some water intake that way. Other than that for water, I will spray him down plus give him bath time. From everythign I have read...beardies are really "drinkers" anyway so I dont see a need to keep water in the tank. Am I wrong on that??

As far as a light on the cool side. It's just a normal evergy savor house bulb just to add extra light on the cool side. It's not producing much if any heat. Cool side has been holding steady at 74-76 degrees for the last couple of days. Basking temps have been anywhere from 100-108. I think I need to get those temps up a little on the basking side.

CHE is for night time heat. Temp in the tank seem to drop to around 68 at night without it.

Thanks for the help and keep it coming cuz I need it!!!

 

[FfelixalEx]

Stack rocks for the basking platform, over 110 is too much on the basking side. Feed him greens and I suggest hand feeding his live food. Otis the best way to bond with your new beardie

 

[Goodtruant]

68 is ok for night time temps. I have my CHE on a ZooMed thermostat that's turned down as far as it goes. The CHE only comes on when it gets below around 64, then it turns off when it reaches about 70-71. This cycle keeps me from worrying.

We only keep water in our beardies viv for a couple hours a day....he seem to like to use it as a toilet. Generally leave it out if you're good with spraying and giving baths. It will only raise your humidity.

 

[Jess]

Dudley never shows interest in his water dish. Sometimes I keep it in there just in case, but usually I just give him a bath instead.

And personally, I wouldn't really recommend hand feeding. They will get lazy and not eat on their own if you hand feed them everything. (Guess who has made that mistake?? :roll: )

 

[FfelixalEx]

Lol. So true. Bender gets pissed when I make him chase the crickets. I usually hand feed him the little ones because I don't want them all over the house!