PowerSun 100watt?

[Toddzilla1108]

Hi everyone, I am in the process of setting up my tank before getting a beardie...my friend is selling me some of her extra stuff. I will be using a breeder 40 gallon (I think its 36x18x18 roughly), and she has a semi-new Powersun 100watt bulb which she says is sufficient enough for basking and UVB.

Now being my paranoid self, I looked into it further (since I've read the Reptisun UVB strip light is much better), and have so far read fairly negative things about the powersun.

Now the worst of it was a few years back, so if anyone is using a 100w Powersun for a 40 gallon enclosure, could you give me some of your feedback on how it works? And how you have your tank set up in terms of what lights you're using, and the height you have them at (distance away from basking spots)

(Would I need additional lights on top of the powersun in order to keep a beardie healthy? I read that people recommended additional daytime lights just for the light itself, and I have a new CHE on hand that I can use in case my room gets too cold, but I also have a space heater that I can use to bring up the ambient room temp also)

Thanks,
Todd

 

[CooperDragon]

Hi Todd,
The Powersun should be OK but a 100w isn't all that powerful for a tank that size. The optimal output of UVB is between 9-12'' above the basking area with that bulb. I'd mount it above the basking spot in that range and then measure temperatures. The basking spot temperatures should be around 100-110 so if you need additional heat you can use a regular basking light or your CHE and adjust the height of that so the basking spot reaches the correct temperature. There should be an area around that in the 90s and a cool side of 75-80 or so.

If you decide not to use the Powersun, I suggest using a bright basking light over the basking area and a T5 UVB tube on the basking side. A 22'' should do the job well for a tank that size.

 

[Toddzilla1108]

Hi thanks for the response,

If I use a basking bulb in addition to the powersun, how would I set that up? Shouldn't the powersun stay above the basking area where the beardie would spend most of its time so it gets its proper amount of UVB?

 

[CooperDragon]

Yep, you'd put the Powersun over the basking site and then put a second dome fixture next to it, aiming at the basking site as well. If you use adjustable lamp stands it makes it easier to hang them and get them to the correct heights.

 

[ArielAnn]

i have the same size tank and i use a 160 watt powersun bulb. i also have a really tall vine that can reach up close to the bulb and my dragon is able to move away from them as well. I would more so recommend the 160 and the only thing about those is that if it gets hot in your house, you cannot leave your light on because the dragons will get to hot. so they have less uv time. now that winter is coming up though, it shouldn't be an issue

 

[Toddzilla1108]

What size basking bulb would I use in addition to the Powersun? (Does the zoo med brand one work?)

 

[CooperDragon]

It really comes down to temperature for that. ZooMed Repti Basking Spot lamp is a good one. I'd go with a low wattage since you have the MVB producing some heat already. Maybe start with the 75 and see how that goes. If you go with a higher wattage you can still use it but it may need to be mounted higher up.