question about light bulbs

[jakeh2009]

i have a bulb here that is made by sunbeam, it says 50-100-150 watts, my question is when i use it in a dome fixture what wattage is it using, im assuming the highest but i really dont know, is this correct? its just a bulb i have laying around and was going to try using it instead of the 150 watt zilla basking bulb i have because i think that bulb is making certain parts of the tank too hot. i also have some 90 watt bulbs i can try. i have not measured the temps of other areas that the basking bulb is above other than where he lays the most but this may be why he dont go to other spots as they are too hot.

right now with the zilla bulb on top of my 55 gallon tank and sitting on the metal mesh lid the basking spot is 107. but the bulb is not directly above that spot its about 8 inches to the right and 6-8 inches foward. guess i should place the probe on an area directly below the bulb and see what that reads.

 

[fresnowitte]

I'm assuming that you also have a UVB source and that the bulb your speaking of now is being used for basking temps. Why don't you try using a regular white household bulb of a lower wattage and see if that doesn't work for you.

 

[jakeh2009]

yea i have a reptisun 10.00 for uvb but was just trying to get better temps all around in there, his basking area is correct but im thinking that 150 watt zilla bulb is overheating the spot directly below it which doesnt have much of anything. i will be checking ambient temps through out that side of the tank and see if its ok or too hot, if so then i will go down to a 90 watt and see what that does and keep decreasing as needed. thank you

 

[fresnowitte]

Again, I would try a regular white 60watt household bulb right next to your reptisun over the basking spot...it should do the job. :wink:

 

[krystalsboy]

Hey Jake! WHy don't u just move the bulb directly over his basking spot or move his backing spot directly under the light and use it there (after you get the max temp right) then he wont avoid the "hot spot".