Hi I have a 55 gallon tank with a reptisun 10.0 bulb in a 18 inch fixture and a 100 watt regular light bulb for basking. Is this enough lighting? How far does this have to be from him for him to get the proper UVB and heat. The tank is about 1 1/2 feet - 2 feet high and 4 feet long.
That may answer your questions. The bottom line is, we can't tell you a distance for basking temps over the internet...as room conditions vary from house to house. What we can tell you is that he needs to be within 8" or so of the reptisun UVB fixture, and you should use a thermometer, preferably a digital one, to check his basking temps. Shoot for 105 degrees F.
I still have some pressing questions about the tank though.
Assuming I get a MVB can I just use any dome lighting fixture? Because I used to have one for my regular light bulb and I would just place that over the screen lid, but i heard the MVB is too hot so how do you place it on your tank?
I still have some pressing questions about the tank though.
Assuming I get a MVB can I just use any dome lighting fixture? Because I used to have one for my regular light bulb and I would just place that over the screen lid, but i heard the MVB is too hot so how do you place it on your tank?
You do have to make sure that you get a ceramic fixture to handle the extra heat of an MVB. A 100watt MVB will suffice just fine for a 55g with a screen top. Make sure the screen itself is metal mesh though and not fiberglass mesh. The fiberglass one WILL melt.
Be very careful also with the plastic lip that goes around the top of the tank and the plastic divider in the center of the tank....they will melt. No, you do not need two separate screens for that particular tank. That divider in the center is actually used for the light hoods you use for fish aquariums. They fit right down inside the plastic lip.