Quick question about mounting the lighting...

[Foxlight]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I can't find the answer anywhere. I don't actually have my beardie yet but I'm trying to make sure the tank is just right for when he arrives.

I've seen a lot of pictures of fully setup tanks that appear to have the light fixtures just resting on the screen on top. If that's actually what it is (and I'm not just looking at it wrong) how do you still open the tank with the lights on the top?

I have a regular screen top for my tank and the only way I can think of to reach inside the tank would be to take off the top entirely and set it aside.

So I guess my real question is how would I go about mounting the lighting on the inside?
Once again, sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm pretty clueless.

 

[CooperDragon]

A lot of the top mounted lights are on tanks with front opening doors. Otherwise you just turn it off and lift it with the screen when you need to get in. To mount the light on the inside, a lot of people use command hooks to mount the UVB fixture on the upper back of the tank. For the basking light, you can get a lamp stand that will hold it (and is adjustable) above the screen.

 

[Foxlight]

Okay, thank you! I think I'll just keep them on top of the screen and turn them off whenever I need to get in, like you said. Thanks again~

 

[Taterbug]

Okay, thank you! I think I'll just keep them on top of the screen and turn them off whenever I need to get in, like you said. Thanks again~

If you are doing this with the UVB light make sure you are using the appropriate format.
T8 bulbs (1" diameter) should not be placed outside the screen as there is a significant loss in the UVB output to the dragon. The screen can be cut away under the bulb, or the bulb suspended inside the tank - while keeping the 6-8" distance.
T5 and (I believe) MVB format bulbs can be safely used outside a screen and at a further distance.

 

[Foxlight]

I was going to buy the ReptiSun 10.0 for the UVB light and mount it inside the tank. Then on top I was going to have a CHE around the middle and a halogen light on one side for the basking light. Would this work okay?

 

[CooperDragon]

You may not need the CHE depending on your temperature readings. A nice gradient from about 100-110 on the basking site, down to 90s around the basking site, down to 75-85 on the cool side of the tank will allow for self regulation of temperature.

Taterbug makes a good point about the type of UVB light you're using as well. A T8 doesn't have enough output to go through a mesh top and still have enough for the dragon. T8 should be mounted inside. A T5 is much more powerful and can provide a decent output even through a mesh top.

 

[Foxlight]

For the UVB I was planning on the ReptiSun 10.0 to mount on the inside of the tank, because everything I've read seems to suggest that it's the best UVB light.
Then, like I said, I'd just have the halogen light on top and the CHE for night - it gets pretty chilly.
Would this work?
I'm thinking I might need a third light up on top, I'm starting to worry that it won't be warm enough for him.

 

[CooperDragon]

That should work. Double check temps and add the extra light if needed, but you may have proper temps without it.

 

[Foxlight]

Okay, thank you!