UVB lighting setup question

[Whyitsdonut]

So I've been doing hours and hours of research the past few weeks to make sure when I get my beardie I can make sure everything is setup right. The last thing I need is a good UVB light setup.

My first question is size. I know it needs to be approximately 80% of the enclosure. I'm getting a juvenile beardie and starting in a 20 gallon that's 30" long. However I was going to get a 36" enclosure with a 34" light for when I move him into a larger tank relatively soon. Is this OK? The only sizes I can find are 36" that holds a 34" bulb or a 30" that holds a 22" bulb. I feel like the 30" will be much too small for even a 40 gallon. Is this correct?

However, they seem to be difficult to find in the US without getting gouged on price. I've found them regularly for $40 but out of stock. Other places I see them for close to $70 without the bulb, even then they are harder to find.

I've found these two: https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/t5-uvb-light-fixture.html
And: https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-hood.html

I would obviously have to order the zoo med version from somewhere else which is getting hard to find honestly. Is the pangea version acceptable? Can it be sat on top of the lid or will I need to find a way to mount it inside the tank?


So in short what size fixture should I get and what type of fixture will be best for the beardie?

Thanks for the help guys. I feel like I'm over thinking all of this stuff.

 

[KarrieRee]

He will not be in that 20 gallon tank long--- he will quickly outgrow it so w/ that in mind I would get the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 24" - I have that same set up in my tank -- and I also got it from pangeareptile.com my tank is a 120 gallon tank - it seems to work just fine - Hiccup moves from basking to UVB as he needs to - the UVB and the basking are all on the same side of tank just not directly next to one another-the basking bulb is on top of screen whereas the UVB is inside the tank approx 12-14" from the floor of tank - this UVB will haft to be above his 20 gallon since it is a strong bulb and you dont want to over power him - until you get the bigger tank - even a 40 gallon he will outgrow - adults need 75 - 120 gallon tank for them to get their potential length--
Karrie

 

[Whyitsdonut]

He will not be in that 20 gallon tank long--- he will quickly outgrow it so w/ that in mind I would get the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 24" - I have that same set up in my tank -- and I also got it from pangeareptile.com my tank is a 120 gallon tank - it seems to work just fine - Hiccup moves from basking to UVB as he needs to - the UVB and the basking are all on the same side of tank just not directly next to one another-the basking bulb is on top of screen whereas the UVB is inside the tank approx 12-14" from the floor of tank - this UVB will haft to be above his 20 gallon since it is a strong bulb and you dont want to over power him - until you get the bigger tank - even a 40 gallon he will outgrow - adults need 75 - 120 gallon tank for them to get their potential length--
Karrie

OK thanks. Is the reptisun fixture any better than the pangea reptile basic one?

 

[KarrieRee]

I dont know I just know that I bought what was recommended and have no complaints so far--- the T 5 bulbs are only changed out once a year where as the T 8's are changed out every 6 months and are not as strong as the T 5's-- plus the T 5's have to have the fixture - my fixture is flat compared to the basic one that is shown
Karrie

 

[vrenee1018]

I bought a 48" light fixture from Home Depot, put some reflecting tape behind the lights, and am using Reptisun T5 10.0 lights. Tampico's tank is 53.5 inches long, and she seems to have no issues with the lights spanning almost the entire length of her tank. So you could go the route of finding a fixture from Home Depot or the like, and just buy the bulbs. Her fixture is actually for T8 bubls, but I found T8 to T5 converters that seem to be working quite well for her.