what size bulb

[Adam805]

what should i get for my 20g tank. 100wat? plz tell me

 

[1sttimebeardiemom]

Depending on the temps in your house...I would get several and see which one gives you the best temps. try 60w, 75w, or 100w...I'd start with the 60 and work your way up. What type of uvb are you using?

 

[Adam805]

like i have a lamp and i got a i think 60 wat bulb but know i went out and boaught a 75 and a digital thermometer forcoralife

 

[diamc]

What UVB are you using, is it a strip fluorescent, coil, or compact bulb?

 

[Adam805]

i dont realy know what type it is it is a zoo med basking light. compact

 

[diamc]

I thought you might be using a compact UVB light. I have to tell you that those are very dangerous & cause all kinds of problems. You can read about it here: [ Invalid URL Removed / p= t=65424 f=1 ] For the hood, you can go to Walmart, Home Depot or Lowe's and buy a standard fluorescent light like you would use over a kitchen sink, in a garage or in a basement. Remove the plastic cover, pop out the bulb that comes with it and replace with the UVB but don't put the plastic cover back on. With that bulb, your beardie should be about 6 to 8" from it. You need a basking bulb AND a UVB light and also a temperature gun or digital thermometer with a long wire & probe on the end to get accurate temp readings. Any type of stick-on thermometer can be off as much as 20 degrees either way.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions, let us know. :wink:

 

[Adam805]

so these bulb are bad to use?

 

[diamc]

Actually, the one on the left looks like a colored bulb and they do best with bright white lights. The one on the right doesn't look like a coil UVB from the picture. It looks like you might be using 2 basking bulbs rather than a UVB and a basking bulb. Does the bulb on the right say anything on it, like brand name, etc? Do you have the box it came in?
This is what a coil and compact UVB looks like: http://www.petmeister.com/usrimage/cat1305.jpg

 

[Adam805]

its a zoo med basking bulb and i bought it because the colored one is like 50 or 60 wats i not sure and the one on the right is 75. i havnt used it because i dont know if it is a type A bulb. i dont want a fire starting in my house.

 

[diamc]

For a 20 gallon, you wouldn't need 2 basking bulbs. You can even use a white standard household lightbulb for a basking bulb. What are the temps in the 20 gallon on the basking & cool side? And, what type of thermometer are you using to check them?

You will need to invest in a UVB light because without one, metabolic bone disease will develop. Did you check out the link to the petmountain site showing the Repti-Sun 10.0 fluorescent?

 

[Adam805]

is there any A type bulb that provide UVB?

oh ya the tempeture is about 89 to 90 so thats why i got 75 wat. and i have a digital thermometer with a probe from coralife

 

[diamc]

Well, bulbs provide UVA but you need a UVB to prevent the MBD and to help his bones grow properly. Do you have concerns about the Repti-Sun 10.0 fluorescent?

Does your thermometer look like this? http://store.petside.com/show_product/5375/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_term=5375 If so, you need to take the probe end and lay it so that it is resting on the basking area, wait about 45 min for the temp to stop rising, then that will be the basking temp, then you do the same thing on the cool side. Is that how you have been checking the temps? What is the cool side reading?

 

[Adam805]

ok ill try that

 

[diamc]

That isn't how you've been taking the temps then? Does your thermometer look similar to the one in the picture?

 

[Adam805]

same one but i been just putting it under my light because my beardie will try to eat anything