Zilla Slimline/low profile vs. Zoomed Reptisun hood

[Sapphire]

I went to Petsmart today in an attempt to find a UV fixture and couldn't decide, so after buying a few other supplies, I came home and began, once again, researching what is available. I've narrowed it down to three choices:
Zilla Slimline Desert T5 fixture
Zilla Low Profile T8 fixture
Zoo Med Reptisun Hood

Does anyone here use any of these? I noticed that the first one is T5 and the other two are T8--does that make any difference to the dragon? Which one of these would you recommend I use?

 

[crickest]

If the slimline has a bulb in it - don't use it. It made my Spark really sick, lethargic, not wanting to eat. And I am convinced it contributed to Ash's death.

The T-5 and the T-8 indicates the diameter of the bulb. If I remember right, the T-5 is really thin. The Repti-sun 10.0 is sold in the T-8.

I also know you can get just the fixtures from Lowe's for less than you would pay for the fixture at Petsmart.

 

[Sapphire]

I was in Lowe's today and couldn't find any kind of fixtures except hanging ones.

 

[crickest]

Bummer. I know I had a hard time finding my fixture, but that's because I was using a 36" bulb and installing it in my custom viv. :? :?

What kind of bulb are you going to use?

 

[Sapphire]

I want to use Reptisun 10.0.... I'm debating whether I should get two 18" fixtures or one 36" fixture. I'm looking at light fixtures on lowes.com now and I've found this one but I don't know what "direct wire" means and it doesn't say how it can be mounted... I'm thinking I want to try to mount the fixture onto the wall behind/above my viv, cuz I have a sliding screen top and I don't want to have the fixture resting on that and have to move it every time I want to open the top... I might ask someone to build some kind of wooden canopy-type deal to mount the light in, because I live in a rented apt. and I don't want to damage the walls by mounting light fixtures onto them, you know? But $30 for a 36" fixture is an amazing price and I would order it right this second if I knew for sure it would work for what I need.......

 

[crickest]

I have the direct wire fixture that's 36" long and it is actually inside my viv. Direct wire fixtures are intended to be wired directly into the electrical system. You can get around that by also buying a plug (grounded) and wiring the plug to the fixture. That's how I did mine, and then I fixed it permanently in my viv.

Your beardie should be 8 - 6 inches away from the light if its going through screen and I wouldn't suggest mounting it to the wall. How big is your viv? Unless its 75 gallons, the 36" isn't going to fit. The Repti-sun only has to cover 2/3 of the length of the viv, as long as it is next to the basking light over the basking spot. In the interest of saving money, see if you can find a 24" fixture. (One bulb vs two 18" ones)

 

[crickest]

I also paid $22 for my direct wired fixture and plug. At Home Depot.

 

[Sapphire]

My viv is 36" long.... And unfortunately I know nothing about electric wiring and whatnot, so I don't think wiring the fixture to a plug would be an option for me. I don't know anyone who would know how to do it, either. And I wouldn't know how to permanently fix my light into my viv, since i have a sliding screen top.... it wouldn't be able to be fixed onto the top of the viv because the top will constantly be removed. Back to square one... This is a lot more difficult than I expected. It's giving me a headache.

 

[Sapphire]

If I got something kind of like this would it be okay to fix it to the *side* of the tank on the inside....?

 

[crickest]

This is similar to what I have . . . I have it fixed about 10 inches away from the basking spot on the side of my viv.

How would you fix it to the side of your tank?

 

[Sapphire]

I have absolutely no idea.....

 

[crickest]

You might look through enclosures to see if there are any ideas that would work for you.

What size tank do you have?

 

[Sapphire]

36"x18"x16". I know it's a bit smaller than is optimal but it's the biggest thing I could find in the petstore other than fish tanks. I'm starting to think that I'll just get an MVB instead of trying to set up a fluorescent light.

 

[crickest]

If you don't need to keep the screen on the top of the tank (ie no cats in the house) and also get an adjustable floor lamp, it might work better. I didn't try a MVB because I have cats and then moved my beardies into enclosed vivs and couldn't adjust the height of the bulb.

 

[Sapphire]

I don't have cats... But is it really okay to leave the screen off? What if a wasp or something got into the house and decided to fly into my cage? Or a ladybug?

By the way, thank you very much for responding to this post... lol. The thing I've needed most in this whole "setup" process is someone to bounce ideas off of... None of my friends or family has ever kept a lizard, so talking to them about this is about as helpful as talking to a brick wall. :lol: I take that back, my best friend's brother has had three lizards and three snakes... as far as I know, his most recent snake is still alive, but everything else has died after a year or, usually, less. So I'd hate to ask him for advice. :|