Zoo-Med MVB good option?

[Blitz_153]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forums, I'll be getting my first beardie next week, he/she will be a sandfire and as soon as my beardie arrives I will post up pics.

I have a 40G viv and ceramic tiles, etc... But I've read MVB's are great lighting, and I just ordered a Zoo Med Power Sun MVB that says it'll give my beardie everything it'll need. Is this good, did I make the right decision? And for a 40G is a 160watt good?

I thank everyone who reads this and also gives me their advice, I will be posting more soon to get to know everyone.

 

[RioReptiles]

I think they're fine, I've got two of them, a Mega Ray and a Solar Glo. They run a little cooler than the Mega Ray but I believe the recommended distance is also a little bit closer. The're more dependable than the Exo-Terra Solar Glo although one of mine flashes on and off a couple times when I first turn it on in the morning but after that it goes all day with no problems. Just be sure to register it for the warranty.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

If you have a 40 gallon, you only need a 100 watt. A 160 watt would be too overpowering for that size of tank.
The Zoomed Powersun is a very safe & effective bulb, though not one of the stronger ones. It is weaker than the Megaray & the T-rex active UV heat but is a decent bulb. You will need to replace it after 8 months or so.

Tracie

 

[RioReptiles]

Thank you for pointing that out about the 160 watt. Sorry about that, I wasn't paying attention to the model and was commenting on the brand quality. If you already ordered it and it's too late, see if there is a way to exchange it. It is possible to use, but you would have to make sure it was positioned several inches above the tank and monitor the temps very closely. The mvb's create a lot of heat by themselves so ample ventilation is important for an enclosure that size.

 

[Blitz_153]

hey, thankyou to Drache613 and Seadooz for replying and letting me know that information, i really aprreciate it. So then then would i still be able to use it if the MVB was elevated a bit more higher from the viv? For the time being til i can get the 100 watt.

 

[RioReptiles]

Tracie is the authority here, amazing knowledge and service she provides to this community. I wish I had that knowledge.

I think if you position the bulb above the cage at least a few inchs it will allow a good amount of heat to escape so that it isn't building up inside the enclosure as long as you have lots of ventilation. Powersun aren't as strong as the Mega Ray or T-Rex and don't have the same type of ray focusing lens so the minimum distance requirements are a bit less. Their light is a smoother diffusion type but the bulb itself puts out so much heat it needs to be dissapated.

Set it up on a day when you can spend the time to monitor the temperatures until you know its stable. I think, but I'm not 100% sure, the minimum distance is less than 18" for the Power Sun. I would start off around that distance and monitor the temps, moving it closer or further depending on how hot it gets. Make sure your basking area gets between 100 and 110 degrees and then check the other end to make sure it isn't heating up more than around 85 degrees. With the bulb above the top, the heat from it should go up and away. The heat in the basking area will be from the light being projected downward and heating the rock up. Zoo Med makes an adjustable lamp stand for this but you can probably make something similar.