If you use a radiant heat panel you do not really need another source of heat. It can be left on all day because it doesn't emit any light. I would recommend mounting it on the ceiling similar to an overhead bulb. It should cover approximately 1/3 of the area on your ceiling. This should give your tank a heat gradiant. A heat emitter should also work well should you decide to go that route.



Regardless of which you choose you will have to tinker with it a bit. Keep in mind it is difficult to know exactly what you'll need before the tank is actually built. Depending on how insulated the tank is, heat requirement of the species your keeping, ambient room temps, it's difficult to predict. I toyed around with a bunch of different bulbs and distances before I was happy. Keep in mind being able to add if the need arises or hooking up to a dimmer and tuning the heat source down if need be.



For example, my room gets cold in the winter and I often raise the basking spot and put in a higher watt bulb during the winter. I do the opposite during the summer.

[ Show Entire Thread ]