Hello...
I'm a newbie at this and need some desparate help. I have a 30 gallong terrarium setup for an anole. It's extremely well planted and I have been trying to figure things out for a few months now. First I tried a combo light fixture, but it only brough one flourescent. The incandescent got extremely hot and fried the plants on one side of the tank. I returned it and got two clamp lights, one for day one for night. But the light just wasn't enough for a 30 long. Some of the plants were reaching hopelessly and beginning to yellow. Then I tried a double flourescent fixture with two reptisuns 5.0... the plants were doing great, but the tallest and warmest basking spot only reached 80 degrees! That's not much of a basking temp. I had still wanted an incandescent, but the clamp lamp I was using wasn't wide enough for the top of the tank with the double flourescent fixture, so I put it on the side of the tank. I just heard a loud pop and ran to the tank. The side glass has two cracks in it from the heat! Yet, the thermostat I was using only reached 88degrees there! I'm running out of ideas here. If anyone knows how I can set this up so that the creature AND the plants are happy and the terrarium doesn't crack again, please help!
The only thing I can think of is to get two clamp lamps that are smaller, 5 and 1/2" in diameter and go to home depot and buy a dimmer. The only reason I had gotten that zoomed 8 and 1/2" lamp was because it already came with a dimmer while others did not. Perhaps this way I can kinda squeeze in the flourescent fixture, plus two incandescents. A dimmer is just for my peace of mind. They kinda scare me, especially now more than ever as my next project will be adding silicone to the inside and outside of those cracks.
I'm so glad I don't have the anole in there yet. I'm taking the anole from a friend who has been patiently waiting for nearly three months for me to set this tank up...
Also, if anyone could answer another question for me, I'd appreciate it. The reptisuns 5.0 are not as bright as regular T-8 fluorescent bulbs... should I be concerned about this when it comes to my plants? It just feels like they're not getting enough light though the reptisuns state the uv's reach deeper than regular fluorescents.
Well, I'd appreciate any help I could get on this, especially from those who keep heavily planted setups. I have a little jungle in there with plenty of vines as well for the anole to run around on, and after my initial plant fry fest on one side of the tank, I am keeping that side without plants as it will be the hot side of the tank.
Thanks in advance!
Fernando
