Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was thinking of putting a powersun in a melamine cage that I am goin g to have built for me... I have the option of putting it in a dome and have the light comethru a vent on top of the cage or have a light fixture built within the melamine cage so that I can eliminate the dome and be able to stack another cage on top.

My question is will the POWERSUN (160W or 100W) be too strong to put within the enclosure? would it be better to have it in a dome so I can adjust the height to control the temp of the basking area? or will it be ok within the enclosure?

here are the possible demensions of the cage:

3'L x 18"W x 15"H
3'L x 18"W x 18"H
3'L x 2'W x 18"H
3'L x 2'W x 2'H

I guess when deciding whether to put the Powersun on top in a dome or within the enclosure... height is the most important factor...

what do you guys think?

I plan on having the Power Sun bulb on one end of the cage... and possibly have a repti sun UVB bulb run the rest of the length of the cage.... so that the beardie can get away from his basking area and still get UVB...(plus it will light the other end of the cage) would that be to much UVB ? (is that even possible?)

this cage will be housing one Beardie only...

thanks again for all replies...

-Lou

I'm in the same perdicament you're in. I have a 3x2x2 melamine cage that I purchased so I could stack another on top. You really need the 2 foot height cause anything less the bulb will hang to low and 100 watt will be way to hot. I had to make the basking spot right on the ground in my 3x2x2 cage cause with the 100 watt if I lifted it up 5 inches it would have been too hot. I suggest getting vents on both sides 8inchX4inch and also get vents across the back. The next cages I'm making this size I'm doing the vents on the sides the same but half the back I'm making out of that pegboard with all the little holes. Right now I just have the 2 vents on the sides a 100 watt powersun bulb and right on the ground I'm getting a basking spot of 102. I have to angle a piece of cardsboard or wood on the cool side to give him a full shaded spot and more of a gradient. If I was to do it again I would have made them 3 1/2x2x2 and used one of those light fixtures you can angle to a certain spot.
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Mystical Dragons

do you have any pics of your set up?

-Lou

I have a home made "Beardie Condo" that is basically a large enclosure divided into three. It is made out of Melamine and each enclosure is 2 1/2 feet tall by 3 1/2 wide by 2 feet deep. You definately can't use the 160 watt, it's way to strong and too hot. You will have to use the 100 watt and have the basking spot no closer than 12 inches. Zoomed recommends no closer than 12 inches because of the high output of UVB and the greater chance of thermal burns. These bulbs have worked really well for me in these cages. I hope you have good ventilation though, because the cages tend to get very warm. I have a computer fan built into each enclosure that is hooked up to a thermostat. It will come on when the temp gets too warm in the cages. It sucks the hot air out and brings fresh air in.

Sorry the pics aren't better. I can take more pics if you need me to. Good luck.

Veronica

Beautiful Dragons

thanks for the reply... nice set up