Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was wondering how much heat do the cf lights throw off. i know people use computer fans but how much of a breeze do you really need to keep them cool or would vents do the same thing.

They do get warm, but whether you need a computer fan or not is determined by several factors: distance from the glass top of the tank, ventillation, number of bulbs, etc. I have 3 40w cf's on top of my 50 gallon, and if the lights sit directly on top of the top (~3 inches from the glass), there is a 7 degree rise in temp on the bottom of the terrarium when the lights are on. If I raise the lights just 1/2 inch from the top of the glass so that more air can pass through, the temp differential is only about 3 degrees at the bottom of the terrarium (checked all this out before I put frogs in there).

I would recommend buying a digital thermometer/hygrometer with a hi/lo feature (you can pick them up for between $15 and $30. A little experimentation will let you know what you need to do. I highly recommend cf's--my plants look great.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

It's not so much the lights that emit heat, but rather the ballasts that condition the voltage to a usable ammount.

-Bill J
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
2.3 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black' (tads)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)
0.0.2 D auratus 'teal'(soon)