Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am convinced of preferability to have good UV light source.
Set up is 5 ft long, 2ft dep and 2 ft high for 2 (maybe 3)beardies (1 male, 1-2 female), with 2 or 3 basking areas (1/animal).

1. What is best Mercury vapor bulb... given that cannot really use for heat control (on/off but no dimming), it would seem that one needs maximum UVB per watt and use other heat source for adjustment of heat. Given tank size would have at least 2 bulbs, so choices seem to be:

2 or 3 x Active UV Heat "Super 60 Watt" or
2 x Active UV Heat 100 Watt
2 x Active UV Heat 160 Watt

2 x ZooMed PowerSun 100 or
2 x ZooMed PowerSun 160

Other brand of Mercury Vapor...?

(is UltraLux available in U.S.)

2. Suggestions for supplemental adjustable heating?
Leaning to ProProducts ProHeat Radiant panels?

3. Any suggestions on all-in-one thermostat/thermometer/timer?

-Steve

P.S.: Please keep on topic, no posts about how UVB from light source is not necessary.
Link

I can only tell you what we have experimented with and found that works well for us and the dragons. Your tank/enclosure is a bit bigger than what we are using right now, we have 65 gallons. Approximately 4' X 18" X 18"

Here is a picture, three girls share and they have a 160watt Power Sun, then a 75 watts household bulb, with this we get an good UVB output in a 18 inch area below the bulb and then it diminshes to 6 inches on either site. The basking temps stays 97-105 and the middle area is around 93, the cooler end stays at 76-80. With this set up, they all move around a lot, have had clear fecals for two years and have good bone densities and blood work.

Now, due to this is in a corner away from a/c ducts, the temps ranges are good..... another tank next to it, but towards the middle of the room and with a lower basking area has to have a light right next to the PowerSun to keep the temps in the desirable range, so it is a factor what the ambient temp around the enclosure is also. We put the dragon that perfers less heat also in that one so it works out well for them.

Sorry can not answer your other questions as we only use a plug in that we hit a switch to turn off and one.

We have a 120 gallon we are working on now for a new enclosure and figure we will need 2 160 watt MV's or 1 160 watt and 1 100watt, depending on the elevation of the basking areas and whether 1 or 3 dragons are in it.


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