Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone. Not immediately, but in the next couple of months, I'd like to switch around my turtle's lighting situation. I was thinking about purchasing one of the new UVA/UVB, light and heat incandescent bulbs - ZooMed's Powersun being an example - and using that, as they take up less space and seem, actually, to be cheaper in the long run. I was just wondering if anyone here used such a bulb, and what he or she thinks about it. Love feedback,
~Amanda
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0.0.1 Crumpet
In this world, this new world of ours, there will be rocking.
~Dave Eggers

Hi, last year when I was thinking of getting one of those bulbs and asking the same question, someone on this site basically talked me out of the Capture the Sun bulb with the bad experience s/he had had with them (they repeatedly blew out in a matter of weeks after receiving them). I finally made the switch to a 100-watt flood Active UVHeat bulb (T-Rex) two weeks ago. It seems to be a toss-up between that and the Powersun (Zoo-Med); each has its supporters. They come in the same wattage and from what I have read, give off comparable amounts of UVB rays. I chose the Active UVHeat because it`s sold as either a flood or a spot light (PowerSun is only a spot light) and I prefer the flood.

My turtle and I really like it; I also like the fact that it eliminates having some of the cords you have to use with regular set-ups (much neater). It gives off a LOT of heat, though, so you have to be careful positioning it (have have it about 16 inches over the basking area in a 55-gallon--any closer and my turtle wouldn`t bask. Instructions that came with it are fairly specific and you need to have it placed vertically and use a dome with a ceramic/porcelain socket rated for the wattage (look for a deeper one; I bought the 10-inch ESU onerated for 250 watts and hang it off a reptile lamp stand. It`s much cheaper to buy on-line at places like www.reptiledirect.com Hope this helps.

It certainly does help; thanks, Mariza. I actually got the idea for the bulb when I was crusing around Reptile Direct (who have lost my recent order, but that's another matter entirely). I think I will get Crumps a Powersun in another couple of months. Thanks again.
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0.0.1 Crumpet
In this world, this new world of ours, there will be rocking.
~Dave Eggers