Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I'm new to this particular forum but I'm not new to anoles. I've been wanting to use 2 fluorescent bulbs but my 5.0 bulb keeps on frying ballasts. Now I have a 24" dual light fixture with only the 2.0 side working and I'm stuck using an 18" fixture with a 5.0 bulb. This is okay for now but it doesn't allow me to cover the screen cover the way I would like to.

Will I be stuck buying a Zoo-Med or ESU combo light fixture and adding a second fixture for the second fluorescent bulb? I'll rather not use those combo light fixtures for my heat lamps because I would rather keep them suspended high above the tank not an inch above the screen. There has got to be a dual fluorescent fixture out ther that can take the intensity of a 5.0 bulb so that there is space for my heat lamps to shine through the screen cover.

It's not the UV intensity that is causing the problems but rather the wattage that is destroying the ballast. You need to check the wattage on the bulb and then install an appropriate ballast.

The wattage isn't a problem and I don't think I'll find ballests that I can easily place into the fixture. I emailed Exo-Terra about my problem and they said it was because of the intensity. That explains why the 2.0 works fine while the 5.0 doesn't. Maybe the fixture doesn't have a starter but I won't know for sure until the manufacturer of the fixture calls me back.

My ventilation works great because only the fluorescent lights are actually on top of the screen cover. I tape down cellophane to the screen cover to hold in humidity but it goes over not under the fluorescent lights and I keep the sides open for air flow. The light from the heat lamps shines through without any problems.

I picked the name RZHerpKeeper because I am the HerpKeeper from the RepticZone forums so I'm sure you've seen my pics of it. Somebody already had the name HerpKeeper registered. I know what clamp lights are and I have them but that's not what I'm asking about. Like I said before I'm new to THIS forum but I'm not new to anoles.

The ballasts are designed for the wattage of the bulb not what it emits. A 24" strip light or dual strip light usually has sufficiently rated ballasts to accomodate a 24" fluorescent whether it is a 2.0 or 5.0 UV emitting bulb. Check to make sure that the wattage is the same on both of them. Likely, the 5.0 is a higher wattage bulb than the ballasts will support. You may also have a problem with one of the ballasts not working properly.
Every light fixture that I have ever used worked with ANY fluorescent of the appropriate length and wattage no matter what UV rating it had.

Yeah, I have to agree with that..We were using a dual fixture to run a 2.0 and a 5.0 and couldn't figure out why the 2.0 would run but the 5.0 wouldn't, and that turned out to be the problem, they were different watts.

As far as I know both light fixtures were made for bulbs up to 20w. The one I bought from Walmart is for sure made for a 20w bulb but it could never fire the bulb properly. Only the ends would sort of light up. I believe the dual grow light fixture is made for 20w bulbs too. The precentage has had nothing to do with the wattage and the difference between wattages is with different lengths. I was told by my favorite pet store that there are always problems with bulbs longer than 18".

I think the main reason why the Walmart one doesn't work is because it doesn't have a starter and I'm sure that's the same case with the dual fixture. I've got an 18" 8.0 bulb that works in a cheap Walmart fixture and one that does have an obvious starter. Does anybody know of a dual 24" fixture that has starters installed?

The pet store wasn't being entirely accurate. You shouldn't have a problem with bulbs longer than 18" if you have a proper ballast and the starter is working properly. If only the neds of the bulb are firing, it is likely that the ballast is defective (or not strang enough to handle the wattage).

After getting another reply from Exo-Terra's customer service I think I know what I must need. The ballests I have are fine but there aren't starters. I also have to make sure that the fixture is made for a T-8 bulb. Other than that the fixtures I have now can only be used with 2.0 bulbs. But does anybody know where I should look for a good dual ((fluorescent)) fixture?????? I've checked through search engines but I have yet to find anything.

Here is what Exo-Terra has told me so far;

The problem you are describing is definitely a compatibility problem between the bulb and fixture. The higher the UVB percentage, the higher the intensity of the bulb. Higher intensity bulbs will be less likely to work with a standard fixture. Other than the wattage, the fixture must be rated for the proper length and diameter. These bulbs also require a fixture with a starter. Please reply if you have any further questions.

Then;

We never recommend fixtures that are not specific for aquarium/reptile use.
Standard fixtures sometimes are not the proper diameter and/or do not have
starters. If you can find a fixture that has all of the proper specs and has a
starter, you should be fine. The Repti Glo 24" bulb is a T-8.

Hagen (ReptiGlo) recently changed all of their UV bulbs to T8 for some reason. ZooMed bulbs 24" and above are T12 with the smaller ones being T8. It would probably be cheaper for you to get two strip lights to house your UV lights in. I have two 36" strip lights and three clamp lights for my incandescent lights on my 40-gallon. All-Glass Aquarium makes strip lights with a "stand-off" included that moves it about 1/2' above the enclosure cover. They work great with their sliding top enclosures. Check LLLReptile or Reptile Direct for the best pricing on strip light fixtures.

Thanks.

Also, while browsing through Lowes this afternoon, I noticed that they had starters and a wide variety of ballasts for fluorescents. They were only a few $$ each. You could probably wire a starter into the circuit and replace the ballasts, if needed, for under $10. It should be a simple enough project. You could even add a second switch, starter and ballasts for the second light if you wanted so they would be on independent circuits.

I know a lot about electronics and wiring but there isn't much space inside the fixture. I've also got to be concerned about what the humidity could do to any uncovered parts. My best bet is to stick to fixtures that are especially made for what I'm using it for. I think I'll go with those combo lights but use a rheostat with the heat lamps. Then I'll still need another fluorescent fixture but with the heat lamps no longer hanging from the ceiling it won't be a problem.

RZHerpKeeper wrote:

>>Hello, I'm new to this particular forum but I'm not new to anoles. I've been wanting to use 2 fluorescent bulbs but my 5.0 bulb keeps on frying ballasts. Now I have a 24" dual light fixture with only the 2.0 side working and I'm stuck using an 18" fixture with a 5.0 bulb. This is okay for now but it doesn't allow me to cover the screen cover the way I would like to.

Hi, RZHerpKeeper:

Welcome aboard, RZHerpKeeper! While there doesn't seem to be a
*whole* lot of msg traffic in it right right, there is another
message forum here called I *think* "Habitats.." and a sub
forum under that for "Lighting & Heating" message posts. You
might want to post your message in that forum as well in order
to keep all your bases covered (and old BB fan - sorry )).
How's your setup for ventilation? That's what I have problemos
with. With all these lights above my setup (I'm using
individual clamp lamps) it cuts off the free flow of air
circulation into my Anole's tank/home. But it's not like he's
paying any rent, and he eats more than I do!
I did notice that LLL Reptile ha got a nice tank on sale with
plenty of ventilation and *I believe* it has corner ventilation
as well as topside. It's about $69.00 plus S/H I think. I saw
the Ad here on KingSnake.Com and of course sometimes I can't
resist checking them ads out, especially when it's for
something I've been thinking about anyway. Them marketing
people know how to hook ya, but the good ones do it with tact.

>>Will I be stuck buying a Zoo-Med or ESU combo light fixture and adding a second fixture for the second fluorescent bulb? I'll rather not use those combo light fixtures for my heat lamps because I would rather keep them suspended high above the tank not an inch above the screen. There has got to be a dual fluorescent fixture out ther that can take the intensity of a 5.0 bulb so that there is space for my heat lamps to shine through the screen cover.

I've got a strong metal wire frame that rests right on my tank
screened opening cover that's about 3-4" high and my heat lamp
fits perfectly in with it so my heat lamp isn't directly on top
of my tank. For clamp lamps they do sell lamp stands where the
bottom of the stand slides under your tank for stability and
you can hang the clamp lamp at several different vertical
positions above your tank. I think it's ESU makes em and they
charge like $19.99 when you could make your own for like $5.00.
Ahh, long day. Well, nice to have you here. Hope you stick
around. Newbies like me need all the more experienced Herpers
we can get in order to pick their brains on herping. Peace.

E-mail: LizardKing@TechWarrior.Net
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Shark~King