Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm setting up a 40 gallon tank for HL use and I was wondering how strong of mercury vapor lamp i should use for the aquarium the 100watt or the 160watt and is it best to use the flood light or the spot light type and how high above the ground should the light be mounted to get the best results.

Those are all just matters of preference. Any combination would work. The only critical variable is adjusting distance above substrate to produce proper temps. and UV exposure.

I would be more concerned about how many microwatts of UVB per cm2 @ 1ft. the lamp radiates, rather than whether it's a 100w or 160w spot or flood.
-----
"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

I like the T-rex bulb over others, as it does put out good heat. Your answer sort of depends where you keep your lizard. If you live in Texas like I do and keep them in the garage or sun room I would recommend the 100 watt. You can always add a smaller lamp if need be but probably won't. Here is the issue. Desert reps are turned on by light and it's intensity, if you use one lamp only in a 40 gal. cage and it is kinda dull and drab, I would say this is not as good as lighting the cage up more, so not even the mercury vapor is your only concern. I also like the zoomed 10.0 screw in flourescent bulb on one end and 100 to 150 watt standard basking bulb on the hot end this combo is cheap and works well. YOu do need to get adequete UVB or your lizard will seriously be effected. But the best way I can describe the ultimate lighting is to make the cage lit up like day. I have mine in a sun room with french doors all the way around so the room is lit up and I only find I need one basking bulb and I use the zoomed 10.0 scew in florenscent, however in my chuck cage I use two bulbs and one is 150watt T-rex. Anyway this is my insight into lighting. You want the hot side of the cage to be 105 degrees and cool side about 85 or so degrees. I leave the cage to room tempreture drop at night. Oh and another thing, I prefer a flood over a spot becuase I am trying to get more light dispearsed than focused heat and light in one spot. Everyone has their own opinions, I do not like the zoo med mercury vapor as it lacks heat unless they have changed them. The T-rex fits nicely in a large lamp holder 10", if you live in the county you can buy a brooder lamp holder and they are cheap and do the same thing as the reptile ones do. Hope this helps and good luck,,,,,,,,,,,,!!
-----
Phrynosoma.org

______

signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

Here's a good page of comparisons of UVB output on various brands.

russiantortoise.org/uvb.htm
-----
"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

What I found that work for good lighting is the ZooMed PowerSun 100w as a basking light and an E.S.U. slim light witch is a compact light with an 18" 7% UVB bulb and that will give you good coverage of the whole tank, the PowerSun bulbs are $39. at ReptileDepot.com and the E.S.U. is $22. for the complete light, at the same place.

Cecil
-----
1.1 Bearded Dragon (Drago,???)
1.1 Desert Iguana(Dima, Dianne)
1.0 Green Iguana (Igor)
1.3.5 Collared Lizard (Fred, Wilma, Betty,???)
1.1 Desert Leopard Lizard (Simba, Kimba)
0.1 Hamster (Tofu)
1.1 Kids
0.1 Wife

HOWDY---Question which comes directly from my experience? I notice the power sun does the UVB very fine, and no arguement on that issue, but as far as heat. in a 40 watt cage the basking under this bulb is somewhere in the high 80's or low 90's which is not enough heat for many of the reptiles people keep. While I use a 100 watt bulb as well (T-Rex) I almost always use another bulb as light intnisty is just as important to reps as UVB in overall health. So I have found the power sun not to provide the level heat that the T-rex produces, maybe you can address this, maybe I am mistaken-but this seems to be what I have observed. So while I don't want to put down the power sun and I have used them in the past many times, I am still very partial to the T-Rex bulb because it indeed puts out the UVB and appreciable heat which seems to work best for me. Also the 7% is absolutely fine as a flourescent but you need to make sure that it is less than 10 inches off the substrate. THats one reason why I use the zoomed 10.0 screw-in flourescent on the cool side of the cage in tandem with a zoomed standard basking bulb, and the screw-in 10.0 can be higher off the substrate and still do an excellent job. They are inexpensive and screw into a standard 10" lamp holder........Cheers!!!
-----
Phrynosoma.org

______

signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

I have mixed feeling about this, the credibility of these bulbs.I use a powersun 160w,also a hundred watt basking bulb.(not sure what brand, at work now).Anyway, I purchased a UV-Hawk, which is a small meter, take it outside in the sun, push the button, and you get the UV index or strength of the sun on you.Now, take it in the house, hold it under your power sun,even close and I get a 2,under the basking bulb,which is supposed to be for heat, and I get a 7.Outside i get a 6 or 7 here in michigan.I have a name brand floresent,its a good one.Bulbs are like 2 months old.Hold the UV-hawk under it close, you get 0.Go figure.The best thing, I have built a small box,I sit it outside, it has 3/8s mesh, and a place for shade.I take both the HL's outside , and they get some real sunshine.I don't believe In any bulbs anymore.Is this meter accurate?,Not really sure, but it makes you wonder why in the sun it's a 6,and the bulbs in our enclosure is almost nil.scott

You are never going to get UVB readings on a single lamp that will match the unobstructed summer sun ( in most latitudes ), unless the meter or it's use is faulty. The page I posted on UVB outputs above will show that. Any lamp that could...I wouldn't use in my house. It is also common knowledge that fluorescent tubes are inferior, and junk in my opinion for most uses.

7.0, 10.0, 10%, etc....these numbers mean absolutely nothing as to the quality or strength of the UVB output, unless you know it's complete output power across the spectrum. It could be a 50% UVB bulb, meaning it radiates 50% of it's energy output in the UVB range...but if it's total radiated output is only 1 nanowatt, for example, then it wouldn't matter if it were a 100% UVB bulb! It would still be useless.

That's why mercury vapors are much better, but still not as good as natural unfiltered sunlight. An outdoor habitat is great, just so long as the caging material is not solid and does not attenuate, or block the UV.

Outdoorsman, have you checked UVB readings inside the cage?

-----
"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

Fireside, I have not checked the UV intensity yet in small enclosure.Its 1/4 shaded and 3/4's sun 3/8s mesh to let in the sun.The hl's seem to enjoy it.I have researched the Hawk meter some.Now don't get me wrong, I am not using the meter as and absolute reading.I just wanted to get it, take a reading outside, to see if it worked, then put it in the area that the HL's normally bask just to see what kinda reading i got and to see if the lamps even registered.Like i said the basking bulb registered like two where they sit,the powersun was a one,same height.Bought this flor supposed to be like 7%, it cost like 60bucks and some, it registered 0 and thats right under the fixture.It does add a nice "bright white" to the enclosure, but in my opinion, no UV at all.The reading right under the basking bulb is 7ish , can't remember the powersun,dang it.Anyway, just some observations.Oh yea, caught the HL's drinking from the water dish the other day,which from what i read here is somewhat unusual.talk at you guys later,scott.

Forgot to say, how do you know what your getting from your bulbs?(repto)Just curious,not doubting anything you say,just wonder,do you use a meter?thanks,scott

Outdoors--If you read what I said above I was addressing heat put out from the uvb bulbs and not the uvb itself. Answering your question, I assume I am getting the proper UVB based on growth rates, lack of bone disease, overall breeding and egg deposition, as well as growth rates. It would be interesting to call up the "hawk" company and see if maybe you weren't using the settings properly, and if you were then to say the least this is an interesting observation. THere is in fact nothing like the sun..........Cheers!!
-----
Phrynosoma.org

______

signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]