CFLs as a heat source???

[ChrisS]

I am wanting to get a T or two, and have read that heat mats are a bad idea. I am wondering though can CFLs used to bring up ambient temps in a cage so my entire room doesn't have to be 75*F+. I was thinking a 13w would do, but am wondering if anyone else has experience or knowedge.

[kitedemon]

i don't know much about Ts but i use a 24" tube inside a side turned tank to heat the ambient air temps it works well there. I would assume (trial and error is likely needed) that it would work the same way.

[gardenfiend138]

CFL's give off little to no heat, which is why they work so well in other applications. You could set one up and check the temperature, but I wouldn't think it would raise the temperature at all. Some people use heat lamps clipped a distance (to be determined with your environmental factors) from the enclosure. I use heat tape regulated by a thermostat draped over the top of mine which probably isn't the best idea but gives me a steady 72/78 night/day. Until I find something better!

[Boanerges]

You can put a heat mat in a larger enclosure on the side of the tank and block off some of the ventilation, then place the smaller enclosure you have your T in inside that. You can run a heat mat on the back of where your T's tank is and adjust the distance of the tank to the mat if absolutely necessary. BUT you have to be super careful to monitor your temps and not to burn your T. As long as your room is in the high 60's or above you don't need any additional heat.

[kitedemon]

the 24 inch tubes hit 94-7ºF . the CFL in my desk lamp is over 167ºF check one if you have any around and see what you get.

[jackiechan]

I just got a CHE and it raised my ambient temp of the entire tank. I recommend it if thats what your trying to do.

[kitedemon]

Hosted on Fotki

Holy CROW !!! that is way hotter than I expected!!! This is a really bright one but still much hotter than I expected. It might run too hot.

[jackiechan]

Hosted on Fotki

Holy CROW !!! that is way hotter than I expected!!! This is a really bright one but still much hotter than I expected. It might run too hot.

My zoo-med UTH ran exactly that hot before. I had to get a thermostat immediately

[gardenfiend138]

That is the reading directly on the bulb...the heat from those dissipate so quickly I wouldn't imagine one 12" away would do much at all.

[kitedemon]

if it was inside a cage as the op stated, the heat has to go somewhere (dissipated heat = ambient heat same thing). I use tube fluorescent tubes to raise the ambient air temps in a BP cage that is 18x30x28 it easily does from the ambient air room temp of 67-72 to a correct 79-85. In my set up the temps ramp very very well not super fast just nice and gentle. The problem for the op is I think a cfl is going to be too much and that they cannot be dimmed or I am not sure what a t-stat would do with them my guess is it would cut on and off a lot and that would kill the bulb and ballast quickly.