What bulb for T8 fluorescent light fixture?

I got my T8 with the light fixture option, and the bulb that came with it burned out pretty soon after it started being used. Must have just been a bad one. I got a replacement from Wal-Mart, but I'm seeing that it is putting off enough heat to gradually raise my ambient temps throughout the day, so that by lights-out at night it can actually be starting to get too warm. And then I have to adjust my real heating equipment for night time, since without the light on the cage can get down to 75 or below, if I don't compensate for not having it on. So my question is what bulb do you use that doesn't affect the ambient temps, so that I can keep it stable from day to night without adjusting things twice in every 24 hours to compensate for the bulb's heat?

First off, get a thermostat - it will automatically adjust as necessary for changes in ambient temperature, heat from the light, etc.

You'll have to check your fixture for size and connection type in order to get a suitable bulb.


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Well, I am using a Herpstat on my flexwatt, and yes it keeps my hot spot at the right temp. But that doesn't keep the light from raising the ambient temp. From what you said about checking the fixture for size and connection type to find a suitable bulb - I'm not sure you read my post right. The bulb I'm using fits the fixture, it would have to in order to be on and heating up the tank. Finding bulbs of the right size and shape to fit the fixture is not a problem, I'm asking what bulbs people have used that didn't warm up and affect their temps.