Light placement

Can I get some opinions?

I have a 36"x18"x12" PVC enclosure that I am setting up. Unfortunately, Pro Products heat panels were a long wait, and I needed it fairly quick, so I went with a VE RHP from Pangea Reptiles (great service, fast delivery). Trying out this RHP's for the first time.

Anyways... the light source I have is a 10" LED stick. I would prefer a full length LED strip, but this is what I have for now, and it's fairly bright anyhow.

Opinions on if it looks better or more appropriate to be placed center in the rear, where the 1¾" thick RHP hides the view from the front (FIG A), or if placing it on the right side along the depth looks better (FIG B)?

No right or wrong answer. I know it's a preference call. Curious what others think.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f092bdb256.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...07c78b91ad.jpg

Light: I’d go with whatever you personally prefer as that’s what matters most. If it were mine I’d probably put it at the back.

Unrelated to your light, that is an ENORMOUS RHP for that size enclosure. 80watt it looks like based on the size? I’d shoot for the 40watt. I personally use that same 80 watt RHP for enclosures that are over twice that size.

Reason being is that you’re going to have one helluva time establishing a temp gradient when the heating element covers the majority of the enclosure.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Light: I’d go with whatever you personally prefer as that’s what matters most. If it were mine I’d probably put it at the back.

Unrelated to your light, that is an ENORMOUS RHP for that size enclosure. 80watt it looks like based on the size? I’d shoot for the 40watt. I personally use that same 80 watt RHP for enclosures that are over twice that size.

Reason being is that you’re going to have one helluva time establishing a temp gradient when the heating element covers the majority of the enclosure.


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Yes, it's the 80w. The reason I tried the 80w is because the location where the enclosure is going can get to the mid 65-70° F room temp. But, I'm ready to switch it out if I can't maintain the temps. I'd prefer the 40w as well.

I think behind looks better and should make it easier to see after decorations are in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Unrelated to your light, that is an ENORMOUS RHP for that size enclosure. 80watt it looks like based on the size? I’d shoot for the 40watt. I personally use that same 80 watt RHP for enclosures that are over twice that size. Reason being is that you’re going to have one helluva time establishing a temp gradient when the heating element covers the majority of the enclosure.

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So... as most of it is now all set up, I always test for a few days to a week before putting any snakes in there. Preliminary results with the 80W RHP are as follows:

• RHP: 80W Vivarium Electronics RHP
• Thermostat: Herpstat 2
• Room temperature right now is 64°F.
• RHP is on the left side (warm side).
• Besides the two probes I have from the Herpstat, I have additional thermometers set up to measure different sections of the tank. Tomorrow I will probably place more.
• As recommended by Bob from Pro Products (and how I have all my other enclosures successfully set up) the thermostat probe controlling the RHP is on the cool side. The cool side temp is set to 80°F.
• Current reading in the enclosure (all probes are just off the floor):
  
  • warm side rear: 86°F
  • warm side center: 87°F
  • cool side rear: 80°F
  • cool side center: 79°F
  • warm side and cool side placement refers to ALL THE WAY TO THE WARM SIDE and ALL THE WAY TO THE COOL SIDE.

So... will still tweak a bit. And, although I prefer not too, I have heat tape to place on the bottom, should we need to raise the belly heat a tad.

I think the light looks much better at the back (Fig. A)- for one thing, you're not seeing the bulb as in Fig. B, & the lighting is more balanced (in Fig. A) also. The glare in Fig. B would annoy me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I think the light looks much better at the back (Fig. A)- for one thing, you're not seeing the bulb as in Fig. B, & the lighting is more balanced (in Fig. A) also. The glare in Fig. B would annoy me.

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I agree with the glare annoyance factor. Wasn't sure if it was just me.