Quote Originally Posted by Doggey75 View Post
I use a 100w during the day. Keeps the temp at 87-90 and a 75w at night. Keeps it 85-87.

For the whole tank, or just on the one side? A heat gradient is needed so that the BP can choose where it would like to go. Heat drops are also not necessary at night (in general, but I would hope the whole tank is not constantly at 90F!)

So, for example, if you have a 100W red bulb on the one side constantly, and maybe a 50W on the other side constantly, then you would have one side at ~90F and one side closer to ~80F (where they are normally suggested to be), giving you that gradient BPs require. I think that would be your best option if you are against using a UTH.
If I misunderstood and you already DO have a graident, I apologize.

Also, this way you wouldn't need to worry about turning on and off switches in the day and at night! The red bulbs also don't bother the BP's eyes, which daylight/yellow light from regular bulbs do. If you don't like the colour of the red bulbs there are also black bulbs, and cermaic heat emitting bulbs as well!