Exo-Terra tank screen vs. heat lamp questions

[Trisnake]

Here's a tip if you don't want to be spending money on bulbs every 1-3 months:

Buy a 100 or 150 watt bulb and hook it up to dimmer. Use a temp gun to dial in the proper heat 88-90. Went done right your dimmer will be turned down to roughly 50-60% power.

This keeps your bulb filiament from getting too hot and burning out.

What about using a bulb that's higher wattage than the lamp's output? I would think it wouldn't be an issue (lamp with low max wattage wouldn't affect higher wattage bulb?) but I don't know too much about the mechanics of electronics.

[Trisnake]

Also, kind of curious SpacegirlSpiff, what dimensions did you choose for your UTH? I think I'm going with an 11"X11" from reptile basics, also regulated by jumpstart t-stat.

[Reinz]

What about using a bulb that's higher wattage than the lamp's output? I would think it wouldn't be an issue (lamp with low max wattage wouldn't affect higher wattage bulb?) but I don't know too much about the mechanics of electronics.

I dont know. I would think that as long as the bulb was dimmed you would be ok since you are using lower wattage at 50-60% output. But it is probably best not to gamble like that.

[SpacegirlSpiff]

Also, kind of curious SpacegirlSpiff, what dimensions did you choose for your UTH? I think I'm going with an 11"X11" from reptile basics, also regulated by jumpstart t-stat.

I'm using the small size zoo med (for 10-20 gal) and seems to be working well

[SpacegirlSpiff]

That size you said is probably fine

[Paty]

What kind of bulbs are you guys using? I just ordered a 48x18x21 tank and am now buying the heating stuff on amazon. I already picked a non light ceramic bulb and two dimmable domes. I'd like the second dome to have a bulb with light on the cold side for ambient temperature and day light since my room is also pretty dark during the day. It should be able to reach down the full 21". The domes I have picked out are the "Fluker's Repta-Clamp Lamp 8.5-Inch Ceramic with Dimmable Switch" on amzn.

[Reinz]

What kind of bulbs are you guys using? I just ordered a 48x18x21 tank and am now buying the heating stuff on amazon. I already picked a non light ceramic bulb and two dimmable domes. I'd like the second dome to have a bulb with light on the cold side for ambient temperature and day light since my room is also pretty dark during the day. It should be able to reach down the full 21". The domes I have picked out are the "Fluker's Repta-Clamp Lamp 8.5-Inch Ceramic with Dimmable Switch" on amzn.

I just use regular red bulbs from Zoo Med or Exo Terra since that is what the pet stores near by carry.

If you haven't got a temperature gun yet you might want to get one. They are invaluable for getting your temps dialed. They run $20 and up. Available on Amazon.

[Paty]

I just use regular red bulbs from Zoo Med or Exo Terra since that is what the pet stores near by carry.

If you haven't got a temperature gun yet you might want to get one. They are invaluable for getting your temps dialed. They run $20 and up. Available on Amazon.

I have a thermostat that regulates the temp on the warm side with a probe on the bottom of the tank.


On top of that I have:

Warm side (Digital)
1 ambient temp & 1 ambient humidity
1 substrate temp & 1 substrate humidity

Cold side (Digital)
1 ambient temp & 1 ambient humidity
1 substrate temp & 1 substrate humidity

Middle (Analog)
1 ambient temp & humidity

I just need a bulb with light so he doesn't sit in the dark. A little bit of heat because our house temp is pretty cold (69F) I like the digital screens that are always on better than temp guns because I can check everything by just glancing. And since there are like 6 separate ones, I'll notice if one starts getting wonky.

[Coluber42]

For ambient light, why don't you just get a cheap LED light or bulb or whatever and either use a timer or turn it on and off manually to provide some amount of day/night cycle? Then your lighting and heating can be controlled separately and you don't have to worry about having room for multiple different lamps and controlling them, etc.


Especially since you're likely to need to cover over a lot of the screen top in order to maintain humidity levels at least some of the time.

[Paty]

For ambient light, why don't you just get a cheap LED light or bulb or whatever and either use a timer or turn it on and off manually to provide some amount of day/night cycle? Then your lighting and heating can be controlled separately and you don't have to worry about having room for multiple different lamps and controlling them, etc.


Especially since you're likely to need to cover over a lot of the screen top in order to maintain humidity levels at least some of the time.

The LED wouldn't be adding any heat so I'd have to have a third dome on top for a heat source. The warm side has a UTH and a ceramic from the top. The heat+light dome would be on the cold side so that it's not AS cold and would also add light for the rest of the tank.