Habitat - Indoor :: same old uvb light question

[rucku3226]

ok i have had my two res for about 7 or 8 months now.. i just put them in a 55 gallon tank.. they LOVE it, the only thing is i have one basking lamp.. its made by zoomed heres a link..http://www.zoomed.com/html/basking_spot_lamp.php

i cant find anywhere on this sight or on the box what the percentage rate it for the UVA, also i have it setting on top of a mesh or screen top, its metal.. but i can still feel the heat inside..

thats on one side of the tank... on the other side of my tank i have one of the regular hoods, with the flourescent lightbulb in it that it came with.. is this ok? just to provide more light so i can see em, etc..

i know i have to get a UVB bulb, they both have to be on at the same time above the basking area, not a problem, but i am using one of those metal flood light type deals, like a clamp light, instead of using two of those, can i use something like this?
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... 9303011681

id have to buy the flourescent uvb bulb, and put my standard bulb, in it too, i think thats what it has.. also i have seen them to have two bulbs in them one for night one for day etc, is it possible to use something like that with both bulbs in it? or is it better just to get another clamp light and put a uvb bulb in it? thanks for the help

[jenaero]

I'm not familiar with either of those types of bulbs, but I saw nothing about uvb for either of them.

I use one bulb in a clamp lamp. Here's a link to it

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780759&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030094&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1129303422794

Easier than using 2 different contraptions for lighting. As for a night light, it's really not necessary. My turts are fine in complete darkness for the night

[rucku3226]

THANKS!! thats what i was looking for something with both of them in it.. let me ask you i have my clamp light, with no clamp on it simply sitting on top of a mesh type deal, well its like metal screen top, is this ok, or should i cut a hole in the top of it?

[marisa]

The ESU light says full spectrum, which doesn't mean that it gives off UVB rays (the package should say if does if it is one).

How big is your tank? Be aware that combination UVB/UVA mercury vapor lights give off a lot of heat and aren't really recommended for tanks smaller than around 50 gallons. (It's too difficult to regulate the temp in smaller tanks.) If, on the other hand, you do have a larger tank and don't mind the higher price, they're good. (Make sure they're placed in a porcelain/ceramic socket.)

[sonyj]

If the holes in the mesh are big enough it would be fine. I'm thinking nothing less than 1/4" to 1/2" for the holes but I may be wrong. If they are too small it will just filtr out the UVB rays.

[rucku3226]

i have a 55 gallon tank at the moment, my res are both about 4 inches long.. yes i know i need a bigger tank, most of the 150 gallon tanks i have looked at are too tall, same length as a 55.

i do have another question, i found this uva/uvb bulb, on petco.com, heres the link

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx? ... =0&Ntt=uvb

would this work? it says it gives off the 30% uva and 10% uvb, my question is it says its 26 watts. does it get hot, as if i can use it for a basking light too? or would i have to use both. i know with the t-rex, i can use it as a basking light too. please help me out before i waste money

[sonyj]

The only bulb that can be used as a basking and UVB light is the T-rex mercury vapor light. This light you're asking about is just a UVB light; it doesn't produce heat.

[marisa]

Correction to to above comment---the T-Rex is not the only bulb of that type on the market...

Ruckus, the link you gave showed the Reptisun UVB compact flourescent. You can get it with either 5% UVB output or 10% output, either is OK for your turtle. Be aware that to be most effective they should be used in a clamp lamp (positioned horizontally, not hung vertically). My experience with them is that they tend to be fragile.

[sonyj]

Sorry, Marisa I didn't mean the t-rex was the only mercury vapor bulb, but that mercury vapor was the only combo bulb and T-rex was a particular brand. Got into too big of a hurry. Thanks for clarifying.

[wendell]

Correction to to above comment---the T-Rex is not the only bulb of that type on the market...

Ruckus, the link you gave showed the Reptisun UVB compact flourescent. You can get it with either 5% UVB output or 10% output, either is OK for your turtle. Be aware that to be most effective they should be used in a clamp lamp (positioned horizontally, not hung vertically). My experience with them is that they tend to be fragile.

I am upgrading and have a new tank 14 1/2" H x 15 1/2" W x36"L, 81/2" water depth. I dont know how to figure out the # of gallons but is this enough for two turtles, one 9" long and one 5" long including head and tail? I want to get a reptisun 5.0 lamp for my turtles for the uvb. What receptacle do you recommend for the 5.0 bulb and does it provide basking as well? (are these made to fit into the plastic tank hood that I allready have?). I looked at the zoo med clamp lamp and stand and I also looked at some really nice zoo med delux slider hoods on the internet that are pricey but look very good. (we have no good petstores here!) Please clarify the horizontal/vertical positioning as I dont quite understand. Basically I'm asking for advice on the very best, safest and easiest setup available. Thanks for your help!!

[sonyj]

Using the tank calculator on the main site it looks like it's about 35 gallons if I did it right. 10 gallons per inch of turtle is what you need to look into getting. This is especially important with multiple turtles in the same tank to insure there are no territorial issues that can occur if they are housed in an inadequate tank size. To measure your turtles use SCL (straight carapace length) which is from tip to tip of shell not including the curve length wise. Then add that together and you'll know what size tank you'll need. And remember that as your turtles grow their enclosure or tank must grow as well. Right now you will probably be need at least a 120 gallon to house both of them together.

When you get their new tank be sure to fill the water up as much as you can to the top leaving enough space that they will not escape. RES love to swim.

If you use a hood that goes to an aquarium for your UVB light (like the one you mentioned above) be sure that the placstic covering is removed and it is positioned directly over the basking area. There should not be anything between the light (screen,glass, plastic) and the basking area. Along with your UVB light you will have to provide a basking (heat) light as well, which can be a regular household bulb.

[marisa]

Wendell, to figure the amount of gallons of the tank the old-fashioned way, multiply length X width X depth in inches and divide by 231. You have an approximately 35-gallon tank. this would be OK for one turtle having a shell lengh of about 3.5 inches, or two smaller turts having combined shell lengths of 3.5 inches. Yours sound like they're bigger than that, so the tank sounds like it's really too small...

You're planning to get the Reptisun 5.0 compact flourescent and not the 5.0 tube? I mentioned horizontal positioning in a clamp lamp with the compact flourescent because that is what the mfgr. recommends--by hanging them UVB light is being wasted. Using the dome reflector will maximize UVB output as well. (In contrast, mercury vapor lights are designed to be hung vertically.) They are cool burning (as flourescents are) so you need to use an additional heat source like a lightbulb, which can be clamped or hung. You'd have to check with the seller to find out if they'd fit into the hood you have. I've heard a few good things about the slider hoods--bulbs can be screwed in both vertically and horizontally?

[wendell]

Thanks all for your help! Obviously I better figure out how to accomodate a bigger aquarium ASAP!! Any comment as to glass or plexi? Plexi would certainly be easier to haul up the stairs. Next I have to figure out some kind of support stand, and how I can find the space! A local person can probably make it for me. What a shock that what I thought was a BIG aquarium is only 35 gal! In the interim maybe I will try adding more water (currently only 8 1/2 inches high for the 14 1/2 inch aquarium height) and build up an enclosure around the basking surface. I try really hard to create an optimum lifestyle for the pets that have come into my care and I'm pretty upset that these turtles arent getting it!

[marisa]

You're going to improve their lifestyle and that's good. Adding more water is a good start.

Glass is heavier as you noted, but it also won't scratch like plexiglass/acrylic tanks will. The prices I've seen of acrylic tanks also seemed to be more than the glass ones. As an alternative, there are also containers like stock tanks and preformed ponds, which would give your turtles much more space, are sturdy and cheaper than tanks.