General Care Discussion :: What the!? It's melting? (More assistance welcome)

[alkaiser]

On two occasions have I seen plastic melt on my aquarium. Well I suppose melt isn't the proper term because had it been fully melted it would have dripped into the water. (Scared yet? Imagine how I feel, or yet, my turtle)

No, what happened is that somehow, the plastic on my UVB light strip entered a semi-liquid state and caused weird ripples and bumps to appear on the plastic. (It was badly warped on the corner that the Basking Light indirectly shines on)

If that's not enough the metal screen also seemed to be a bit warped.

This really confuses me, I mean, I was using the proper lighting and wattage, what could cause the UVB or Basking light to heat up so high to warp metal and plastic?

My basking light in general isn't really as hot as a normal lightbulb, and when I set my hand down on the dock I can't really feel much heat so I know that the tempreture is appropriate. (My turtle agrees as he enjoys his basking time)

Just what is going on here?

I have a 75w clamp lamp and a 75w reptile basking light. My UVB is just the one lightbulb on the flourescent strip, not sure of the wattage ATM but I wouldn't have set it up without checking and I know it's definently what it should be.



I'm scared to use the lights now, as I'm not sure what danger it could bring to him. I only use one light at a time now, whether that be good or bad at least it's safer. (Give him some hours of basking and then I'll turn on the uvb and the basking off)

[alkaiser]

The tempreture in the tank isn't near as hot as it is outside.

Maybe theres some kind of greenhouse effect that makes that room really hot like in a car..

I'm so puzzled.

[alkaiser]

My tank heater is a submersible water heater.

I'm not sure of my temprature anywhere, really, because my digital thermometer broke when I had it and those crystal ones don't really work that well. All I can tell is the relative temprature, and well, I'm fairly good at knowing what feels appropriate after sticking my hands in the tank so many times.

(I know this sounds silly, but really I try not to make it feel hot or cold just warm at the dock and cool in the water I have gotten excellent at judging this)

I'm getting a thermometer ASAP

[cam722]

ok, I'm confused, you said the lights were melting the plastic on your light but then said you have clamp lamps.. how can that be? UVB shouldn't be throwing off heat, if it is, then it's either not a UVB light or it's a combo UVA/UVB. If you have some sort of cover on your tank, like lids they use for fish tanks, yes that would create a sort of greenhouse affect. If I close the door to the room my turtles are in, it becomes very humid in there from the water evaporating.

As for using one light at a time, that's rather defeating the purpose of having them for basking, they need both the UVB (non-heat) and the UVA (heat) for basking. One to help metabolize the calicum and the other for heat to dry them off and to help induce them to bask.

[missibsu]

I use one of the aquarium strip lights for my UVB bulb and I use a regular clamp light for my heat. I know that if I get the clamp light too close to the other light that it will melt. Because it's the heat getting too close to the plastic. I've done that twice now. I'm not sure if this is what you are describing or not. Also, what kind of cover do you have?

[khobbs]

I had one of those strip UVB lights over my basking area and then a clamp lamp in front of it for heat. Well, where the clamp light was shining on the plastic of the strip light. I guess that the heat was melting it. So I took it back and got one of those compact flourescent bulbs and a clamp lamp and it's been fine since then.

[alkaiser]

ok, I'm confused, you said the lights were melting the plastic on your light but then said you have clamp lamps.. how can that be? UVB shouldn't be throwing off heat, if it is, then it's either not a UVB light or it's a combo UVA/UVB. If you have some sort of cover on your tank, like lids they use for fish tanks, yes that would create a sort of greenhouse affect. If I close the door to the room my turtles are in, it becomes very humid in there from the water evaporating.

As for using one light at a time, that's rather defeating the purpose of having them for basking, they need both the UVB (non-heat) and the UVA (heat) for basking. One to help metabolize the calicum and the other for heat to dry them off and to help induce them to bask.

I just don't want to endanger my turtle.

Anyways, I have a clamp light and a plastic strip, like most turtle owners. One is UVA and one is UVB. The plastic strip may use some UVA too but I can't generally find strip lights without UVA included.

All I know is, I came home one day and I noticed his lights were off, so I thought to myself that I might have forgot to turn them off in the morning. When I checked the plastic was warped.

I have a metal screen, thats all I know how to use to keep the light strip from falling in. I mean, I have a clamp on filter so I don't know what else I can use...

[alkaiser]

I use one of the aquarium strip lights for my UVB bulb and I use a regular clamp light for my heat. I know that if I get the clamp light too close to the other light that it will melt. Because it's the heat getting too close to the plastic. I've done that twice now. I'm not sure if this is what you are describing or not. Also, what kind of cover do you have?

Thats exactly my problem.

I just don't understand how the plastic can have such a low melting point I mean I hardly feel a difference temprature wise (Over-distance)

I don't have a cover, I have a metal screen found for terrariums and that sort of thing. I keep part of it on to support the light strip. I don't know how to get a turtle tank hood that supports aquaclear filters, submersible heaters, and won't clamp down wires and stuff.

I have a problem shopping for hoods, I mean, why is it so hard.

[alkaiser]

Hope I don't sound too demanding!

You've all been a lot of help so far but I just need a little more information regarding hoods and light placement.

I should just take a deep breathe and keep listening.

[missibsu]

The hood that I have over my tank is glass. It is in two sections and each section has a hing for lifting up to feed. My strip light is placed across the area with the hinges. It holds two lights. On one side I have a regular aquarium light and on the other I have the UVB. That side also has the small section of glass removed so that it doesn't filter the UVB. So, the strip light is across the front of the aquarium. Now, my clamp light is fastened to the back of the aquarium and shining forward, through the glass to the basking dock. It is also aimed somewhat at the hood, but is far enough away that it isn't melting. That part was trial and error, which is why I have already melted the light once.

I question your use of a screen, because unless the holes are huge you could be filtering the uvb. Also, they make the strip lights in different lengths, so you should be able to find one that fits over your aquarium without falling in.

If you would like to see pics of the top of my set up, let me know. I will take and post some.

[alkaiser]

The hood that I have over my tank is glass. It is in two sections and each section has a hing for lifting up to feed. My strip light is placed across the area with the hinges. It holds two lights. On one side I have a regular aquarium light and on the other I have the UVB. That side also has the small section of glass removed so that it doesn't filter the UVB. So, the strip light is across the front of the aquarium. Now, my clamp light is fastened to the back of the aquarium and shining forward, through the glass to the basking dock. It is also aimed somewhat at the hood, but is far enough away that it isn't melting. That part was trial and error, which is why I have already melted the light once.

I question your use of a screen, because unless the holes are huge you could be filtering the uvb. Also, they make the strip lights in different lengths, so you should be able to find one that fits over your aquarium without falling in.

If you would like to see pics of the top of my set up, let me know. I will take and post some.

The screen never really bothered me, I mean, it seems to me like 80% of the light would make it. I have cats so getting a strip light and placing it over the top would be too great a risk for me.

(They usually leave him alone but they have been known to jump on the tank/top of filter if they get bored. He's perfectly safe though since most of the time they just lay down on the screen and sleep.)

Most of the time they'll just watch him from the side and he'll show off.

[missibsu]

I have a couple of cats. One day I was filling my 30 gallon with the fish and Ivan decided he was going to check out the stuff inside. He jumped up and there wasn't a lid. Needless to say, I can't even hold him near that tank now. He totally freaks. Neither of the cats have shown an interest with being on top of the tank. But even if they did, the hood that I have fits over the top, so there is no risk of it falling in. That was my point in mentioning that before. If you have one that properly fits your tank, then it shouldn't be an issue. Cats or not. Really don't know overall though. I have thought about doing different things with my tank, and I feel so limited because of the lighting. So, I understand to some extent.

[vieniebebe]

My sides melted because of the basking lamp, and that caused Vien to jump out of her aquarium and go for a walk in the middle of the night.