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I have a clamp lamp but I need it on something more sturdy tahn my bed's headboard. I tried home Depot, Lowes and Walmart and I can't find a small stand to set it on for him. Does anyone know anything I can buy to set on my nighstand that the tank is on to put near his tank so I can attach the light to it? I am afraid that the light now may fall off and catch my bed on fire from the light bulb.

Do you have a screen on your tank? I think its easier setting the lights on top of the screen..

The problem with doing that is that unless the holes in the screen are large enough, it filters out some of the UVB/UVA rays.

Zoo Med carries a lamp stand...
http://www.zoomed.com/html/lamp_stand.php

I cut little holes in the screen on my tank top. Then I clamp the lamp to the side of the tank, using the little hole for one side. (quite pleased with myself for this discovery!)

right cam, it has to be 1/2 inch right?

Hoooneylynn wrote:right cam, it has to be 1/2 inch right?

psstt.. my name is Carol cam are my initials

I believe it has to be at least 1/2" but not too sure on that because I've never used it for my turtles

How big is the tank? You might consider the lamp stand mentioned above, but if you use two lights (heat source and UVB) one of them is still going to have to be attached to the tank, unless you get two stands; but if you use reflector domes and have a smaller tank, they're going to get in the way of each other.

For screens, the smaller the holes, the more UVB rays are screened out. The regular screens that you buy for tanks (which I think are about 2/8 - 3/8") are supposed to screen out about 30% of the UVB rays. (This to me is a waste of money and UVB rays.)

Hardware cloth (mesh you can buy in rolls to make screen tops/covers, usually for outdoor setups) with 1/2" holes is frequently suggested as a good size to allow sufficient UVB rays from the sun in. The 1/2" size isn't mandatory, but is obviously better. All screens will screen out at least some UVB rays.

I have 1/4" hardware cloth and you said it filters our 30% of the UVB, I'm not too worried since I plan on using the Active U.V. heat and that lamp puts out a ton of UVB from what I've heard. Is this true or do I need to get a new cover form my turtles to be healthy?

sorry Carol!

Does anybody have a source or article or something leading to where this screen/filter myth came from? Just curious... I've never heard of screen filtering UV light before.

megcornell wrote:Does anybody have a source or article or something leading to where this screen/filter myth came from? Just curious... I've never heard of screen filtering UV light before.

Filtering UV light has been used for decades by photographers. When taking pictures, it is necessary to filter out UV rays to prevent overexposures with certain colors. Photographers realized that using UV filters prevented these overexposures and color problems.

From Wikipedia.com:

The range of UV wavelengths is:
UVA (400–315)
UVB (315–280)
UVC (< 280)

The Sun emits ultraviolet radiation in the UVA, UVB, and UVC bands, but because of absorption in the atmosphere's ozone layer, 99% of the ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is UVA. Ordinary window glass passes about 90% of the light above 350, but blocks over 90% of the light below 300.

Since most UVB bulbs are less than 200 in wavelengths (for health safety reasons, I think), glass and mesh screens will filter the light. Mesh screens with holes less than 1/8 inch will filter 30% of UVB rays; that is why it is recommended to have mesh with holes that are 1/2 inches for reptiles that need UVB.

Hope this helps!

There has been actual studies, but unfortunately I don't have any links. Screens have been proven the block out UVB and you'll need a UVB meter to test it yourself. If I come across any links, I'll be sure to post them!