Habitat - Indoor :: tank layout, need suggestions!

[Chibi_Sephiroth]

suggestion on like what brand or somethin?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... uvb100lamp


That is exactly what you need.

[SpotsMama]

I would. Your turtle will be fine for a few days with just the exo terra bulb.

(edit: that bulb xsavingssaturdayx recommended is perfect)

Don't forget you'll have to have a fixture for it too. The fixture doesn't have to be anything special, just a simple clamp fixture will do.

Now I'm going to complicate things again. A few people' have found that the light from the compact flourescent UVB bulbs is so intense it hurts their turtles' eyes and makes them swell. Ways to prevent this are: (1) be sure the bulb is the right distance from the basking area - not too far, not too close (2) if your bulb is pretty strong (like 10% UVB) don't get a fixture with a shiny reflective coating on the inside because it tends to concentrate the light and make it more intense and (3) as much as you can, angle the fixture so that the light shines directly down on the basking area rather than at an angle.

[Chibi_Sephiroth]

thanks for the help ^_^

[Chibi_Sephiroth]

I would. Your turtle will be fine for a few days with just the exo terra bulb.

(edit: that bulb xsavingssaturdayx recommended is perfect)

Don't forget you'll have to have a fixture for it too. The fixture doesn't have to be anything special, just a simple clamp fixture will do.

Now I'm going to complicate things again. A few people' have found that the light from the compact flourescent UVB bulbs is so intense it hurts their turtles' eyes and makes them swell. Ways to prevent this are: (1) be sure the bulb is the right distance from the basking area - not too far, not too close (2) if your bulb is pretty strong (like 10% UVB) don't get a fixture with a shiny reflective coating on the inside because it tends to concentrate the light and make it more intense and (3) as much as you can, angle the fixture so that the light shines directly down on the basking area rather than at an angle.

check out the picture on the first page is that alright?

[SpotsMama]

That looks like a good fixture with a ceramic base. Is the inside of it shiny?

[Chibi_Sephiroth]

its like shiny whiteish color

[SpotsMama]

Some of them are shiny like aluminum. Those are the ones that can concentrate the light. White inside shouldn't be an issue.

Here's a good setup that shows the two fixtures both pointing almost straight down:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8196

It looks like the one that's pointing most directly down is the UVB compact flourescent bulb. The other one that's at a slight angle is the heat bulb. I've seen people get pretty good angles with their clamp lamps, too, so I believe you'll be able to do it.

[Chibi_Sephiroth]

alrighty thats a sweet lamp layout i think i might just do that one lol thanks for the help

[N4784N R4613]

As long as your getting a bigger tank you could use this...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 006+113030

That bulb dose everything you need!! Just be shore that you get the flood and not the spot. And make sure your light fixture can handle the wattage. You can't use them with smaller tanks because it will over heat the whole tank!

Just another option, encase you don't want two bulbs.

Good luck with the new tank,

Nathan Radle.

[DavidY]

He he, to clear the mud up even more...UVB bulbs come in basically 3 varieties: flourescent, compact flourescent, and mercury vapor bulbs. That list is in order of price from low to high, but you also get what you pay for.

The flourescent bulb is a long tube that requires a special flourescent bulb fixture. It provides some UVB/UVA but only at short distances so it needs to be placed within 12 inches or less of the basking area. It also needs to be replaced regularly like every 6 months. This type of bulb will not provide any heat, so like SpotsMama said, you will still need a regular household lightbulb for heat. Make sure to get a bulb that specifically states that it provides UVB (not all bulbs say they provide UVA but it's pretty much implied since UVA is between UVB and visible light in the light spectrum). The Reptisun or Reptiglo bulbs are popular and come in different strengths, like 5.0, 8.0, and 10.0. The 5.0 bulbs are adequate for temperate zoned species like RES. The higher bulbs are more for desert and equatorial animals.

Compact flourescent bulbs are available with the standard incandescent screw type base that you can use in a normal light bulb reflector. These provide UVB/UVA much the same as the flourescent bulbs do, except they are more efficient at it and can project the radiation a little bit further, like an additional 3 inches. So they should be placed within 15 inches of the basking area, but the closer the better. Like normal flourescent bulbs, these do not provide heat.

Mercury vapor bulbs also use the standard screw type base but since they also generate so much heat, you need to make sure the reflector has a ceramic base and is rated for the higher wattage. These bulbs are best used for much larger setups and adult turtles since they provide UVB/UVA at a much higher dosage and are effective at further distances. Never put a mercury vapor bulb closer than 12 inches from the animal's skin (or your own for that matter) as it can cause skin damage. These bulbs generate some really nice heat and are ideal for reptile basking lamps since you only need the one bulb for UVB/UVA and heat. They also only need to be replaced every 12 to 14 months. But they are expensive, like $45 online, $60+ in stores.

Another important point, UVB/UVA cannot pass through glass or plastic so make sure you don't position your bulbs over any kind of solid cover. They should shine directly on the animal. Screen mesh will also diminish the effectiveness so take that into consideration as well. If you use a screen top, get one of the higher rated bulbs if using one of the flourescent kind (like the 8.0 or 10.0 instead of the 5.0).

Hope this didn't make things too confusing for you!

[SpotsMama]

Well said!

[Chibi_Sephiroth]

nice that explains it all i didnt know mud could be crystal clear XD

[fishandcandy]

Not to confuse you more... hopefully to clarify...
UVA and heat can be provided with regular lightbulbs or basking bulbs.
UVB can only be provided by special UVB bulbs or unfiltered sunshine.
UVB bulbs also provide UVA rays but they do not provide heat.