Habitat - Indoor :: 100 or 160 watt MVB

[bently11]

What should I get, a 100 watt or 160 watt MVB? I'm wondering if the 160 watt will be too hot, but since it has to be 12 inches away, maybe not. Also, should I get self ballasted or external ballasted? What's the difference?

[Chrisbarnett]

I'm assuming for your 100 gallon stock tank? I would say to get the 160 watt. If you can have a 100 in a 55 gal, I would assume a 160 would be fine for a 100 gal tank.

[Daniel3507]

160 for sure. i have a 100 on my 55 gal and you will need the 160. not sure about your question about the ballast

[Daniel3507]

what brand of MVB are you getting? just curious

[bently11]

I'm going to try ordering a self ballasted 160 watt MVB. I'm ordering off reptileuv.com.

[marisa]

How warm is the room the tank will be in? In the winter months, when my turtles were in really cool rooms (two were in the basement, actually), I used 160-watt MVBs in 100-gallon stock tanks. The 160-watt MVBs give off more heat and need to be more like about 18 inches away from the basking area, the 100-watt ones should be 12 inches away (there is a slight range from those distances that that's acceptable, though).

[bently11]

It's going to be in my basement, I'm guessing around 65 degrees.