Equipment Review and Discussion :: where to place reptisun 5.0 UVB lamp (safe spot found!)

[Raphulk]

so today i purchased a 24 inch 20 watt reptisun 5.0 UVB bulb.
the only problem i have is where im going to put it.


my first idea was to just put it on top where the tank is, but ive read that putting it too close to the turtles can be harmful to them. its about 4 - 5 inches from the top of the tank to their basking area.

and i thought maybe if i put in on glass then it wouldnt penetrate has powerfully but i also read that the UVB rays become non beneficial through the glass.

i wish they had it in a clamp but what i got is a strip bulb so its long ways.

anybody have trouble? the tank im using is about 20 gallons and im planning on upgrading in the next half year.

anybody have any ideas on how to effectively put my light over the tank without harming my two turts?

EDIT: so it took me about 20 minutes to figure something out.

walla!
eggcrate cover on each side. and two la salsa (large haha) cups for a stand. its perfect. the bulb is 12 inches away from water surface as it says is the max on the box the bulb came in

[TheComputerGremlin]

I would take that 24 inch tube bulb back and buy a compact fluorescent ReptiGlo 5.0 26 W bulb. Those fit in regular fixtures, or fixtures you can buy at the pet store. The tube fluorescents are difficult to set up unless you have experience with it.

I have the compact fluorescent, it is easy to find a place for it. Oh, and on the box, it will tell you how far away it needs to be. I believe the compact fluorescent needs to be less than 12" away.

[Raphulk]

thanks for the advice. id still like to make an attempt with this one before i give up on it.

[Raphulk]

i think what im going to do is use eggcrate to cover two sides of my tank and then make some kind of stand on top of them so the hood lamp can lay on it and therefore it isnt as close to the water!

[PcBuilder14]

That's cool! Also how do them corner basking areas work compared to the turtle dock?

[Raphulk]

its almost the exact same thing, its just not on the side, just in a corner ahha. the only thing that was a problem with both the dock and the corner thing is that the suction cups become less adhesive after a while, but a daily check on them is fine. my turtles loved both kinds.

[PcBuilder14]

Okay, cool.

[Starchick]

If you can make the fluorescent tube work, they are supposedly safer and more effective than the compact fluorescents. I've been using the compacts for a while and haven't had any troubles, but I don't see any reason to switch if what you're doing is working for you.

[marisa]

Reptisun tube flourescents are good. I have to say, from the picture, though, that having it on those inverted cups like that seems a little precarious to me.

The UVB light should be as much over the basking area as possible along with the heat light. Can you somehow place it kitty-corner over the basking area or move the basking area under it? It can be 6-8 inches from your basking turtle.

[Raphulk]

hmm. good point. ill have to think of some way to successfully do that...


its hard for me to find the sweet spot of where my UVB lamp shines. the most logical i guess would be wherever the center of the bulb is shining on, but the lamp doesnt seem that strong (is that normal? its 5.0 UVB 20 watt) i think i might have to shine it closer but im not familiar with UVB at all. all i know is that the turtles need it, and im trying to supply it to them.

does anyone here actually have the reptisun tube flourescents? and maybe lend me some advice or tips on how they successfully set theirs up?

EDIT: so i came up with one idea that i have not put to use, but maybe others opinions would lock it in place.


so ive been thinking about making an above tank basking area for a while (fashioning my own). if i did that it would most likely take up the enitire top part of the tank. do the turtles need like to see underwater? if not ill probably just keep both the UVA and UVB lights over top where their basking areas are and absolutley no light peaking into their tank.

so would this be okay for them? all of their light source would be from the basking (if i did that idea)

[Starchick]

I have a few different above tank basking areas, and at least a little light always filters down. Between that and ambient light in the room they're probably going to be fine.