What’s the difference and is this ok?

Slbrlb

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Two part question… what is the difference in using the deep dome vs the work light (first pic). Does one project heat better than the other?

Also is it okay to leave the uvb tube light fixture on top of the enclosure like this? (Second pic) The ends slightly hang off.

Thank you.
 

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Lyn W

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I believe deep domes can cause bulbs to over heat and burn out more quickly. I've always used wide reflector domes to spread the heat/light so I'm not speaking from personal experience.
 

ZEROPILOT

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The smaller dome is for less wattage heat lamps. It has a smaller heat projection area and can make higher wattage bulbs burn hotter and fail.
Any UVB source loses most of its usefulness going through a screen. And the type of UV bulb that screws into those fixtures should not be used for a tortoise. Especially not in that type of fixture and in that orientation.
Use a T5 HO florescent strip lamp.
A T5 HO strip florescent will lose about 50% of its effectiveness going through a screen top. But still be useful because of the extra power. And is both reliable and safe.
 
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Slbrlb

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The smaller dome is for less wattage heat lamps. It has a smaller heat projection area and can make higher wattage. bulbs burn hotter and fail
Any UVB source loses most of its usefulness going through a screen. And the type of UV bulb that screws into those fixtures should not be used for a tortoise.
Use a T5 HO florescent strip lamp
This is a T5 HO and will be directly above the open top. It hangs over slightly so I wasn’t sure if that would be an issue. The other one I’m using an incandescent but deciding between the deep dome or work light fixture.
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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This is a T5 HO and will be directly above the open top. It hangs over slightly so I wasn’t sure if that would be an issue. The other one I’m using an incandescent but deciding between the deep dome or work light fixture.
Gotcha
An HO T5 10.0 can provide useful levels of uvb through a screen.
You'll be fine at 12".
I'm using an educated guess since that's what I use for my chameleons.
To be certain youd need a 6.5 UV meter such as the one that Josh's Frogs sells.
For a 50 or 60 watt Incandescent bulb, that small dome can work. The heated area will be smaller. With the larger dome and a 75 or 100 watt incandescent bulb, the heated area will be larger and the heat will be greater overall.
Are you going to use a CHE for night heat?
I reccomend the larger type dome for that also.
 

Slbrlb

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Gotcha
An HO T5 10.0 can provide useful levels of uvb through a screen.
You'll be fine at 12".
I'm using an educated guess since that's what I use for my chameleons.
To be certain youd need a 6.5 UV meter such as the one that Josh's Frogs sells.
For a 50 or 60 watt Incandescent bulb, that small dome can work. The heated area will be smaller. With the larger dome and a 75 or 100 watt incandescent bulb, the heated area will be larger and the heat will be greater overall.
Are you going to use a CHE for night heat?
I reccomend the larger type dome for that also.
Thank you! I will use the larger dome with a 65 watt incandescent. I do have a Che but I have the wire cage light that was recommended for it. I think I will be using the Che 24/7 because I can’t get the temps up with just the incandescent.

Another question I have about temps is my thermometer is just above the substrate and the readings I get are significantly lower than the temp I get when pointing my infared thermometer directly at the substrate. I don’t want to keep increasing the temp if the substrate is at a good temp. Thoughts??
 

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REDFOOT WRANGLER
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Thank you! I will use the larger dome with a 65 watt incandescent. I do have a Che but I have the wire cage light that was recommended for it. I think I will be using the Che 24/7 because I can’t get the temps up with just the incandescent.

Another question I have about temps is my thermometer is just above the substrate and the readings I get are significantly lower than the temp I get when pointing my infared thermometer directly at the substrate. I don’t want to keep increasing the temp if the substrate is at a good temp. Thoughts??
The handheld unit shows the actual temperature of the spot where the tortoise is contacting.
The other one is measuring ambient air temperature.
The handheld thermometer is the reading that counts most
 
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