Lighting for new 8x2x2 enclosure

[FranklinRedfoot]

Franklin’s 8x2x2 PVC enclosure will be arriving soon, and I’m working on gathering all the necessary supplies. I’d appreciate your help with the setup!

The plan is to upgrade to an Arcadia T5 12% UVB bulb. Currently, he’s using a Desert 50 UVB T8 fluorescent bulb. For heating, we have one 100W ceramic heat emitter (CHE), but I’m concerned about maintaining consistent warmth across the entire enclosure. Should we add a secondary 60W CHE to ensure proper temperatures?

Additionally, I’m considering an LED strip for ambient lighting to brighten the space without adding excess heat. Let me know if you have recommendations or adjustments for this setup!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello! I would go with 3 CHEs of similar wattage, e.g. 100W for the long enclosure. Or 2 radiant heat panels. LEDs are definitely a good idea to provide more brightness and keep live plants in shape (if you have any). You can either use strip lights/bars/battens or just bulbs. Grow lights (like Arcadia Jungle Dawn, Sansi LED, Barrina etc.) work great too. It's better to shift lights towards one end to make 1/3 or 1/2 of the enclosure darker.

For UVB either 24W or 39W should be fine.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Aw lovely to see you back!! I take it the stock tank idea didn’t work out?

If I recall correctly, this enclosure has a mesh top? Guessing you’ve figured out a way to cover it

Hopefully Alex’s response above has helped answer your question! Excited for you

 

[FranklinRedfoot]

Aw lovely to see you back!! I take it the stock tank idea didn’t work out?

If I recall correctly, this enclosure has a mesh top? Guessing you’ve figured out a way to cover it

Hopefully Alex’s response above has helped answer your question! Excited for you

I was thinking long-term and ended up going with the PVC enclosure. I reached out to the company, and they actually provide humidity shields for the top. Now I’m just trying to figure out lighting and heating since I need to cover the full 8-foot length. In the future, I could potentially add another 4 feet.

 

[FranklinRedfoot]

Hello! I would go with 3 CHEs of similar wattage, e.g. 100W for the long enclosure. Or 2 radiant heat panels. LEDs are definitely a good idea to provide more brightness and keep live plants in shape (if you have any). You can either use strip lights/bars/battens or just bulbs. Grow lights (like Arcadia Jungle Dawn, Sansi LED, Barrina etc.) work great too. It's better to shift lights towards one end to make 1/3 or 1/2 of the enclosure darker.

For UVB either 24W or 39W should be fine.

Thank you for the info, Alex! I’m such a newbie—I had to Google what a radiant heat panel is. The UVB is 24 watts and 22 inches long. For heating, should I go with three 100W CHEs, or one 100W in the center and two 75W CHEs on each end? He definitely prefers the darker side, so I want to make sure the setup works for him.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I was thinking long-term and ended up going with the PVC enclosure. I reached out to the company, and they actually provide humidity shields for the top. Now I’m just trying to figure out lighting and heating since I need to cover the full 8-foot length. In the future, I could potentially add another 4 feet.

Aw that sounds fantastic! I love the fact you can build onto it!

I think Alex’s suggestion should work well for you, 3 100watts CHE’s, you could even try two first, one either end about a quarter in. But I’m thinking 3 will probably be better.

Thank you for the info, Alex! I’m such a newbie—I had to Google what a radiant heat panel is. The UVB is 24 watts and 22 inches long. For heating, should I go with three 100W CHEs, or one 100W in the center and two 75W CHEs on each end? He definitely prefers the darker side, so I want to make sure the setup works for him.

You want to ideally keep all the ceramics the same watt for a nice even heat distribution, these are the two scenarios I’m thinking for your lighting/bulbs


@Alex and the Redfoot let me know what think of those suggestions for placements above

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thank you for the info, Alex! I’m such a newbie—I had to Google what a radiant heat panel is. The UVB is 24 watts and 22 inches long. For heating, should I go with three 100W CHEs, or one 100W in the center and two 75W CHEs on each end? He definitely prefers the darker side, so I want to make sure the setup works for him.

I would use same wattage for all, evenly space around enclosure.

Cheaper variant of radiant heat panels are chicken coop heat panels from TractorSupply. I like panels more because of better heat distribution. But for a well-insulated enclosure or not very low room temperatures CHEs will work as well (and you already have one at hand).

With a 24W lamp you can place it in the middle of the enclosure. Like on this photo: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/what-are-good-redfoot-enclosures-for-inside.221999/#post-2163769

To make a more natural lightning you can add a LED bar along the UVB lamp (like on the sketches above) and some LED bulbs/spot lights near CHEs. I have these: https://www.sansiled.com/products/10w-full-spectrum-2-head-grow-lights-with-timer-no-timer (but basically any bulb will do).

 

[FranklinRedfoot]

Aw that sounds fantastic! I love the fact you can build onto it!

I think Alex’s suggestion should work well for you, 3 100watts CHE’s, you could even try two first, one either end about a quarter in. But I’m thinking 3 will probably be better.

You want to ideally keep all the ceramics the same watt for a nice even heat distribution, these are the two scenarios I’m thinking for your lighting/bulbs
View attachment 388317
View attachment 388318
@Alex and the Redfoot let me know what think of those suggestions for placements above

Thank you, as always I appreciate your visuals!

 

[wellington]

Don't forget a thermostat/rheostat for the heat.

 

[FranklinRedfoot]

I would use same wattage for all, evenly space around enclosure.

Cheaper variant of radiant heat panels are chicken coop heat panels from TractorSupply. I like panels more because of better heat distribution. But for a well-insulated enclosure or not very low room temperatures CHEs will work as well (and you already have one at hand).

With a 24W lamp you can place it in the middle of the enclosure. Like on this photo: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/what-are-good-redfoot-enclosures-for-inside.221999/#post-2163769

To make a more natural lightning you can add a LED bar along the UVB lamp (like on the sketches above) and some LED bulbs/spot lights near CHEs. I have these: https://www.sansiled.com/products/10w-full-spectrum-2-head-grow-lights-with-timer-no-timer (but basically any bulb will do).

Thank you for all the information, Alex.

 

[FranklinRedfoot]

Don't forget a thermostat/rheostat for the heat.

Do you have a link for one?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Do you have a link for one?

Inkbird thermostats work relatively well and are inexpensive. Like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DZ5NVBQ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 (they have several similar looking models - with WiFi, with heating/cooling function etc.) You need one thermostat and a power strip to connect all heaters.

 

[FranklinRedfoot]

Inkbird thermostats work relatively well and are inexpensive. Like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DZ5NVBQ/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 (they have several similar looking models - with WiFi, with heating/cooling function etc.) You need one thermostat and a power strip to connect all heaters.

A regular power strip or one with timers?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

A regular power strip or one with timers?

Just a regular one. A thermostat has 1-2 sockets, you connect a power strip to one of them and then ceramic heaters to the power strip. It's better to plug thermostat itself into a wall socket and not into another power strip or extension cord.

 

[GardiendeKoopa]

what did you end up doing for heat and how did it work out? Did you really need 3 heaters or was 1 or 2 enough?