I haven't looked at a CHE yet....I have a 48" T8 fixture that I'd like to use. I'm planning on growing a few plants (tortoise safe and in pots) in the habitat as well. My latest thought is to do the following for lighting, but I'm open to other ideas/suggestions:
Use a couple of T8 led bulbs...
Now I'm leaning towards doing a t8 LED full spectrum bulb in the fixture, and adding a mercury vapor bulb for uva/uvb/basking needs. Any recommendations on the best valued mercury vapor bulb?
So I have a 4' T8 fixture that I wanted to repurpose for this enclosure...are these the best bulbs to get to put in it? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075M1BBD4/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
I know I would need a basking bulb of some sort, but these bulbs should cover the uva/uvb needs of the tortoise...
So something like this? https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gubler-4-Quart-Orchid-Potting-Mix/3629030 or this https://www.homedepot.com/p/Better-Gro-8-Qt-Orchid-Bark-50190/100166665
Some of them would be in that range, but a bunch of them are blue/purple lights that have a temperature in the 15000K range. I can take those out though...although the bulbs are pretty expensive ($24 each). If there is an equally good method of lighting it that wouldn't require 6 $24 bulbs, I'll...
Okay...another update with some more information:
1. I've been using these bulbs for my reeftank https://www.marinedepot.com/ATI_True_Actinic_03_T5HO_Fluorescent_Bulb_T5_Fluorescent_Light_Bulbs_for_Aquariums-ATI-UZ1117-FILTBUT5-vi.html and as you can see, there are 60" bulbs for it. Can I find...
Ok. After measuring the cabinet it sits in, I'm going to put a 8'x3.5' glass aquarium in the same space. It won't all show from the outside, but it will provide sufficient space for the tortoise. With that being said, what about all my questions? Only the size one has been answered. :D Thanks
We've had a 18"x22"x72" saltwater fish tank that is built into one of the walls of our home (it was there when we bought it). However, after 2.5 years of maintaining it, we have decided that it really isn't something we have a passion for, and thus, we don't want to continue spending money on...
I'm looking at a Greek tortoise that is already grown and is 4.5" (from a local rescue). Is that not enough surface area? During the warm months, it'll get out and roam around our boxed in garden.
We've had a 18"x22"x72" saltwater fish tank that is built into one of the walls of our home (it was there when we bought it). However, after 2.5 years of maintaining it, we have decided that it really isn't something we have a passion for, and thus, we don't want to continue spending money on...