Creating Large Closed Chamber

[roxannew]

I just splurged and got a 8 x 2.5 (2 feet high) closed chamber for my 1.5 yr-old Burmese Star. I want to make sure I have the lighting/heat fixtures mounted correctly when I assemble it. What do I need where? Best place for basking bulb, CHE, UBV strip, and any additional lighting? I have had him for six months in a closed 4 x 2, with basking bulb on one end, CHE in the middle, UVB spanning most of enclosure, using the the 80/80 method I read about on her, with the thermostat in the middle. I know it's not ideal, but I've been leaving the UVB strip on all day for lighting.

Can someone tell me proper wattages, size of strips, and placement of UVB, and where to add florescent strips in an 8 foot long chamber?

 

[Tom]

I just splurged and got a 8 x 2.5 (2 feet high) closed chamber for my 1.5 yr-old Burmese Star. I want to make sure I have the lighting/heat fixtures mounted correctly when I assemble it. What do I need where? Best place for basking bulb, CHE, UBV strip, and any additional lighting? I have had him for six months in a closed 4 x 2, with basking bulb on one end, CHE in the middle, UVB spanning most of enclosure, using the the 80/80 method I read about on her, with the thermostat in the middle. I know it's not ideal, but I've been leaving the UVB strip on all day for lighting.

Can someone tell me proper wattages, size of strips, and placement of UVB, and where to add florescent strips in an 8 foot long chamber?

Here is a breakdown of the four heating and lighting essentials:

1. Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent floods from the hardware store. Some people will need bigger, or smaller wattage bulbs. Let your thermometer be your guide. I run them on a timer for about 12 hours and adjust the height to get the correct basking temp under them. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb. You need to check the temp with a thermometer directly under the bulb and get it to around 95-100F (36-37C).
2. Ambient heat maintenance. I use ceramic heating elements or radiant heat panels set on thermostats to maintain ambient above 80 degrees day and night for tropical species. In most cases you'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT, as long as your house stays above 60F (15-16C) at night. Some people in colder climates or with larger enclosures will need multiple CHEs or RHPs to spread out enough heat.
3. Ambient light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish. Strip or screw-in LED bulb types are both fine.
4. UV. If you can get your tortoise outside for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, you won't need indoor UV. In colder climates, get one of the newer HO type fluorescent tubes. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. I like the 12% HO bulbs from Arcadia. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html A good UV bulb only needs to run for 2-3 hours mid day. You need the basking bulb and the ambient lighting to be on at least 12 hours a day.

Basking bulb and UV tube should be on one end mounted close together.

CHE should be in the middle to evenly disperse the heat. In an 8 foot enclosure, you will likely need two of them to spread the heat out. I prefer two RHPs for this application.

You need LED lighting throughout to make it look bright and "sunny" during the day.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

In this thread there are some layouts and discussion about placement of lights, used equipment etc.

8*4 enclosure lighting

We're in the process of buying lights for my new Aldabra enclosure. Arcadia LumenIZE is a good (though expensive) product line; I wish it had been available for my Boxie's stock tank (JUN 2023). Little Aldabra's enclosure will be slightly larger (96" x 48" x 48") and require more lighting...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[roxannew]

Here is a breakdown of the four heating and lighting essentials:

1. Basking bulb. I use 65 watt incandescent floods from the hardware store. Some people will need bigger, or smaller wattage bulbs. Let your thermometer be your guide. I run them on a timer for about 12 hours and adjust the height to get the correct basking temp under them. I also like to use a flat rock of some sort directly under the bulb. You need to check the temp with a thermometer directly under the bulb and get it to around 95-100F (36-37C).
2. Ambient heat maintenance. I use ceramic heating elements or radiant heat panels set on thermostats to maintain ambient above 80 degrees day and night for tropical species. In most cases you'd only need day heat for a temperate species like Testudo or DT, as long as your house stays above 60F (15-16C) at night. Some people in colder climates or with larger enclosures will need multiple CHEs or RHPs to spread out enough heat.
3. Ambient light. I use LEDs for this purpose. Something in the 5000-6500K color range will look the best. Most bulbs at the store are in the 2500K range and they look yellowish. Strip or screw-in LED bulb types are both fine.
4. UV. If you can get your tortoise outside for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, you won't need indoor UV. In colder climates, get one of the newer HO type fluorescent tubes. Which type will depend on mounting height. 5.0 bulbs make almost no UV. I like the 12% HO bulbs from Arcadia. You need a meter to check this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html A good UV bulb only needs to run for 2-3 hours mid day. You need the basking bulb and the ambient lighting to be on at least 12 hours a day.

Basking bulb and UV tube should be on one end mounted close together.

CHE should be in the middle to evenly disperse the heat. In an 8 foot enclosure, you will likely need two of them to spread the heat out. I prefer two RHPs for this application.

You need LED lighting throughout to make it look bright and "sunny" during the day.

Thank you! I'm sure you've posted that elsewhere, but I couldn't find it! You guys are the best!

 

[Tom]

Thank you! I'm sure you've posted that elsewhere, but I couldn't find it! You guys are the best!

You are welcome. We want pictures! Sounds like a fantastic enclosure.

 

[brandikeira5]

I just splurged and got a 8 x 2.5 (2 feet high) closed chamber for my 1.5 yr-old Burmese Star. I want to make sure I have the lighting/heat fixtures mounted correctly when I assemble it. What do I need where? Best place for basking bulb, CHE, UBV strip, and any additional lighting? I have had him for six months in a closed 4 x 2, with basking bulb on one end, CHE in the middle, UVB spanning most of enclosure, using the the 80/80 method I read about on her, with the thermostat in the middle. I know it's not ideal, but I've been leaving the UVB strip on all day for lighting.

Can someone tell me proper wattages, size of strips, and placement of UVB, and where to add florescent strips in an 8 foot long chamber?

Where did you get it? I am new and having a hard time finding one already made.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Oooo please post pictures when it’s done!