will this work?

[HtVic]

I really don't know how much UVB can it get if I make it like this
the cardboard I use is for retaining heat and humi, soon I am going to change plywood.

by the way, this is 10.0 48" repti uvb tube from exo terra

 

[Zamric]

I use the 24" vertion of this bulb and it is 12" above the substrate but I eliminated the screen because it will reduce the UV....

 

[HtVic]

I need the screen for locks, because I have cat and children will be very playful
Should I extend the hours of operating the UV light, normally 12-14hrs, I will extend 2 hour more, or 3...is that ok?
also, I think I am going to make the substrate higher, like 3-5inch high, so between light and surface of substrate is 13-14 inch
will this work

 

[Zamric]

check the packaging for height-vs-UV Levels. I have mine set at 12" up and that just barely gives me 50% UV lvls. this is reduced even more with a screen... at 13"-14" plus a screen you might be getting 30-40%...maybe of maximum UV output for your light.

 

[ascott]

Can you make a screen lid out of chicken wire size material? Then you should be fine...that would give you the top to keep the cat out

 

[HtVic]

it doesn't say height and uv levels
it says that effective up to 20", Recommended for use with screened terrariums; terrariums with dense screen covers (screens can filter out UVB rays)Dense screens can filter out up to 50% of the UVB rays.

 

[Zamric]

no chart? 20" only gives MAYBE 25% UVB (tho i belive it's more like 15%) and if you reduce that by 50% then you just as well use a regular bulb.

This is one reason most keepers use a MVB (Mercury Vapor Bulb). It puts UVB at full strenth exactly where you want them, it just doesn't give a wide area of effect, more of a wide beam but they are quite expencive ($40+)

 

[Len B]

If the light will fit in the tank by going from corner to corner you can place it under the screen, I had to do this once, I put pieces of a yard stick on top of the screen so that they were not blocking the heat vents on the fixture and used lite weight crafting wire to secure the fixture to the screen from under neath, the yard stick keeps from damaging the screen. The screen will set up a little where the electric wire comes out though.I had one of those with the sliding top so I could only open it halve way,and I was using a 24in bulb in a 36in tank so I could hang it straight across. It's an idea. Len

 

[HtVic]

If the light will fit in the tank by going from corner to corner you can place it under the screen, I had to do this once, I put pieces of a yard stick on top of the screen so that they were not blocking the heat vents on the fixture and used lite weight crafting wire to secure the fixture to the screen from under neath, the yard stick keeps from damaging the screen. The screen will set up a little where the electric wire comes out though.I had one of those with the sliding top so I could only open it halve way,and I was using a 24in bulb in a 36in tank so I could hang it straight across. It's an idea. Len

do you have a picture that can show me, that would great

 

[Zamric]

I know it wasn't me you asked, but this was my solution..

that is Aluminum Foil (x2 layers) glued (3M Spray Adhesive) to the underside for reflection and to protect the wood from condisation.

 

[HtVic]

and i am using a 48in bulb, so pretty difficult to do that.
if I cut several holes, smaller so hands couldnt fit in, but big enough for the uvb light go through,would it work?
or the other way, I will just use mvb and this tube fixture at the same time, however, if I use mvb, it's still placing on top the screen, I can hanging it inside, but that way, it will be either too hot, or too low

---

thanks Zamric, what a nice person you are...
lol.....it doesn't matter, I am glad that you guys can help me out...
can you lock this thing up?

 

[Zamric]

It is made of 1/2 plywood and with the lights on top of it, it has some pretty good weight. You will notice that I notched out around the "Locks" and with the wire catches positioned as they are (I can lower the light even further if need be) they hold the lights in place and i can tilt up and down so I can open and close without removing completely.

BTW that "brace" across the top is needed to prevent warping!