Enclosure lighting

[Jdubclark]

With the Reptisun 10.0 you can go with a fairly tall enclosure. Are you mounting it on the inside or will you set it on top of the enclosure? If you sit it on top, a decent percentage of the light waves will get absorbed by the screen so you won't be able to go as high with the enclosure. I believe they need a minimum of 9 inches from the light if mounted on the inside but Jarich has a much better grasp of this than I do. With that said, the taller you make can it, the better to allow for more climbing heights.

 

[joshua123]

With the Reptisun 10.0 you can go with a fairly tall enclosure. Are you mounting it on the inside or will you set it on top of the enclosure? If you sit it on top, a decent percentage of the light waves will get absorbed by the screen so you won't be able to go as high with the enclosure. I believe they need a minimum of 9 inches from the light if mounted on the inside but Jarich has a much better grasp of this than I do. With that said, the taller you make can it, the better to allow for more climbing heights.

Actually I plan to cut a hole in the wire mesh for my uvb tube and basking bulb. I will be putting it on top so with the hole, the light and heat will still be able to go through without anything blocking infront. I plan to get my wood for basking first then I'll know roughly how high to make my tank. Do you think that's a better idea?

 

[Jdubclark]

That'll work. I might be a little concerned about the ridgity of the screen with a hole cut in it but you could probably run a couple of perpendicular braces under the screen to give it additional reinforcement. Regardless, you're on the right track. If I could start over on my enclosure, I would have gone to 36" or more on the height.
I doubt the screen will absorb/block much of the heat but it does tend to gobble up the UVB rays. I had to fabricate brackets to mount my UVB on the inside. I just cut down some thin angle iron and drilled some holes. It worked out pretty well.

 

[joshua123]

Cool but I'll be using wire mesh for the top cover and acrylic for the tank, what do u think?

 

[joshua123]

That'll work. I might be a little concerned about the ridgity of the screen with a hole cut in it but you could probably run a couple of perpendicular braces under the screen to give it additional reinforcement. Regardless, you're on the right track. If I could start over on my enclosure, I would have gone to 36" or more on the height.
I doubt the screen will absorb/block much of the heat but it does tend to gobble up the UVB rays. I had to fabricate brackets to mount my UVB on the inside. I just cut down some thin angle iron and drilled some holes. It worked out pretty well.

But after cutting a hole in the wire mesh, won't the UVB light be able to pass through without anything blocking?

 

[Jdubclark]

Yes, I imagine that will work or at least reduce the amount of blocked rays. The light housing has a built in deflector/reflector to redirect the rays from the tops and sides of the bulb towards the bottom where it will be useful. So, if you're cutting a hole in the mesh it's going to have to be about the same size as the width and length of the housing itself. That's why I worry about the rigidity of the mesh and its ability to hold up the fixture. I think you'll want to have some bracing on each end of the fixture to support it.

 

[joshua123]

Maybe I'll put it underneath the mesh and cable tie the fixture to it, hopefully it's not too heavy lol.

 

[FLZooMom]

Drzebra - I haven't seen 36" or 48" bulbs. The max I've seen it 24", but sure, if I can find a 48" I'll do that. Thank you!

I have two Reptisun 10.0 HO T5 48" lights. I got them online at Petco.com. Something like $70 and it came with the tube light and not just the hood.

 

[joshua123]

Sadly I can't order fixture from some website as they don't do international shipping

 

[Candybugs]

your future guys home is beautiful This is my Hefs house I'll have to remove things as he gets bigger and I'll be doing a large enclosure in about a year.

 

[joshua123]

Very nice! How do u make your back ground?

 

[Candybugs]

I'm gonna try to post the pics on my computer cuz my phone won't let me go back far enough in my pics

 

[Candybugs]

 

[Candybugs]

 

[Candybugs]

I did it. The pics are up .I sliced branches like little wood coins with a jigsaw.and glued them to a thin wood back. The bottom strips are a piece of lattice I took apart. Then I stained them with 2 different stains and clear coated it. The mouse door at the small end is for the heater .

 

[Candybugs]

The ramp is foam with plastic leaves to make the edge nice looking

 

[Jdubclark]

View attachment 12949your future guys home is beautiful This is my Hefs house I'll have to remove things as he gets bigger and I'll be doing a large enclosure in about a year.

Thank you! I actually picked my guy up last Friday. He's been enjoying his new surroundings and doing well.

Your enclosure looks great! I like all the fine details you added.

 

[Candybugs]

Hef she'd his beard the other day . It was the first time I've seen his beard shed. Crazy looking

 

[Candybugs]

He is so comfortable that's his daybed my daughter made it and I never would have expected him to love it so much.

 

[Candybugs]