All Turtles Message Board

kellydanette · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject: Lighting systems

I got the 55 gallon tank HOORAY! i was wondering about the all the lighting now is there a special hood out there that houses different light? Where i live it is cold so we need some kinda heat lamp also esp. at night and for the basking light and the UVA?UVB lights. I was wondering what everybody else uses.

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

Cold hey:) I live in Montana. Smile

I use a good tank heater and a basking light. A UVB/UVA bulb over the main area of the tank and we are good.

kellydanette · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

the UVA/UVB bulb is that the same thing as your basking light?

trtlduv · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject:

No, the basking light needs to produce heat. The UVa/UVb bulb doesn't give off enough heat, and it's not for basking, it's so the turt can get what it needs from its food, I think. The UV bulb should shine over most of the tank and the basking light should be concentrated on the basking area. I agree with Deesygirl about the heater, the basking light won't heat the water in an area where it gets cold, and it gets cold here in Idaho too (for sure), besides you don't want to keep the lights on all day & all night, try 12/12. I use a water heater that's fully submersible and it keeps the water nice and warm all the time. Hope this helps! Wink

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shade & sweetwater!