Habitat - Indoor :: light placement basking area

[shortt]

My turtle is less then a week away from being brought home and I'm just finishing up the tank. I know that you should place the uvb bulb X distance from the basking spot. I have a repti glo 5.0 13 watt and a 40 watt normal light. The package for the repti glo simply says "effective to 30cm / 12 inches". Ok farther than that and it won't work but it doesn't say how close it too close. Attached is a picture of the setup. On the left is the UVB bulb and the right the normal bulb (in 8inch aluminum clamp lights). Over the top is going to be 5/8th inch square white eggcrate / light defuser. From the tip of the bulb to the closes part of the basking area is 9.5-10 inches. I'm assuming the egg crate will end up blocking some of the uvb just not sure how much.

Do you think this will be fine?

[VeipaCray]

Other than pointing them down a bit so you don't blind yourself, the distance is fine. The distance for the normal (heat) light is determined by a thermometer.

[shortt]

haha yeah the clamp lights don't point down any more. Its ok this is my computer / reptile room so I don't spend all day in here.

The heat I'm testing out now which I think should be good. Its at 91F right now with a digital thermometer but I also don't have the entire area covered in egg crate so I'm assuming that will end up blocking some of the heat to bring it down a couple of degrees. I was aiming for slightly under 90 degrees with a water temp of 78-80

Thanks!

[VeipaCray]

91 is fine. That's about where my basking area is most of the day. Your turtle will move towards or away from the light to regulate heat. A young turtle is like 78-80 water and 90-92 basking. An adult turtle the water temperature drops a few degrees. My water is now at 76.

[vear]

You could clamp them onto the other side ( facing the wall if the tank is against a wall). This way the light won't shine in your eyes.

[blackforces get you]

or point them more downward. or what vear said.

[shortt]

Yeah I put them on that side so its easier to take the top off. I'm not worried about blinding myself The lamps unfortunately won't point downwards anymore. I might take them apart and hand them from the ceiling but I haven't decided yet. or I could add a little to the rim and make a shade up. Ultimately i'm going to build and above tank basking area but first I need a turtle. Which will be in 4 days if everything goes well!

[papoopeepoo]

Your best bet is to have them hanging from the ceiling, if possible. Make sure you have them adjusted as they need to be. Both lights should be illuminating the same general area.

[TurtleKeeper48]

Why the egg crate? Are you going to raise the water level? Right now it doesn't look to me like you would need a lid to keep them in.

[shortt]

Why the egg crate? Are you going to raise the water level? Right now it doesn't look to me like you would need a lid to keep them in.

Well it was designed before I had the turtle (I was told she's a climber). I do plan on raising the water level and building an above tank area.

It was also going to keep the cats out if they get into the room