Habitat - Indoor :: Mercury Vapor Bulb...thoughts.

[Skittles]

Alright. So im trying to figure out if i should use 2 bulbs. A UVA bulb and a UVB bulb or go with the Mercury Vapor Bulb.

Normaly the UVA bulb i use is the 100 watt Exo-Terra Sun Glo Tight Beam - http://exo-terra.com/en/products/sun_glo_tight_beam.php It gets pretty warm and the turtle loves it.

I've also tried my 100 watt ZooMed Power Sun MVB - http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/Entry ... JjdXJ5Ijt9 and while its supposed to give of everything the turtle needs (UVA,UVB,Heat) it doesnt seem to get that warm at all. The turtle doesnt like to bask when the MVB's in. I've heard people say you need to have a big tank to use a MVB but mines small and the heat is nothing compared to the regular UVA light. They both are kept around 11" from the dock and are in the same outlet so it cant be that. (Not at the same time)

What are your thoughts? Do you use 2 lights or a MVB? Im thinking im just gonna use 2 lights. Does anyone else use a different MVB brand that works good?

[robind]

What size tank do you have? The MVBs produce too much heat for anything less than 40 gallons. Even then you have to hang them a good 1' away from the basking area.

[Skittles]

It's a 50 gallon size but really only filled about 20 gallons because it's one of those "turtle tanks" with the hole in the side of the glass to mount a waterfall filter. I've heard people say they produce to much heat for small tanks but i can put my hand right under it and feel little heat. My regular UVA bulb is hotter. Is it some sort of heat i cant feel?....lol. I know there is nothing wrong with the outlet.

[speedynlucky]

I have a mega ray 160 watt mvb and I had it over a 30 gallon tank but I also had to buy a zoo med light stand because the 160 watt should be at about 18-22 inches from the basking spot. My water temp was fine. Now I have a 55 gallon filled all the way up with an above tank basking site. My mega ray mvb is hot no doubt about that. I use two lights because of the height of the mvb because the mvb alone won't get the ATB site to 90 degrees. My mvb get's the spot to about 87 degrees and I also have a 75 watt heat light to boost it to around 92 degrees.

[Daniel3507]

the zoo med MVB's are not really very good. you should go with a mega ray or t rex. ive used both the mega ray i have now gets the basking area just right and its 100w. the 100w are best because you can keep them closer and that way you dont need another light.

[robind]

Do you have the MVB in a fixture with a dimmer switch? That may be the source of your 'no heat' problem.

[imderanged]

I have the ZooMed MVB, and have not had a problem. My basking spot get warm enough and Pickle basks more than she ever did with the 2 bulbs. I think you may mave either a defective bulb, or a defective fixure.

[Skittles]

Impretty sure its not the fixture, so maybe its a bad bulb. i can put my hand right underneath it (less than 1 inch) and the heat is very little. It says it takes 15 minutes to warm up but after a full day it hasnt changed. Do you guys use a power strip for all your electrical stuff? (Heater, Pump, Lights etc.)

[speedynlucky]

Impretty sure its not the fixture, so maybe its a bad bulb. i can put my hand right underneath it (less than 1 inch) and the heat is very little. It says it takes 15 minutes to warm up but after a full day it hasnt changed. Do you guys use a power strip for all your electrical stuff? (Heater, Pump, Lights etc.)

I use zilla digital power center and I have my lights plugged into the yellow (daylight timer) and have them set right now from 10 am to 5pm. My tank heater and filter are in the no colored side which runs 24/7 and not with the timer.

http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-Digital-Timer-Power-Center/dp/B0012GTRSW/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_i

[Daniel3507]

i use the same thing speedynlucky has. my MVB and the regular fluorescent light above the tank go on at 830 and of at 830. filter, heater, and air pump run constant. makes it alot easier on me

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Well,I have the Sun Glo Tight Beam.It works quite well.Since it does provide heat and UVA.I would have a basking light and a UVB light seperately,but the wattage is too much for my 10 gal. tank.

[Daniel3507]

Well,I have the Sun Glo Tight Beam.It works quite well.Since it does provide heat and UVA.I would have a basking light and a UVB light seperately,but the wattage is too much for my 10 gal. tank.

I thought you couldnt post anymore?

[marisa]

TurtleLover, your turtle needs both a UVB light and a heat source. A UVB light will also give off UVA rays, but won't give off any really heat (it's flourescent). Therefore, your turtle needs the two bulbs (the heat source can be a regular incandescent light bulb).

[TurtleLover_S&B]

@daniel-I can now post because I turned 13 today.

@marisa-I have a UVB bulb but don't have a lamp for it yet.It's the Repti Glo 5.0 light.

[papoopeepoo]

Happy belated birthday turtlelover