Habitat - Indoor :: MVB question.

[nocash27]

So I recently got one of these:


It's an 100w. I put it into the wire lamp I have for my ceramic heat emitter for the heck of it and after a little while it didn't seem to come on all the way. It didn't even get hot or that bright. That lamp is clamped at an angle.

The lamp is rated 150w so that shouldn't be a problem right?

[imderanged]

How long did you keep it on? Mine starts out less bright and "warms up" over time. You should try and find a way to get the lamp facing straight down if possible though. The useful UVB is cut down when it's on an angle. I used a plant hanger and hung the clamp lamp from it to get it straight and the correct distance from the basking platform. (don't forget, the MVB needs to be positioned a little further for the basking spot then the compacts too, it should be 12" away.)

[MoreBloodWine]

I wouldnt settle on 12" exactly because the basking spots have to be a certain temp and if its to cold then it would need to be closer than 12" but if its to hot then it would need to be farther than 12" whatever height it sits at when you have the correct basing temp is what I would stick with.

[imderanged]

Normally I would agree, but since the MVB throws heat and UVB, if you deviate too much from the prescribed distance from the basking platform, I think it might throw off the level of UVB the turtle gets. If the basking temp just won't get hot enough, I would add another light bulb, just a regular incandescent, just to raise the temp a little more. But if the temp is that low I suspect the OP is right and the bulb may be defective. My MVB gets the basking platform nice and toasty. If adjusting the lamp so it points straight down and letting it burn for a while doesn't solve the problem, I would call the companies customer service.

[Daniel3507]

make sure that the lamp you screwed it into is rated for at least 100w

[LorJ]

I've heard that some of the mvb's will break if used at an angle.
I also would still go with the recommended distance so as not to cause health problems with your turtles.

[papoopeepoo]

having your lamp at an angle can offset the mercury vapor part of your bulb, if this part is crooked then the UVB can be inaccurately radiated and harm your turtle with either too much or not enough UVB rays.

[MoreBloodWine]

Normally I would agree, but since the MVB throws heat and UVB, if you deviate too much from the prescribed distance from the basking platform, I think it might throw off the level of UVB the turtle gets. If the basking temp just won't get hot enough, I would add another light bulb, just a regular incandescent, just to raise the temp a little more. But if the temp is that low I suspect the OP is right and the bulb may be defective. My MVB gets the basking platform nice and toasty. If adjusting the lamp so it points straight down and letting it burn for a while doesn't solve the problem, I would call the companies customer service.

Ok, you touched on if it's to cold but what if its to hot and it's sitting at the "prescribed" 12" ?

[marisa]

How hot does it get at that distance? My RES likes to bask at around 88F, so I'd increase the distance by an inch or two (and check the temp). I don't know what bulb you're using, but with some, like the Mega Ray, there is a range the bulb can be at which would mimic the sun's strength at various times of the day. It would be the same with other MVBs as well. Distance would affect UVB strength, but not a lot if you didn't increase the distance by a really significant amount.