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I am starting an 80 gallon tank for my guys and I got a used set up from my cousin. He kept fish and has a fluorescent lights fixture that is the length of the tank (4ft). I am wondering if I need this set up. And if I do, the bulbs are Japanese style base lights, where can I find UVB bulbs that fit this fixture?

You don't need uvb the whole length of the tank.Just the basking area! Do you have a basking area?

I'm not sure if your fixtures can take standard UVB bulbs either.

If you have a yahoo account, it might be better to ask this question on the UVB Meter Group's post. There is a wealth of knowledge on different types of lights from herptologist around the world. Someone on there will have a good answer for you;)

slider_keeper wrote:If you have a yahoo account, it might be better to ask this question on the UVB Meter Group's post. There is a wealth of knowledge on different types of lights from herptologist around the world. Someone on there will have a good answer for you;)

Or 500 different answers

Not at all, this group's experts study reptile lighting and it's effects! They are very knowledgable and the regular participants only talk about lighting!

I do have a basking area on my small tank setup right now with a reptisun 5.0 and an incandescent bulb both about 5 inches away. I actually got the fluorescent light ballast up tonight to light up the test guppies I have put in. I will just have my other setup (two lamps) moved over when the boys make the move. Right now I cover their tank at night and they sleep. Being an 80 gallon, then new tank would be a pain to cover, is it necessary to cover RES at night?

No you don't need to cover the tank. You say the bulbs are 5" away? I'm no expert but sounds like they are too close. I keep mine about 12" away. What watt bulb are you useing ? What is the temperature on the basking area? Are the bulbs in domes/clamp lights?

Kansasslider is correct. Your bulbs should be about 12 in. from the turtle's shell. If they are to close they can cause eye problems from dangerous levels of UV Rays.

This is my setup.

Oh jeez. Problem fixed. but the regular blue bulb (UVA) is about 8 inches (in a dome lamp)away now. I do not know it's wattage I got it from a friend. The basking area is about 95 degrees. The ReptiSun 5.0 is in a deep dome (Zoomed as well) 12 inches away from the basking dock. It was in a regular desk lamp before when it was 5 inches away, but it stuck out the side really far so I though it should be close. I also believe I remember the box saying something like 8 inches for the reptisun, although they expect it to be used for lizards and whatnot I think.

New problem though! The zoomed reptinsun 5.0 burnt out when I put it in the zoomed deep dome lamp. What's up with that?

I don't recommend running the Reptisun compact bulb, I would run the flourescent tube. The compct bulb doesn't not provide adequate UVB thru the whole basking zone.

But ill I have are regular Sunpaq brand 65W 10,000k Daylight bulbs. I don't think they have uvb, I can't find any info on them. I don't feel like making an account, and I have realized they are just regular square pin based.

You should be able to get a free replacement on a blown UVB bulb.

slider_keeper wrote:I don't recommend running the Reptisun compact bulb, I would run the flourescent tube. The compct bulb doesn't not provide adequate UVB thru the whole basking zone.

I have to respectfully disagree. I use compacts and my turtles couldn't be healthier.