Lighting for custom enclosure

[Marc13.5]

Hello. I am starting to build a cage for my Male Veiled Cham (almost 6 months old). Does anyone have a good idea or a reference on how much lighting (bulbs, fixtures, wattage, etc...) I would need for an enclosure measuring approximately 25"x36"x60"? I have searched and searched, but haven't found anything on something of similar size. I just want to make sure that I get him adequate UVA and UVB. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[nightanole]

3 random dimensions...

But i can give some pointers.

UVB should run the length of the cage.

1 UVB bulb per 24" of depth. So if you have a 24x24 top, it will be 1 bulb, but if you have a 3 foot or 4 foot deep cage, it would be better to have a bulb spaced out every foot. 2 bulbs for 3ft, and 2-3 bulbs for a 4ft depending on the setup. All these recommendations are based on a single reflector hood.

As far as height thats a bit tricker. If the cham will be hanging out 6-24" away from the bulb, a 6%/5.0 T5HO is great. However if its something like a 6-7ft tall cage, It would be better to get a 12%/10.0, and keep the cham 18-36" away from the bulb, you dont want them much closer than 18", unless you have a meter that proves the cham is hanging out and getting less than 4.0 UVI.


"generally" you are going to need more light than just the UVB bulb. At this point i would just go with a few 6500k "grow" lights to keep the plants happy vs more t5ho 6500k bulbs, and 1 or 2 basking zoned made of halogen wide flood bulbs of appropriate wattage to get the little guys in the lower 90f's.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ


And an led discussion

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/sansi-grow-lights-are-on-sale-for-amazon-prime-day.170263/

 

[Serbianchameleon]

3 random dimensions...

But i can give some pointers.

UVB should run the length of the cage.

1 UVB bulb per 24" of depth. So if you have a 24x24 top, it will be 1 bulb, but if you have a 3 foot or 4 foot deep cage, it would be better to have a bulb spaced out every foot. 2 bulbs for 3ft, and 2-3 bulbs for a 4ft depending on the setup. All these recommendations are based on a single reflector hood.

As far as height thats a bit tricker. If the cham will be hanging out 6-24" away from the bulb, a 6%/5.0 T5HO is great. However if its something like a 6-7ft tall cage, It would be better to get a 12%/10.0, and keep the cham 18-36" away from the bulb, you dont want them much closer than 18", unless you have a meter that proves the cham is hanging out and getting less than 4.0 UVI.


"generally" you are going to need more light than just the UVB bulb. At this point i would just go with a few 6500k "grow" lights to keep the plants happy vs more t5ho 6500k bulbs, and 1 or 2 basking zoned made of halogen wide flood bulbs of appropriate wattage to get the little guys in the lower 90f's.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ


And an led discussion

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/sansi-grow-lights-are-on-sale-for-amazon-prime-day.170263/

1 UVB bulb per 24" of depth.
Can you just place a bigger percentage of uvb tube?

 

[nightanole]

1 UVB bulb per 24" of depth.
Can you just place a bigger percentage of uvb tube?

If you are talking about putting 1 12% in the middle of a 3ft deep cage instead of 2 6% spread out, it wont work. All the light will be either too high in the middle, or too low on the cage edges. It might work if you get Very creative with your plants and sticks, so that the sticks are low in the middle and high on the edges, but then you have to tell the cham where to hang out, i havent had much luck with that

Plus that would be a very dark cage

 

[Marc13.5]

3 random dimensions...

But i can give some pointers.

UVB should run the length of the cage.

1 UVB bulb per 24" of depth. So if you have a 24x24 top, it will be 1 bulb, but if you have a 3 foot or 4 foot deep cage, it would be better to have a bulb spaced out every foot. 2 bulbs for 3ft, and 2-3 bulbs for a 4ft depending on the setup. All these recommendations are based on a single reflector hood.

As far as height thats a bit tricker. If the cham will be hanging out 6-24" away from the bulb, a 6%/5.0 T5HO is great. However if its something like a 6-7ft tall cage, It would be better to get a 12%/10.0, and keep the cham 18-36" away from the bulb, you dont want them much closer than 18", unless you have a meter that proves the cham is hanging out and getting less than 4.0 UVI.


"generally" you are going to need more light than just the UVB bulb. At this point i would just go with a few 6500k "grow" lights to keep the plants happy vs more t5ho 6500k bulbs, and 1 or 2 basking zoned made of halogen wide flood bulbs of appropriate wattage to get the little guys in the lower 90f's.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-904296-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector/dp/B00AKKUBDQ


And an led discussion

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/sansi-grow-lights-are-on-sale-for-amazon-prime-day.170263/

Ok, that's a great starting point. I read people on here just getting fixtures from Lowes instead of buying the expensive reptile fixtures like the one you linked to. Thoughts?

 

[nightanole]

Ok, that's a great starting point. I read people on here just getting fixtures from Lowes instead of buying the expensive reptile fixtures like the one you linked to. Thoughts?

You need a T5HO fixture. You may find one at lowes/home depot, but i have not had any luck. They either have LED ( i have not seen a 4ft fluorescent in years) or office T5 Non HO.

I pick my fixtures based on high quality balasts (some dont have enough voltage to bring the bulb to full brightness, they are just overclocked non ho units) such as the sunblaster nanotech(under a lot of different brands, including arcadia) and the Hydrofarm Agrobrite. I have never killed a zoomed T5HO, but i have taken them apart, and they do not have high quality balasts, they are just small and plastic.

 

[Marc13.5]

You need a T5HO fixture. You may find one at lowes/home depot, but i have not had any luck. They either have LED ( i have not seen a 4ft fluorescent in years) or office T5 Non HO.

I pick my fixtures based on high quality balasts (some dont have enough voltage to bring the bulb to full brightness, they are just overclocked non ho units) such as the sunblaster nanotech(under a lot of different brands, including arcadia) and the Hydrofarm Agrobrite. I have never killed a zoomed T5HO, but i have taken them apart, and they do not have high quality balasts, they are just small and plastic.

Ok, thanks for all the info!

 

[Marc13.5]

You need a T5HO fixture. You may find one at lowes/home depot, but i have not had any luck. They either have LED ( i have not seen a 4ft fluorescent in years) or office T5 Non HO.

I pick my fixtures based on high quality balasts (some dont have enough voltage to bring the bulb to full brightness, they are just overclocked non ho units) such as the sunblaster nanotech(under a lot of different brands, including arcadia) and the Hydrofarm Agrobrite. I have never killed a zoomed T5HO, but i have taken them apart, and they do not have high quality balasts, they are just small and plastic.

Ok, thanks for all the info!

 

[Multivitamins]

This one in the link is 48 inches but they have a 30 as well not bad price for t-5 fixtures the built in timer is a great bonus as well. If you have a 36 inch wide enclosure the 30 would probably be better than the overhang of a 48.

I'd definitely supplement with either jingle Dawn's or sensi lights to keep it nice and bright and help the plants. Not to be to repetitive..


I've got a 2*2*4 zoomed with dragonledges and it's well planted. I have my dome light and a quad fixture and am still thinking about l.e.d.


Best bang for buck I've seen online for a fixture
https://www.amazon.com/Odyssea-Time...ight+fixture&qid=1589324161&sr=8-2&th=1&psc=1

 

[Marc13.5]

This one in the link is 48 inches but they have a 30 as well not bad price for t-5 fixtures the built in timer is a great bonus as well. If you have a 36 inch wide enclosure the 30 would probably be better than the overhang of a 48.

I'd definitely supplement with either jingle Dawn's or sensi lights to keep it nice and bright and help the plants. Not to be to repetitive..


I've got a 2*2*4 zoomed with dragonledges and it's well planted. I have my dome light and a quad fixture and am still thinking about l.e.d.


Best bang for buck I've seen online for a fixture
https://www.amazon.com/Odyssea-Timer-Aquarium-Marine-Cichlid/dp/B016VAZ31S/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=odessa+t5+light+fixture&qid=1589324161&sr=8-2&th=1&psc=1

Cool, thanks!

 

[kinyonga]

Hello. I am starting to build a cage for my Male Veiled Cham (almost 6 months old). Does anyone have a good idea or a reference on how much lighting (bulbs, fixtures, wattage, etc...) I would need for an enclosure measuring approximately 25"x36"x60"? I have searched and searched, but haven't found anything on something of similar size. I just want to make sure that I get him adequate UVA and UVB. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Which measurement is the width?

 

[Marc13.5]

Which measurement is the width?

36 wide by 25 deep by 60 tall