Exo Terra 18'x18'x18' (heat and light)! HELP!!!

[ricardo]

hi people i already have a 18 exo terra cube for one leopard gecko eheh but i don't know what wattage of heat to put in it ...

i have a 50w heat cable that i'm gonna put on the floor;
the light i'm gonna put a 2.0 UVB 14 w linear bulb to give the day light photoperiod and i already have a compact canopy top from exo terra but i don't know the wattage of the red night bulb's from zoo med that i gonna buy to make the warm side, maybe a 40w on the left side and the other light a 15w this too light's a red night bulb ... is much heat or not? is fine? 50w heat cable + 40w + 15 w red night bulb?

regards too you all

 

[LizMarie]

I read this and was like huh? Maybe it's just me having a hard time reading it.

Why do you want 3 sources of heat?

The Heat Cable should ONLY be used on the warm side not the entire cage and the lights in my opinion should only be used if the heat source such as a UTH, Cable, Flexx watt, etc. aren't getting warm enough depending on where you live to help bump up the warm side temps. And the day light photoperiod can be obtained by placing the cage in a nicely lite room, I personally use the natural sunlight that pours in once I pull back my curtains.

 

[ricardo]

ok thanks i know that the UTH heat cable must be on the warm side but the temps stay's at 85ºF and to the hot spot i will need a red night bulb to reach 92ºF-98ºF but i don't know the wattage of the red bulb ... i'm gonna try with a 40w is that ok? my tank is an 45x45x45 ...

thanks for help

 

[LizMarie]

ok thanks i know that the UTH heat cable must be on the warm side but the temps stay's at 85ºF and to the hot spot i will need a red night bulb to reach 92ºF-98ºF but i don't know the wattage of the red bulb ... i'm gonna try with a 40w is that ok? my tank is an 45x45x45 ...

thanks for help

Ok I was kind of confused if you would have said the temp before it would have clicked, I'm just having a slow day, lmao.

What are you using to get a temperature reading?

 

[Tony C]

The Exo Terra compact tops are rated for a 26 watt bulb maximum, so the 40 watt is too much. Also be aware that the two fixtures are controlled by one switch, so you can't really have a day and night bulb in the same fixture.

 

[ricardo]

ahhh ok thanks a lot i did not know that than one compact bulb repti glo day light 2.0 UVB 13w and the other side of compact top a 15w red night bulb ... and inside the tank in a safe area of course i can put a 40w bulb? is this enough? 50w heat cable + 40w red bulb + 15w red bulb + 13w compact fluorescent 2.0 UVB? the compact top with the 15w red bulb + 13w compact 2.0 are turned off ate night ... than the 40w is turned on at all time ... doing this the temps drop a little since the 15w is turned off and it's good do the night's temps and for the gecko is that right?

night heat - 50w heat cable + 40w red night bulb;
day heat - 50w heat cable + 40w red nighy bulb + 15w red night bulb.

the heat cable with a thermostat with temp to 28 is good too?

i'm knew to leopard gecko and i want help because i want a healthy pet eheh and want that he'll be happy

regards

 

[Tony C]

28 is too low for the hot side, around 36 would be better.

 

[mushraeddur]

hi people i already have a 18 exo terra cube for one leopard gecko eheh but i don't know what wattage of heat to put in it ...

i have a 50w heat cable that i'm gonna put on the floor;
the light i'm gonna put a 2.0 UVB 14 w linear bulb to give the day light photoperiod and i already have a compact canopy top from exo terra but i don't know the wattage of the red night bulb's from zoo med that i gonna buy to make the warm side, maybe a 40w on the left side and the other light a 15w this too light's a red night bulb ... is much heat or not? is fine? 50w heat cable + 40w + 15 w red night bulb?

regards too you all

I have the same tank...I'm using a zoomed UTH that covers almost exactly half the tank. I also have two 25w moonglow bulbs in the light hood that I leave on continuously. The warm side is about 92-97 depending on the time of day. The cool side stays a pretty steady low 70s (70-72).

I plan to use tile for the substrate (using paper towels right now) I'm hoping this won't change the temp of my tank too much.

 

[combadao]

doing this the temps drop a little since the 15w is turned off and it's good do the night's temps and for the gecko is that right?

In my opinion you are overdoing it. You can use only the cable, but it's ok if you want a cable (or UTH)/ lamp combination. Some people seem to like it.

What is important is that the gecko gets the right temperatures and not if you are using cable, lamp or whatever.

You should control the lamp output as well and not just the cable (not with an on/off thermostat). In the Summer, at least, that wattage will be too much, if not controlled.

If you can get a third or half of the terrarium with a temperature between 32-36 ºC that is sufficient (the cable should get this done, but depends on the house as well).

I don't think that a differential between day and night, in the temperature, is necessary for the leopard gecko.

See you around.

 

[ricardo]

thanks a lot eheh ok than ... my temps at home are at 18ºC in the winter and with a 40w red bulb at night and a 50w UTH is enough for night i think so ... i will try this wattage. the heat cable and the 40w bulb should be the 2 be controled with the thermostat? the thermostat from Zoo Med - Rheostat 150 Watts is a good one for do this?

thanks a lot ;D

 

[ricardo]

eheh ok mushraedur im planing to have a 40w red bulb and a 15w red bulb for daytime and at night only the 40w red bulb and the 50w heat cable UTH ... your UTH is 50w too?

 

[mushraeddur]

eheh ok mushraedur im planing to have a 40w red bulb and a 15w red bulb for daytime and at night only the 40w red bulb and the 50w heat cable UTH ... your UTH is 50w too?

Well...it's the zoomed brand UTH. I'm not sure of it's wattage. It's pretty good size. I think it was recommended for a 30 gal tank. It covers almost exactly half of the 18 x 18 tank.

I will probably stop using the two 25w moonglows in the summer...assuming the temp goes up as I expect it to do so.

He/She (too young to be sexed yet) seems to be happy with the temps though. He comes out at night, feeds and hangs out on the warm side of the tank. Usually I see him lying next to the warm hide in the open at night.

 

[ricardo]

hi again an thanks for the information eheh today i went to a shop and my heat cable are 50w than i gona put 2 red or moon 15w each and the heat to 50w should do the job ... and a linear 14w 2.0 repti glo at day, turn off at night eheh i already see my future gecko at a really good reptile pet shop it's a young male high yellow really beautiful, he have 4 months eheh i handle him too see the toes, mouth, eyes and the tail are really fat hehe sign that the nutrition are balenced and have really good reserves of calcium

best regards

 

[combadao]

It would be much easier for you to use a thermostat. Not a rheostat.

The thermostat control the heater, so that you have a fairly constant temperature.

The rheostat just alters the current that goes to the heater, so, you must change the setting (move the button) depending on the temperature of the room. Not good if you are away in one of those sudden, very hot, days that we have sometimes.

Don't forget to always have a thermometer or two, one on the hot side and the other on the fresh side. Put it (or the probe of it) on top of the basking surface (not the wall of the terrarium).

If you want a real good thermostat, I advice you to see http://www.habistat.es/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=50&Itemid=1

of course, there are some others shops and brands...

It is much better for your gecko to invest in a good thermostat than in some unnecessary lamps... perhaps in some shops they will not tell you this.

Good luck.

 

[ricardo]

eheh thanks mate i'm gonna do what you said ... get a thermostat instad of a rheostat and i'm not gonna buy the lamps only 2 red bulbs or moon bulbs to noght view eheh and of course a day light bulb 2.0 UVB, if it's necessary i turn on the two 15w moon or red bulbs too achieve the right temps eheh

thanks for the help

 

[combadao]

Ok then, good! Any help you need, we are here to help.

 

[ricardo]

thanks ;D