Advice for 4ft by 18 by 18 tank lights

[ForTheLoveOfLizzie]

Hello yall!
So this rather tall 40 gal tank is bothering me.
I have a large dual hood zoomed with ceramic plate and basking lights and a long t5 ho uv light setup.

Uv works but with those indicator cards there is pale signal where my baby basks.
And she basks there because it is the warmest— a paltry 90 degrees with infrared monitor.


So— when this day is over I am gonna check the watts on the bulbs. I think I have room to watt up- but hood says 160 per side max 300 which is not adding up.
Also wondering if I have to add a third smaller hood with another uv- I really want to flood this tank with uv- no bone issues please!
So- is that a thing? A second uv light source?

For the moment I have re arranged the decor so that her basking site is about 6 inches from UV and moved the basking light as close as I could.

I can def make this better.

Any advice or recs on brands etc are welcome.

 

[ForTheLoveOfLizzie]

Ok update. My spot check is not 110z perfection!
But I worry that with such. Tall tank there are plenty of cooler sides
Mid height 85-87
Most remote corner ground floor 81

I mean not bad all around but id like my beardie to be happy exploring other parts and right now she is like a fixture dead center near basking temps of 91-110

 

[Sadie]

Hello yall!
So this rather tall 40 gal tank is bothering me.
I have a large dual hood zoomed with ceramic plate and basking lights and a long t5 ho uv light setup.

Uv works but with those indicator cards there is pale signal where my baby basks.
And she basks there because it is the warmest— a paltry 90 degrees with infrared monitor.


So— when this day is over I am gonna check the watts on the bulbs. I think I have room to watt up- but hood says 160 per side max 300 which is not adding up.
Also wondering if I have to add a third smaller hood with another uv- I really want to flood this tank with uv- no bone issues please!
So- is that a thing? A second uv light source?

For the moment I have re arranged the decor so that her basking site is about 6 inches from UV and moved the basking light as close as I could.

I can def make this better.

Any advice or recs on brands etc are welcome.

You want your T 5 directly over a piece of basking decor 12-15 inches inside a tank that is 24" tall - please do not flood the tank w/ UVB your dragon will end up hiding from it - dragons know when they need their UVB as long as you have it properly placed for the tank and keep it changed out every 10-11 months unless you have a solar meter to get a reading its best to change them - I do not own a solar meter so I changed mine in that time frame given - you only need one good UVB for the tank --- indicator cards are not any good please do not use them -- I would get a digital probe thermometer they are the most accurate - stick ons work good for ambient temps but for a surface basking temp please use a digital probe-- the 18" tall tank you want the UVB in the tank unless the tank has a screen on it that is wide holed - it can then stay on top but you want the distance 8-10 inches above the basking decor

 

[ForTheLoveOfLizzie]

You want your T 5 directly over a piece of basking decor 12-15 inches inside a tank that is 24" tall - please do not flood the tank w/ UVB your dragon will end up hiding from it - dragons know when they need their UVB as long as you have it properly placed for the tank and keep it changed out every 10-11 months unless you have a solar meter to get a reading its best to change them - I do not own a solar meter so I changed mine in that time frame given - you only need one good UVB for the tank --- indicator cards are not any good please do not use them -- I would get a digital probe thermometer they are the most accurate - stick ons work good for ambient temps but for a surface basking temp please use a digital probe-- the 18" tall tank you want the UVB in the tank unless the tank has a screen on it that is wide holed - it can then stay on top but you want the distance 8-10 inches above the basking decor

My HO is about 6 inches from top reach and she goes there nearly all the time.
I have a digital laser reader for temp surfaces and top location where she sits is 110.
And the cards are to determine the UV output as I also do not have a meter. Without a meter and without cards how can one tell if light is working for uv?
Also - I change them out every year as well so I know I have that covered.
Found it interesting that with the cards the intensity of the indicator did change in the expected way at different distances from the source.
.

Hello yall!
So this rather tall 40 gal tank is bothering me.
I have a large dual hood zoomed with ceramic plate and basking lights and a long t5 ho uv light setup.

Uv works but with those indicator cards there is pale signal where my baby basks.
And she basks there because it is the warmest— a paltry 90 degrees with infrared monitor.


So— when this day is over I am gonna check the watts on the bulbs. I think I have room to watt up- but hood says 160 per side max 300 which is not adding up.
Also wondering if I have to add a third smaller hood with another uv- I really want to flood this tank with uv- no bone issues please!
So- is that a thing? A second uv light source?

For the moment I have re arranged the decor so that her basking site is about 6 inches from UV and moved the basking light as close as I could.

I can def make this better.

Any advice or recs on brands etc are welcome.

a

You want your T 5 directly over a piece of basking decor 12-15 inches inside a tank that is 24" tall - please do not flood the tank w/ UVB your dragon will end up hiding from it - dragons know when they need their UVB as long as you have it properly placed for the tank and keep it changed out every 10-11 months unless you have a solar meter to get a reading its best to change them - I do not own a solar meter so I changed mine in that time frame given - you only need one good UVB for the tank --- indicator cards are not any good please do not use them -- I would get a digital probe thermometer they are the most accurate - stick ons work good for ambient temps but for a surface basking temp please use a digital probe-- the 18" tall tank you want the UVB in the tank unless the tank has a screen on it that is wide holed - it can then stay on top but you want the distance 8-10 inches above the basking decor

 

[ForTheLoveOfLizzie]

You want your T 5 directly over a piece of basking decor 12-15 inches inside a tank that is 24" tall - please do not flood the tank w/ UVB your dragon will end up hiding from it - dragons know when they need their UVB as long as you have it properly placed for the tank and keep it changed out every 10-11 months unless you have a solar meter to get a reading its best to change them - I do not own a solar meter so I changed mine in that time frame given - you only need one good UVB for the tank --- indicator cards are not any good please do not use them -- I would get a digital probe thermometer they are the most accurate - stick ons work good for ambient temps but for a surface basking temp please use a digital probe-- the 18" tall tank you want the UVB in the tank unless the tank has a screen on it that is wide holed - it can then stay on top but you want the distance 8-10 inches above the basking decor

Also willl absolutely avoid further uv bulbs- thank you for advice!!!