KennyP
New Member
Been trolling around for a couple weeks getting ideas and info for our new baby Sulcata’s (Sam), new enclosure. This is my first post as I need some help. My first post was going to be my build to help others with design ideas, but I need to fix a heating issue first. Just finished this build last night, 3 full days of working in garage!
I have a 100W CHE in the middle, 60W UVB basking bulb on right, some grow lights in between the two, and an 18” fluorescent UVB tube on far left to add some UV to other side without the heat. My issue is I put the upper floor (mezzanine) on the cool side figuring he/she could get some shade on cool side. My CHE is connected to a thermostat that was set at 80 (I just bumped it to 85), but it’s never getting that high, maybe gets to 77 or less. When I measure temp at the hide it’s low 70s, and that’s where he’s sleeping. I’m sure this is due to the mezzanine blocking radiant heat. How can I get it warmer under mezzanine without super heating the whole enclosure, or totally changing and deconstructing the layout/electrical??? I did just order a 150W CHE. The enclosure is 5’ x 2’ by 22” high
Thoughts/Ideas/Contemplations:
1) 150W CHE will fix issue? (I hope this is solution)
2) Add another CHE over left side (however this will make mezzanine area really hot rendering unusable
3) Remove Mezzanine (will unblock CHE, however he/she will need extra square footage when he/she gets bigger, so need a more perm solution later)...OR is 10 sqft enough space for him/her until moving outside perm
4) Remount lighting and electrical; move basking to mezzanine side (mezz will get hot again), move UVB tube to right or middle, leave CHE in middle (all together a pain, but doable
***Unrelated Question***
The basking bulb is 13” from basking spot, and fluorescent tube is 18” from ground. Will this suffice for UV utilization? He’s getting outside a few/couple times a week, but I’m a firefighter and gone a lot so my wife may or may not always get him outside (she’s preggo and we have a 3.5 year old boy, soooo she’s busy)
Build thread to come
Here are pics to show issue:
I have a 100W CHE in the middle, 60W UVB basking bulb on right, some grow lights in between the two, and an 18” fluorescent UVB tube on far left to add some UV to other side without the heat. My issue is I put the upper floor (mezzanine) on the cool side figuring he/she could get some shade on cool side. My CHE is connected to a thermostat that was set at 80 (I just bumped it to 85), but it’s never getting that high, maybe gets to 77 or less. When I measure temp at the hide it’s low 70s, and that’s where he’s sleeping. I’m sure this is due to the mezzanine blocking radiant heat. How can I get it warmer under mezzanine without super heating the whole enclosure, or totally changing and deconstructing the layout/electrical??? I did just order a 150W CHE. The enclosure is 5’ x 2’ by 22” high
Thoughts/Ideas/Contemplations:
1) 150W CHE will fix issue? (I hope this is solution)
2) Add another CHE over left side (however this will make mezzanine area really hot rendering unusable
3) Remove Mezzanine (will unblock CHE, however he/she will need extra square footage when he/she gets bigger, so need a more perm solution later)...OR is 10 sqft enough space for him/her until moving outside perm
4) Remount lighting and electrical; move basking to mezzanine side (mezz will get hot again), move UVB tube to right or middle, leave CHE in middle (all together a pain, but doable
***Unrelated Question***
The basking bulb is 13” from basking spot, and fluorescent tube is 18” from ground. Will this suffice for UV utilization? He’s getting outside a few/couple times a week, but I’m a firefighter and gone a lot so my wife may or may not always get him outside (she’s preggo and we have a 3.5 year old boy, soooo she’s busy)
Build thread to come
Here are pics to show issue: