Lighting combo question

Boris&Nellie

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I just upgrade my tort's enclosure to a new tortoise table (3x6 feet?) and I am currently in the process of getting his lights set up. My plan is to have 2 bulbs that screw into some fixtures on the warm end and then tube on the cool end.

For the cool end I just bought a Zilla tropical series 25 T8 fluorescent tube bulb (15w).

For the warm side I already have a ceramic bulb that just emits heat so that takes care of one corner, but i still need to take care of the other corner of the warm side. I have heard good things about the MVB bulbs but they are a bit out of my price range at the moment, so I was wondering if getting a basking UVA/heat bulb would be sufficient?

I am hoping that the tube in the cooler end would suffice for UVB output and the warmer end would still have enough heat and light + UVA.

Thoughts?
 

HLogic

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25 microwatts is a little low. Is it a dual tube fixture for the UVB bulbs?
 

Tom

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If you feel that your tube provides adequate UV then you can just use a regular incandescent flood bulb for some heat and light on the other end. I use 65 watt floods and I adjust their height to get the correct basking temperature under them.

How many tortoises are in this enclosure? Russians?
 

Boris&Nellie

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Just 1 Russian- I went to get a fixture for the bulb but had no luck in finding anything that worked so I actually went back to the pet store and got the Zilla Slimline Desert Fixture 18" 50 UVB
 

Boris&Nellie

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I think I might return the 25 bulb I originally bought and swap it for a basking bulb and call it a day. Do you think a 100W basking bulb would be a good wattage?
 

Tom

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...and got the Zilla Slimline Desert Fixture 18" 50 UVB

I'm not familiar with that particular bulb and I've never put a meter under one, so I can't tell you how effective they are, or are not.

Will the tortoise be able to get some sunshine in a nice, safe, large outdoor enclosure during the warmer months? If yes, then you should be fine either way.
 

Boris&Nellie

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Yes I'm planning on building him an outdoor pen once its a little warmer out. Thank you for all of your help!
 
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