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 #2082068


Urospikesmom
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 Where to put Mega Ray

Do most folks use their Mega Ray as a basking light? I’m rethinking my set up. I’ve been using a Zoo Med halogen heat lamp bulb for heat in my uro’s basking area and have the Mega Ray suspended about 19 inches above the cage (one inch from the top of the cage) towards the middle of the cage. I was wondering if I should be using the Mega Ray for his basking light and the Zoo Med as an additional light/heat source.

My uro is a male - Spike. His cage is a little over 4 feet long, 18 inches high, and 24 inches deep.

I do have a digital thermometer and temps are good. Just asking the question to see if the Mega Ray would be better to bask in since it’s got the UVA & UVB. I also have a ceramic heat lamp to use when necessary.

Thanks!
10/09/09  01:39am

 #2082115


UROKEEPER
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   Message To: Urospikesmom   In reference to Message Id: 2082068


 Where to put Mega Ray

Quote:

Do most folks use their Mega Ray as a basking light?



yes, Although you can use a few depending on the size of the enclosure.

Quote:

I’ve been using a Zoo Med halogen heat lamp bulb for heat in my uro’s basking area



don’t use those bulbs unless you have a very high enclosure.... if I’m not mistaken those are true "spot" bulbs which should not be used as it can burn the tissue and organs etc.. spots have a very concentrated area of heat (not good for ambient temps) that usually (in the average setup) will not cover the entire body of the uromastyx. The animal doesn’t know how hot it’s getting. Try using a par 38 halogen flood found at HD or Lowes. they are cheaper,safer and halogen.

Quote:

have the Mega Ray suspended about 19 inches above the cage (one inch from the top of the cage) towards the middle of the cage.



what type and wattage?
I would have it at the basking area and a bit closer, again depending on type and wattage. you could also get another one that is higher in the middle area to give extra heat and uv throughout the enclosure. I would highly recommend a solar meter....I love mine.

Quote:

I was wondering if I should be using the Mega Ray for his basking light and the Zoo Med as an additional light/heat source.



since the zoo med halogen is a "spot" type bulb I would not use it for good overall ambient heat. spot bulbs will heat up a smaller area far away without increasing the ambient temps too much. I would only buse these bulbs in very high enclosures when you want to heat up a basking spot far away without overheating the entire enclosure.

Quote:

I do have a digital thermometer and temps are good



you will need a infra red temp gun for the basking area and digital fo9r the hot/cool ends.
10/09/09  09:27am

 #2082212


Mbwrink
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   Message To: Urospikesmom   In reference to Message Id: 2082068


 Where to put Mega Ray

I have a Mega-Ray 160 W bulb sitting on top of 16 in high enclosure. It shines down on a 12x6 in piece of slate set at 20 degree angle in the cornener of the cage. This puts the hottest spot of the center of the slate at about 12 in from the bulb and gives me a temperature of 125 degrees. Ambient room temp is 75 degrees.
10/09/09  01:57pm

 #2082625


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Mbwrink   In reference to Message Id: 2082212


 Where to put Mega Ray

Quote:

I have a Mega-Ray 160 W bulb sitting on top of 16 in high enclosure.



From ReptileUV

Quote:

MINIMUM distance setting of 18" will produce approximately 150-200 microwatts per square centimeter (uW/cm2) of UVB and 900-1200uW/cm2 of UVA.



10/10/09  09:44pm

 #2082638


Urospikesmom
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   Message To: Jbreddawg   In reference to Message Id: 2082625


 Where to put Mega Ray

Thanks all for the info! :-)
10/10/09  10:34pm

 #2082649


Mbwrink
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   Message To: Jbreddawg   In reference to Message Id: 2082625


 Where to put Mega Ray

In reference to above this is not a problem with lights that are phosphor coated properly. The uW/cm2 is less important then the UV index at 100 uW/cm2. For instance a light that has a UV index of 1.6-2.0 at 100uW/cm2 is not an issue but there was a while back some lights that put out a UV index as much as 8.9-14.2 at 100 uW/cm2 which caused eye damage. This was because the phosphor coating material fluoresced at wavelengths at the lowest end of the UVB spectrum sometimes crossing over into the UVC spectrum. Mega-Ray lights have a coating that measures in the upper end of the UVB spectrum.
See the following web site:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/



10/10/09  11:27pm

 #2082718


Jbreddawg
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   Message To: Mbwrink   In reference to Message Id: 2082649


 Where to put Mega Ray

ReptileUV the people that sell the megaray Is where I got the minimum distance for the 160 watt megaray as 18 inches.

If you want to put yours at 16 inches then so be it. I will go by what they recommend for the bulb they have extensive testing with to come up with a minimum distance.
10/11/09  09:06am


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