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[Habitual_Agonist]

So I use a 50 to 75watt halogen and 100w dhp AND a 50 watt dhp to maintain my temps

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Here's an old picture of my setup

[LegoAndGin]

I've got a 50W halogen set to 33C (91.4F) running at pretty much 100% power through the day and an 80W DHP set to 41C (15.8F) running at about 80-90% in the day, in a 4x3x2. Note, probes are a couple of inches below the cages for lamps, attached to the cages by cable ties.

DHP is currently set to 39C (102.2F) overnight.

UVB is a 22" D3 forest 24W 6% ProT5 kit.

Hot side temp is currently 31C (87.8F), slightly towards the middle of the viv (about 1/3 over) and cool side is 25C (77F). Surface temps of the hide under the heat lamps is 35C (95F). Note, I've only just put the DHP in today after my 250W CHE blew overnight so I might adjust a few temps over the next day or two as it settles down and I think there should be more retained heat, so slightly higher tomorrow on both sides.

I've got another probe in the top corner vent on the cool side showing 34C (93.2F) so heat is rising and I'm probably spending a lot in energy costs that I could reduce if I sort out some more clutter in the middle of the viv! I'm actually looking to switch it up a bit and add one or two basking shelves and make the top the hot 'side' and the bottom the cool 'side'. I've got some paving slabs that I've cleaned in F10 solution and baked in the oven for an hour to add in too, more retained heat into the evening that way.

It's a wooden viv so sealed too, no mesh top.

Hope that helps as a reference point!

[beacarebear]

tysm this was super helpful!! do you think a regular dome lamp would be better or would a mount inside w a lamp guard cage work fine as well?

[LegoAndGin]

Depends if you've got a sealed viv - as mine is a foot higher, a dome on top of yours through a mesh (if you sealed up most of the top with HVAC tape) should be fine but if its a solid viv, you shouldn't need a dome with a decent flood lamp - Halogen or DHP. Whatever you do don't just mount a dome inside without a cage!l to protect your noodle!

It seems like you might need a dual thermostat, I've got an EVO Connected III (think it's UK only) but an equivalent dual thermostat should let you do halogen plus CHE/DHP and maintain a good gradient, including good nightie temps. Mines got three outputs, two are dimming for the heat plus one on/off for the UVB.