Need Lighting Suggestions for PVCX Enclosure

[Enigma]

I'm thinking about having a 48x24x24 PVCX enclosure made for my beardie. I absolutely love glass terrariums, and I had my heart set on a 48x18x18 Repti-Fit for him. However, after moving a 24x18x36 downstairs yesterday, I've decided I really don't want any more big glass boxes in my house: they're too heavy, and the risk for damage is too great.

All of the lighting would go inside the enclosure. The two 24" t5 strips aren't an issue. The brackets for them can just be mounted directly to the "roof" with a two-part epoxy, with a hole drilled for the cords.

The mercury vapor bulb and the ceramic heater are the issues. I've got my MVB in a big dome fixture, and my ceramic heater is in Exo Terra's wire fixture. I don't know how I can make the fixtures work. To use the bulbs without the fixtures, ceramic sockets could just be affixed to the roof, with holes drilled for the wires.

I don't like that idea. I would prefer that any holes that were drilled were drilled in the back wall, and I would like to use some sort of fixture on the bulb/heater.

I could put stands in the enclosure for them (http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/En...D=2&SearchID=1), and I already own one. That might be kind of ugly, though.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to approach this?

Photos would be greatly appreciated if you've done this!

[Enigma]

I just thought about something. If the enclosure is black, and the light stands are black, they might not be that noticeable. The tile, however, is a light tan with beige and brown. I might be able to hide the bottoms of the stands.

[Faltang1090]

I like the idea of a radiant heat panel instead of bulbs. That would stop the need of heat bulbs. But all you would need are the uv bulbs. Greg west sells the panels and installs them to. Then to be on the safe side you can get a thermostat to control it as well

[Enigma]

Thanks, Faltang. I just read that the ceramic heaters shouldn't be used inside an enclosure, anyway. It probably shouldn't be needed with the MVB (UVB and basking lamp) and the T5s in the enclosure, anyway. A heat panel would be a good idea, I think (hadn't thought of that!), as it would be hooked up to a controller and it would only come on if it was absolutely required. The controller will shut off the T5s if it gets too hot, which would just leave the MVB bulb running (which could also be shut off if the heat didn't come down).

So, I can surrender the ceramic heater no problem. But not the MVB, I don't think.

[Faltang1090]

Nm I reread the op u will need a baskin lamp, my bad but u could look for heat deflectors and still use the mvb.

[Farva]

I run mine in a 4*2*2 with an mvb only with no issues. It's mounted on the roof.

[Enigma]

What kind of fixture are you using, Farva? Just a ceramic socket, or some type of dome or something with a reflector?

[Farva]

Just a ceramic socket. No dome no nothing.

[Enigma]

Just a ceramic socket. No dome no nothing.

Nice! Sorry. One more question. What wattage bulb are you using?