Metal halide reef lights

[Joe]

My wife and I are considering a bts. I have a reef aquarium setup I was planning to use. It is 4'x20"x30" It has two 250 watt metal halide full spectrum bulbs. I was thinking that I could just use one for the basking side of the tank and leave the other side turned off. Can you have too much lighting? Thanks in advance for the help for a newb

[mom22wins]

I'm sure you'll hear some great advice on here about lighting. You can also page back a page or two and look for posts pertaining to this as it comes up frequently on this forum.

I would say if the light gives off enough heat (90 - 102 degrees) you could place a basking tile/rock under it and the bts could bask there. But there's still the matter of UVB lighting.

[Steve]

I'd be worried that a Metal Halide bulb would be way too hot, depending on the distance... I've always been under the impression that they produce a tremendous amount of heat. Does your bulb produce UVA/UVB? If so I'd also be concerned as to what parts of those spectrums were actually produced and in what intensity.

You'd likely be better off switching to a Mercury Vapor bulb made specifically for reptiles (check out reptileuv.com they make the best ones without a doubt)

[Tattoo]

Welcome Joe. I'd suggest you get a temp gun and see what you can wrangle for temps. I would be concerned over the 250 watt bulbs ... pretty hot. Sounds like a very tall tank. Like mom22wins said there is the issue of UVB lights to consider. Check out the care sheet. It has all the ins and outs of lighting you will need to consider. Good luck!

[Leigh]

You'll get the UV and heat you need, and some from that lamp, as mentioned it'll be the temps you'll have to watch, good luck.

Ohh, and when you get everything set up and in order, the payment for information is

Have you read the caresheet from here? Its essential you do !! it will answer most of the questions that will spring to mind.

PS make sure you drain the water out first

[Bird_Brain]

I would have to agree with everyone else. 250watt bulbs seems to be way too much. I advise getting a temp gun and just checking the temps. That way you know it would be safe for a bluey. Plus, temp guns are just fun to play with!