Bearded Dragon lighting setup

Question

tank   QUESTION: Hi i recently was asking questions about lighting setup for when i get a baby beardie. but the site wont let me anymore follow ups. last time i ask about hanging the uvb in tank and how to do so. also how low i should hang it you told me not diagonal, ok. and 6- 10 inches away i understand also. but i said the tank is 22 inches high and the thing he can climb on is 8 inches tall. so the be 6- to 10 inches away it would have to be hung 4 to 6 inches lower. but that would mean when it is on the floor of the tank it will be 16 inches away.

Just so you know we are in the process of setting the tank up and we do not have everything yet or how we want it yet.

ANSWER: Hello Andrea,

I hope things are going well!
Well, he most likely will not sit on the bottom the majority of the time.  He will probably prefer to sit on his basking log or platform.  As long as he is within the 6-10 inches of the UVB most of the time, he will be ok.  
Once he becomes a juvenile to adult you can upgrade the size of his tank to a 75 gallon or larger then you can arrange his lighting differently or opt for a mercury vapor bulb instead.
What sized tank are you using?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the tank in the pic is an 60 gallon high 36Lx18Wx22H

ANSWER: Hello Andrea,

That size is fine, he should have plenty of room to move around.  AT 22 inches in height you could easily use a mercury vapor bulb, with no problem.  A 100watt mercury vapor bulb should be 12 inches or so from him for safety.
So that would give you around 8 inches of space to build him a platform or to put a nice basking log, branch in for him.
That might be easier than trying to get him 6-10 inches from a tube UVB light.  

Tracie  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank so much for your help. i have just one more question. we have decided on the mercury vapor bulb. i was wondering if you know the period of time before the bulb needs to be change between megaray and solar glo

Answer
Hello Andrea,

I hope I have helped out.  Lighting is a somewhat frustrating subject.
The Solar Glo is a good bulb, but definitely not as strong.  It should need to be switched out probably at 8-10 months whereas the Megaray is a lot stronger so usually it lasts 1 year, sometimes 1 1/2 years.  It really helps to have a UVB meter, but they are expensive.
Here is the site for the Megaray for you to read some information on them.  That light along with the T-rex had some lighting issues awhile back due to the manufacturing.  The Megaray has pretty much gotten it all fixed, but I do not think that the T-rex has fixed their problems yet.
www.reptileuv.com
John at reptile uv is very helpful & if you have any questions, just contact him through the website with any concerns you may have.  

Tracie