Lighting for large cage

[CamCham78]

Upgrading to a 24x24x48 cage. For lighting looking at
24" HO T5 Double Bulb fixture with Arcadia 12% and 6.5k Day-light Bulb or should I go with
HO T5 24" Quad Fixture W/ Arcadia 12% Bulb & 3 x Daylight Bulbs.

Will the double work or do I need the quad?
3 daylight bulbs seems excessive.

 

[nightanole]

24" HO T5 Double Bulb fixture with Arcadia 6% and 6.5k Day-light Bulb

12% is for 6ft or higher cages.

 

[spacecats1001]

My two cents....I have a large dragon strand....I have the quad. You could definitely use the double no problem however with the quad the lighting is much more like natural daylight, just be sure to offer plenty of cover. I also like the quads blue led lights....they let Stuart find his bed spot before total darkness if he is still wandering at bedtime. I would ask Todd Goode at light your reptiles but I believe a double with 12% might be a bit much, unless you have a lot of top plant cover. With the quad I have the 12% but I have lots of cover as well as the fixture lifted off the cage about 6 inches. The more bulbs in the fixture, the more the UV output is cut down due to deflection as well I believe. so a 12% in a double would be stronger than a 12% in a quad. Again, Todd is great at guiding the way when it comes to lighting.
To answer your question, 3 bulbs would not be excessive, but it really is up to you, either one would work. Here is my setup with the quad fixture.

 

[spacecats1001]

I cannot figure out how to get this pic to stay rotated upright, but here is the led nightlight, they go off about 15 minutes after his daylights go off.Just a bonus with the quad.

 

[CamCham78]

Thanks. I like your large dragon strand but don’t have room for that big cage. So double bulb with 6% Arcadia it is.