NEW SETUP, WOULD LOVE ANY ADVICE

[Kaizen]

Sorry, my last post bordered on belligerent. I’m just wondering what exactly you are using for your uvb source. Your setup looks great, and I’m sure your Cham is well taken care of. I was just curious about whether you had all the correct specs for your lights.

 

[Goose502]

the way the planting system works, No hydroponics, just soil in the planters under the hydroballs

If you want true bioactive, you won’t get it without heavily modifying the bottom of your enclosure. What you have is a great idea, just won’t work for bioactivity. You could simply pull out the hydroballs and replace with organic soil. If you want true bioactivity, imagine making the entire base of your enclosure a planter. You’d have to have at least 6-8 inches of waterproof base material to fill.

 

[salty dog]

You need more branches vertical and horizantal

 

[JIFFYPOP]

It is a grow light. Just the bulb, i believe i can change bulb to whatever, Have a Lumens tester but not a UVB. what ara good brands?

 

[JIFFYPOP]

Totally agree on branches, plan on doing more asap. more real plants too eh? you think?

 

[JIFFYPOP]

Its a grow light bought from local hydro store. i dont wanna wake him but tomorrow will see if i can see what brand ( threw out box)

 

[iMi]

You'll need a drainage layer like the hydro balls you have. You could use lava rock or similar. The point is to keep the weight down. Next, you will want a layer of organic soil. Next you can opt for something like the Exo Terra Plantation Soil. It's light and will allow the soil beneath to breath. Last, you'll need leaves or moss. I personally like moss. Seems to work well.

Last, you need to seed with isopods and springtails. If you can go to a show or find someone online, you can get a nice mix of various types of isopods.

Never clean poop again.

Edit to one more point. I purchased replacement window screen and created a second layer to help retain the soil but also provide air circulation. Worked like a charm.

 

[JIFFYPOP]

Thanks so much for all the help, i will be looking into all advice and keep you informed. really appreciate it

 

[Vic]

My bioactive later works great have lots of plants growing springtails and Isopods, this viv has frogs in not chameleon s

 

[Kaizen]

It is a grow light. Just the bulb, i believe i can change bulb to whatever, Have a Lumens tester but not a UVB. what ara good brands?

Sorry I didn’t respond last nite. I don’t know what bulb will work for your ballast. My guess is your ballast will run 200-400 watt, so I guess I’d do a search for 200 watt uvb bulb.

 

[JIFFYPOP]

So bulb i have is just standard 250 phillips grow bulb. I was able to find a 4' 4 buld t5 setup, gonna try that. And rethinking the subtrate, thanks for all the advice

 

[Kaizen]

So bulb i have is just standard 250 phillips grow bulb. I was able to find a 4' 4 buld t5 setup, gonna try that. And rethinking the subtrate, thanks for all the advice

A 4 bulb t5 setup will be awesome. If it were me, I’d use 2 uv bulbs...maybe a 6% and a 12%, and two 6400k plant bulbs. I know Mh push a lot of light, but the only ones i know of that can produce usable uv are the hqi double ended bulbs.

 

[JIFFYPOP]

gotcha, ya ima try that and have couple basking lamps to put near the back of cage where he likes em

 

[JIFFYPOP]

wish i had talked to you earlier, cause I was looking at those double ended setups

 

[Kaizen]

Yeah, but hindsight is always 20/20. Just chop your MH and bank the $. Then, when one of the hqi come up for a reasonable price, grab it. Sounds like your Cham is going to be spoiled rotten.

 

[JIFFYPOP]

I live in Canada so can be used for other things, lol. But ya Im looking forward to it just hope plants take to it, cause he loves sleeping in his money tree

 

[JIFFYPOP]

getting more plants soon too for him

 

[JIFFYPOP]

I was ignorant on what I thought was bioactive. What you guys are doing is amazing. I am considering raising the bottom. Been doing alot more reading on it, gonna be a bit of a project. Really like the idea of never cleaning poop again lol.

 

[Beman]

A 4 bulb t5 setup will be awesome. If it were me, I’d use 2 uv bulbs...maybe a 6% and a 12%, and two 6400k plant bulbs. I know Mh push a lot of light, but the only ones i know of that can produce usable uv are the hqi double ended bulbs.

Hi there. Just wanted to chime in here. 2 uvb bulbs at that level will be far too much for a Panther. At most Panthers are recommended to have a 10.0 or 12% and only when there is dense foliage.

To the OP @JIFFYPOP I have a quad unit for my Veiled I run a 12% arcadia, 1 plant pro bulb, and two 6500 daylight bulbs. Depending on your highest basking level a 12% may be fine but please do not run two uvb bulbs. It will provide too much UVB for a Panther. Panther's at most would need a 3 UVI range but they have to have the ability to get down away from the UVB. The UVI level of the UVB will decrease as you move away from the screen that the fixture is sitting on. You want the fixture to run the length of the cage.
Here are my levels however they will vary from yours due to not having the exact same bulbs, fixture, and cage that I do. The inches refers to the actual level measured away from the top screen beneath the light. So if your highest basking branch is 7 inches below your screen and your cham's back rises 2 inches above it this is putting him into a 5 inch range. Which would mean the level of UVB the cham is getting exposed to is roughly a 3 UVI.

Measurement is from screen down and the UVI level that coordinates with it. With a quad T5HO fixture and a 12% Arcadia UVB bulb on a Dragon Strand Enclosure.…


3 inches = 4.5 UVI
4 inches = 3.8 UVI
5 inches = 3.0 UVI
6 inches = 2.5 UVI
7 inches = 2.1 UVI
8 inches = 1.8 UVI
9 inches = 1.4 UVI
10 inches = 1.2 UVI
11 inches = 1.0 UVI
12 inches = 0.8 UVI
15 inches = 0.01 UVI to nothing

Here is an image of my lighting and how it runs across the enclosure.



This is what people mean by densely planted and lots of horizontal branches. Front view and side view.

 

[JIFFYPOP]

I love how dense it is, got my fixture. Just gotta go out and grab the bulbs now