ackie setup, what ceramic heater wattage should i use? etc

[lantern]

hi, im getting ready to purchase a baby ridge tailed monitor next year and i'm trying to use as much equipment as i can from what i already have.
i'll try describe my setup/plans in detail and would appreciate greatly any corrections or advice regarding it and ridgetail monitors.

For the first year i will house the ackie in an old viv approx 120x30x45 while i save up enough funds to make a much larger enclosure for it.
I've built a lid with ventilation holes that has light fittings attached to it, a short fluro for UV/light and ceramic ES fitting for heat/infrared at one end of the viv.
I plan on getting a 10% UVB fluro and running a ceramic heater through a Habistat day/night pulse thermostat with a night eye to reduce temp at night.

my main query is, what wattage ceramic heater should i purchase?
My es fitting is approx 47cm from the base of the viv, and i would probably use 1.5-2 inches of substrate and place rock to bask on underneath.
from what i've researched, nasking temp should be 36-45 c.
I've read ceramic heaters are quite good but are needed to be placed reasonably shallow for basking heat.

When i build a larger enclosure i plan on getting a long double fluro fitting that so that i can put a 2% and 10% UVB's in it.
I've considered upgrading to two ES heat sources in a larger enclosure. eg light/heat for day plus use the same ceramic for night OR ceramic for day and a moonlight simulating heat globe for night viewing.
do Ackies dislike moon/night lights?? or should i not bother with those options, save my cash and keep the single ceramic for day and night?

also, I have a heat rock/cave that is about 10 years old. it has not been used for 8 years. After research i am reluctant to use it. should i just try sell it on ebay or in local paper to help fund better equipment?

 

[TWENTY B]

you've read lost, but not all that correct.
no need for night heat at all, not unless your night temps are getting down like 5-10*. even then it would only be a low wattage heat mat .
they don't come out at night. they will be sleeping
UV is not nessicary.
and a ceramic heat emmitter is useless.it will not give you a basking spot.

they need a hot spot from a light about 60-70*, just the hot spot.. not the hot end.
i use bunnings flood lights. 150W they are $6 for 2 globe's.
the air temps in the hot end will be 35-45, thats fine.
cool end should end up 25-30.
put a flouro tube in if you like, but it's more for visible light in the enclosure than for UV.

your heat rock should go in the bin. fire hazard.

 

[lantern]

they don't come out at night. they will be sleeping
UV is not nessicary.
and a ceramic heat emmitter is useless.it will not give you a basking spot.

oh, thx for info.
i knew UV was not necessary but have read it brings out their scale pigmentation.
could someone explain a bit more why a ceramic heater is not adequate?​

 

[TWENTY B]

ceramics give off a radiant heat. they heat the surrounding air.
basking lights give aprojected heat., they heat the surface the light hits more than the surrounding air.

monitors need a hot spot. mine can get upto 80* usually around 65*
they rapidly heat thier bodies to "juice" them selves up, then off they go.
run around like crackheads just after getting a hit.
until it's worn off, then they are back under the light for a recharge..

pics in this thread.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/exotics-amphibians-and-other-herps-40/some-enclosure-pics-121057..