[QUOTE.=lefthandedjanice;102527]I have it so it rests around a steady 82F during the day and 78F during the night.
As far as brightness goes, I need to invest in something with a dimmer switch. I have the light angled slightly so he has a dark corner to sit in, and the plant takes up the entire back of the tank for shade. The dimmer sounds so much more convenient.[/QUOTE]

This will work too. A dimmer will prevent it from becoming too hot by allowing you to turn the lamp up just enough to produce the temps you want