Ya i already was thinking today that i would need a dimmer because if using a light or ceramic heat emitter that seems the best way to go about it. If i went to home depot and bought like a desk lamp that i could place behind or beside the tank and bought one of those dimmers u plug the lamp into and thats were you control it from instead of the right on the lamp that would work would it not? Im thinking it will, its just nice to have someone else tell you your idea is ok that knows or some what knows what they are talking about instead of a 7 and 10 year old. l.o.l I was thinking that way to because a lot of them have that bending neck it would be easier to move around if i have to. And another reason is if i can go that way it will save me few bucks.