uv bulbs

[aaron]

How close should our dragon be to these lights? I've read something about the distance the uv's travel and some bulbs travel further than others? We've got her in a 55 gallon aquarium, will placing the light on the top of the aquarium be close enough?

Thanks in advance

aaron

[lance]

i think it should be about 12 inches but i'm not sure

[Uffern]

You want the dragon to be able to get within 12 in. of the light. In a 55 gal, you will need something for the dragon to climb to within a foot.

[Jaylyn]

Unless you are using a Mercury Vapor Lamp - then you animals should be at least 12 inches AWAY from it.

Jaylyn

[Uffern]

Also, if you are using a mercury vapor lamp, I suggest you switch, as many people have had problems with them leaking.

[aaron]

No I'm not using mercury vapour just flourescent but is it a case of the closer the better or just as long as their within 12 inches? Also is it true that one manufacturers bulb will penetrate further into the aquarium than anothers?

thanks aaron

[jay76]

Not all UV bulbs are created equal... last I heard, reptisun 5.0 was the bulb of choice. Apparently most of the other bulbs available don't have the same amount of UV output or the % of UV isn't as high. Since the farther the surface being illuminated is from the bulb the weaker the light that hits it, this might explain why they have to be closer to the animals in question. There's also a reptisun 7.0 if you think that your bulb is too far away. Hope this helps you somewhat

Jay

[WALTER]

The % is not the most important part of the light. A 2.0 can produce more UV then a 5.0 but you need to know more about the light then the manufacture claims. There is NO regulations on reptile products in Canada. So you can make anything you want and sell it for reptiles and make the claims people want to here and they buy your product. A lot of these reptile manufactures have mastered this. But back to the lights.
You need to know the overall energy output of the bulb. Zoo-med and Hagen do not share this info. So lets say the 2.0 has a lumen output of 1000, the UVB will be 20%. If the 5.0 has a lumen output of 300 the UVB will be 15%.
Also if you have your light on a screen top as most do you are going to dissipate 30% of the UV wavelengths which would make the bulb almost useless.When you buy a bulb the Kelvin, CRI, and Lumens all have to work together to give you the best OVERALL bulb. Some make claims of 98 CRI but cant prove that. JUST A CLAIM. Take a look at the new Hagen bulb Exo-terra?? Any bulb you pick up says on the back in fine print " Recommended in combination with Repti Glo 2.0" Explain that one to me.
The charts on the boxes are also a good one. Look at them really close the UVB peek is a very small wavelength when you look at the nanometer. UVB is a rage of 280-315 nM. UVA is a range of 315-400nM. If anyone can get Hagen or Zoo-Med to prove any of their claims I would love to see it. I have tried for months and they refuse to show any because it might hurt them if they do. I have seen all the charts on the net. They are old or they don't come close to the other claims out there. Sorry for the little rant.

[lance]

nice rant walter but what the he!! are you sayin which bulbs are better
i understand what you are sayin about the companies but which is the best for our lizards and snakes

[WALTER]

It is still going to be a very opinionated choice. My self I love the Verilux. They have every thing you need and they can prove their claims. I'm trying not to promot them because I am a distributor for them but what the he!!. I would be using the lights one way or another. The phosphor in the bulbs will make the UV last up to 18 months 3X better then the others. If we really sit back and listen to ourselfs when we chat about reptiles and their set ups we all say NATURAL. So why do we put colored lights on our herps? Blue light, red, day, night, breakfast light, bathing light ect, ect. The manufactures are raping the consumers with lights and other things as well.
Verilux has tested all their lights and they have to because they are used for humans. It just happens they have enough UV for the reptiles. So it was not initially made for reptiles but some one stumbled across it. They have been around since 1956, they do have some experience. Verilux gets independent companies to test the bulbs. Not like zoo-med or Hagen, they test their own and kick butt on the results?????. Verilux is also a very stable bulb they don't break down light the others including regular household lights.
Opps another little rant.

[aaron]

Don't worry about the rants! I'm kinda enjoying them!!! Thanks for the responses everyone. Where would one get one of the Verilux bulbs and are they flourescent bulbs? I'll look it up on the net, but just for the sake of asking!

Thanks again,

aaron

[Jaylyn]

Get them from Walter!! The price is right, too. ;)

Jaylyn

[aaron]

I'm near Windsor Ont. Do you think it would be cost effective to order from Walter or should I see if someone around here has them!? Who would carry them around here?

aaron