The UVB Varanid debate !

[jarich]

Originally Posted by V87

I knw one zoo doing blood tests for there monitors in co ordination with the t5 super zoo to see wether it makes a difference or not ...

They are also doing uv field studies out in komodo ...

Very much looking forward to these results, though I don't think they will be any surprise.

[Pirarucu]

Originally Posted by V87

I knw one zoo doing blood tests for there monitors in co ordination with the t5 super zoo to see wether it makes a difference or not ...

They are also doing uv field studies out in komodo ...

The London Zoo, I assume? I'll be interested to see that, though I would agree with Jarich that I don't think they will be surprising results.

[MizCandice]

Originally Posted by mdfmonitor

Not used it yet, very hard to fit a UVB bulb in & still achieve 160f basking surface temp & not over heat the run. I prefer a good hot basking spot covering snout to vent myself, if enclosure was twice as big 10x10 then it would be in regardless of needing it.

Black tape is the compare line, bottom right bottom pic. April 7th till around Nov 1st (2nd pic)

Adorable :P .. Im curious to see the end result and compiled data after the experiments

[V87]

Originally Posted by jarich

Very much looking forward to these results, though I don't think they will be any surprise.

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

The London Zoo, I assume? I'll be interested to see that, though I would agree with Jarich that I don't think they will be surprising results.

It would be that very same zoo you speak of ...

Depending on what side of the fence you sit ...I think my side of the fence will be shocked at how right people have been about uv and it's uses and that it may be fundamental for development and health

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by V87

I think my side of the fence will be shocked at how right people have been about uv and it's uses and that it may be fundamental for development and health

Ooooooooh, now that`s what I call putting yourself right in the line of fire......

[V87]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Ooooooooh, now that`s what I call putting yourself right in the line of fire......

It could be painful but I'm willing to take my chances ....

Or I will disappear into the a puff of smoke and never show my face again ... For shame for shame lol

[infernalis]

Well people, time for another turnaround with the thought train.

I have been doing some research into using Metal Halide lamps in my basking array, and the pros all outweigh the cons.

I brought up the idea within the "scientific community" and the replies were overwhelming in favor of using them because...

a. closely copies natural sunlight, in both UVA & UVB output
b. higher lumens to wattage ratio (brighter light cage)
c. energy efficiency of plasma discharge lighting
d. cost effective if I wire my own ballasts.

One quote that sticks out....

[mdfmonitor]

Originally Posted by infernalis

Well people, time for another turnaround with the thought train.

I have been doing some research into using Metal Halide lamps in my basking array, and the pros all outweigh the cons.

I brought up the idea within the "scientific community" and the replies were overwhelming in favor of using them because...

a. closely copies natural sunlight, in both UVA & UVB output
b. higher lumens to wattage ratio (brighter light cage)
c. energy efficiency of plasma discharge lighting
d. cost effective if I wire my own ballasts.

One quote that sticks out....

Wayne stick it in if you want it!! i've just been looking tonight to see if there's room for something in my set-up.

The big debate has always been can you grow & breed monitors without uv/uv bulbs etc, many long term keepers have & still are.

The study that the zoos are doing needs take into account the different methods that current private keepers & zoos are using, as in hot basking temps (i know B.Fry uses hot basking spots) along with uv & without among the same species of monitors.

I'm not sure what i can put in my set up that's worth using that won't over heat the viv & effect the hot basking spot & won't blow again due to the high humidity.

lets us know what you use if you do use something!!

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by infernalis

Well people, time for another turnaround with the thought train.

I have been doing some research into using Metal Halide lamps in my basking array, and the pros all outweigh the cons.

I brought up the idea within the "scientific community" and the replies were overwhelming in favor of using them because...

a. closely copies natural sunlight, in both UVA & UVB output
b. higher lumens to wattage ratio (brighter light cage)
c. energy efficiency of plasma discharge lighting
d. cost effective if I wire my own ballasts.

One quote that sticks out....

So then It would be good to start adding some sort of uvb now? So what wattage should these halide lamps be at? If they are so beneficial I would like to get them as soon as possible.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by Akuma223

So then It would be good to start adding some sort of uvb now? So what wattage should these halide lamps be at? If they are so beneficial I would like to get them as soon as possible.

If you buy one from a reptile shop, about $200 per light.

Wired up myself from scratch, about $50 per light.

Not just UVB, Halide lamps produce UVA & UVB along with a lot of usable light & heat.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by jarich

Very much looking forward to these results, though I don't think they will be any surprise.

Considering what Bryan said, and knowing that he keeps Varanids and has his own lab at his disposal, I can't help but trust his immunity/white cell count observation.

Also, metal halide lamps have 5 times the lumen output for the same wattage.... so adding only 1 bulb would be like adding 5 more lights, replacing 2 lamps would give as much light as having 10 basking lamps!!

[formica]

very interesting re the white cell count - are there any specifics on which types are boosted? is there a paper available somewhere

not surprising anyway, organisms evolve to make use of every part of their environment and its natural cycles.

[Lankyrob]

Are these halide lamps what i woukd call a MVB ( mercury vapour bulb)

[formica]

mercury vapour lamp is a type of metal halide lamp

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by formica

mercury vapour lamp is a type of metal halide lamp

You have that backward, mercury vapour lamps were invented 30 years prior to metal halide lamps.

A mercury vapour lamp has no halides (metal salts) in the plasma arc tube, Metal halide lamps are mercury vapour lamps with an additional metal salt compound (halides) added to the amalgam to broaden the spectral output.

One of the factors that caused experimentation with the arc tube contents was that a raw mercury vapour lamp output very high UV that would be harmful to stare into the bulb for any length of time, The first solution was to coat the glass envelope (outer bulb) with a UV reactive phosphor, that's how modern day florescent bulbs were born... the main difference between a florescent bulb and a mercury vapour bulb is the gas pressure inside the lamp. A MV lamp has very high pressure inside the arc tube, and generates such an intense heat that the amalgam must be contained in a quartz tube as the temperatures achieved in operation will melt standard silica glass, the low pressure content of a florescent lamp generates far less heat, so standard glass works fine.

However, the phosphor coatings were inefficient compared to doping the mercury itself, this is why we almost never see a frosty white coating on a metal halide lamp, but almost always see a frosty white coating on mercury vapour lamps.

From a manufacturing standpoint it's cheaper to make the metal halide lamps, a minuscule grain of halide salt is a lot cheaper than a whole coating of phosphorescent materials, and less harmful to the environment when the lamp is no longer usable.