Ambient light

Jay Bagley

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Hi, I am very close to setting the lights up in my first closed chamber. For my ambient light I got the 48 in 6500K T8 lights. They're just the standard fluorescent bulbs. I was looking at another post going on right now, and they were using grow lights for their ambient. Will what I bought be okay, or would I be better off exchanging them and getting grow lights. Was just curious what is the difference? Do they put out UV like a UV bulb? I bought two of them to go in a dual fixture, and I also got a T5 10.0 ho for the uv. Those combined with the flood bulb, will this be bright enough for a 8x4? Thanks guys.
 

wellington

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With the ongoing thread you mentioned, and you just starting out purchasing your lights etc, I would follow @Markw84 diagrams if you can return the items not needed. If your going to have to eat the cost, I would work with what you have.
 

Jay Bagley

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With the ongoing thread you mentioned, and you just starting out purchasing your lights etc, I would follow @Markw84 diagrams if you can return the items not needed. If your going to have to eat the cost, I would work with what you have.
Sounds like a plan, thankyou!! What are grow lights, are they like uv lights too?
 

Markw84

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Hi, I am very close to setting the lights up in my first closed chamber. For my ambient light I got the 48 in 6500K T8 lights. They're just the standard fluorescent bulbs. I was looking at another post going on right now, and they were using grow lights for their ambient. Will what I bought be okay, or would I be better off exchanging them and getting grow lights. Was just curious what is the difference? Do they put out UV like a UV bulb? I bought two of them to go in a dual fixture, and I also got a T5 10.0 ho for the uv. Those combined with the flood bulb, will this be bright enough for a 8x4? Thanks guys.
Jay, Those should be good. Certainly the T5 10.0 is great. The T8 6500K should be more than adequate as well. They are not as bright or efficient as a T5 would be, but the T8 is still a good Fluorescent. The difference with a "grow light" is the spectrum is weighted a bit more to spike a bit in the Blues and Reds. Those colors are used most in plants, one for growth and the other for flowering and fruit production. I like the color balance of the grow lights and the fact that I am always trying to keep some plants going best I can in the enclosure. Since your T8 are still a 6500K, the color balance is good for a tortoise and simulating a more daylight look. Neither the grow lights or your T8 will produce any UV. You need the specialized reptile D3 lights like your T5 10.0.

SO you are good to go as you are. As a bonus, the T8's will run a bit cooler than a T5 would, so you will have less of a concern of your enclosure overheating as easily with the T8's.
 

Jay Bagley

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Jay, Those should be good. Certainly the T5 10.0 is great. The T8 6500K should be more than adequate as well. They are not as bright or efficient as a T5 would be, but the T8 is still a good Fluorescent. The difference with a "grow light" is the spectrum is weighted a bit more to spike a bit in the Blues and Reds. Those colors are used most in plants, one for growth and the other for flowering and fruit production. I like the color balance of the grow lights and the fact that I am always trying to keep some plants going best I can in the enclosure. Since your T8 are still a 6500K, the color balance is good for a tortoise and simulating a more daylight look. Neither the grow lights or your T8 will produce any UV. You need the specialized reptile D3 lights like your T5 10.0.

SO you are good to go as you are. As a bonus, the T8's will run a bit cooler than a T5 would, so you will have less of a concern of your enclosure overheating as easily with the T8's.
Mark, thank you so much for replying and all the great info. You guys taking the time to post what you have learned through trial and error really helps out a lot. Thanks again.
 

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