Digital UV Radiometer (Solarmaster)

cheerios586

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Graham, Washington
Hi,

I have a long LED UVB light in my RT pen, which I've seem to have had a long time. How often are you to change it? My Digital reading in 6.0, and my RT is in her pen most of the time buried. I have extras to replace this one with if necessary, but of course there is still light.

Thank you in advance,

Cheryl
Mom to Yoshi2019 06 13_113601.jpg
 

Tom

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LED bulbs don't produce UV. At least none on the market that I've seen yet.

What you have there in the picture is a florescent HO UV tube. Looks like an Arcadia maybe?

You have discovered the value of having a UV meter. Solarmeter is the brand, and you have the 6.5 model. Some people replace their UV tubes every six months at a cost of $30-50 plus tax, plus shipping, and then proclaim that a UV meter costs too much. Even with just one UV bulb, the meter pays for itself. I have UV tubes that have been running for three years and still do not need replacement. I only know this because of my UV meter.

A UVI reading of 6.0 is very high. That is close to mid day summer sun. Mid June gives me the highest readings here and I just stepped outside and got a reading of 7.2 right now at 1:22 pm. I would only run that tube for about 3 hours mid day on a timer. Your tortoise might be hiding all the time because its too "sunny". It wouldn't be a bad idea to get a LED strip in there to run all day long for light, and just set the HO tube on its own timer for 3 hours mid day to simulate the mid day UV spike that happens outside every day. That is what I do. Plus a flood bulb for basking heat.
 

cheerios586

Active Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2017
Messages
152
Location (City and/or State)
Graham, Washington
LED bulbs don't produce UV. At least none on the market that I've seen yet.

What you have there in the picture is a florescent HO UV tube. Looks like an Arcadia maybe?

You have discovered the value of having a UV meter. Solarmeter is the brand, and you have the 6.5 model. Some people replace their UV tubes every six months at a cost of $30-50 plus tax, plus shipping, and then proclaim that a UV meter costs too much. Even with just one UV bulb, the meter pays for itself. I have UV tubes that have been running for three years and still do not need replacement. I only know this because of my UV meter.

A UVI reading of 6.0 is very high. That is close to mid day summer sun. Mid June gives me the highest readings here and I just stepped outside and got a reading of 7.2 right now at 1:22 pm. I would only run that tube for about 3 hours mid day on a timer. Your tortoise might be hiding all the time because its too "sunny". It wouldn't be a bad idea to get a LED strip in there to run all day long for light, and just set the HO tube on its own timer for 3 hours mid day to simulate the mid day UV spike that happens outside every day. That is what I do. Plus a flood bulb for basking heat.

Hi Tom,
Yes, it is an Arcadia. It's the tube that you had recommended for me to get awhile back. Thank you again. I will definitely get a light that just admits light for Yoshi, I've been leaving the tube light on for 12 hours per day. Didn't know I was doing it wrong. Also, I had taken her to the Vet last week for her annual check-up and he says she's doing well except for a few peeling spots on the top of her shell that seems to be what he calls hot spots. I'm to watch for infection. He says I may have my basking light too low, so I raised it up a few inches and am watching her shell. She's also getting outside more often now that it's summer'ish. She loves it, but is a fast little cookie and keeps us on our toes when she's in the back yard, chasing her around ha ha.

Thank you so much for your expertise and I hope you have a great weekend!

Cheryl
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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She's also getting outside more often now that it's summer'ish. She loves it, but is a fast little cookie and keeps us on our toes when she's in the back yard, chasing her around ha ha.
Make a secure enclosure outside for her. Or one day...
 

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