Inexpensive T5 HO hood option?

[CherryLover]

Has anyone with a 6.5 UVB meter (@Markw84 @ZEROPILOT @Tom @Kapidolo Farms) happened to test any 4' with 4 bulb T5 HO grow fixtures (something like this or this) with some of the fluorescent bulbs replaced with Reptisun/Arcadia UVB bulbs? Use would be in an 8' x 8' x 7' closed chamber for two, separated redfoots. The fixture would be centered to cover both sides/torts. This setup would be cheaper and less cluttered than separate Zoomed/Arcadia UVB fixtures for both sides with separate UVA lighting. I have a UVB meter on order, so hopefully, I can get height adjusted correctly for UVB.

I've read Markw84's article on the Sun Blaze single bulb reducing UVB by up to 50% (vs Reptisun). Could I just use 10 (Repti)/12(Arcad) bulbs vs 5(Repti)/6(Arcad) bulbs if the reflector is trash?

I already sunk the cost for the UVB meter, so would hate to have to just toss a fixture if it proves to be subpar. Thoughts???

 

[Tom]

Has anyone with a 6.5 UVB meter (@Markw84 @ZEROPILOT @Tom @Kapidolo Farms) happened to test any 4' with 4 bulb T5 HO grow fixtures (something like this or this) with some of the fluorescent bulbs replaced with Reptisun/Arcadia UVB bulbs? Use would be in an 8' x 8' x 7' closed chamber for two, separated redfoots. The fixture would be centered to cover both sides/torts. This setup would be cheaper and less cluttered than separate Zoomed/Arcadia UVB fixtures for both sides with separate UVA lighting. I have a UVB meter on order, so hopefully, I can get height adjusted correctly for UVB.

I've read Markw84's article on the Sun Blaze single bulb reducing UVB by up to 50% (vs Reptisun). Could I just use 10 (Repti)/12(Arcad) bulbs vs 5(Repti)/6(Arcad) bulbs if the reflector is trash?

I already sunk the cost for the UVB meter, so would hate to have to just toss a fixture if it proves to be subpar. Thoughts???

I've never used a fixture with more than one tube in it, but I know that @Sterant has. You would be a prefect candidate for the Arcadia 14% HO tubes with those 7 foot ceilings. Or possibly the newer ZooMed LED UV units.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I recently tested a two tube HO fixture that I did a revue on.
I've never tested a 4 tube HO system.
The one I tested had lower UVB readings because of an inferior reflector. So, I'm pretty sure results would vary by manufacturer

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Has anyone with a 6.5 UVB meter (@Markw84 @ZEROPILOT @Tom @Kapidolo Farms) happened to test any 4' with 4 bulb T5 HO grow fixtures (something like this or this) with some of the fluorescent bulbs replaced with Reptisun/Arcadia UVB bulbs? Use would be in an 8' x 8' x 7' closed chamber for two, separated redfoots. The fixture would be centered to cover both sides/torts. This setup would be cheaper and less cluttered than separate Zoomed/Arcadia UVB fixtures for both sides with separate UVA lighting. I have a UVB meter on order, so hopefully, I can get height adjusted correctly for UVB.

I've read Markw84's article on the Sun Blaze single bulb reducing UVB by up to 50% (vs Reptisun). Could I just use 10 (Repti)/12(Arcad) bulbs vs 5(Repti)/6(Arcad) bulbs if the reflector is trash?

I already sunk the cost for the UVB meter, so would hate to have to just toss a fixture if it proves to be subpar. Thoughts???

So the SunBlaze is a fixture, not a bulb. It does not reduce the UV output, but rather distributes different than the Arcadia fixture.

I have come to use all 12 inch Arcadia shade dweller units, have them about 8 to 10 inches from the top of the shell, and let the tortoise moderate their exposure. Mark has a well reasoned concern that some parts of the UVA spectrum (which is in all the UV lamps) might facilitate pyramiding. I also supplement with D3 in some foods I offer.

This works for neonates to adult radiated. At least so far...

 

[CherryLover]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read and reply. My torts especially thank you

While researching all this, I happened to find out ZooMed now offers an LED bulb that also supplies UVB (this is not the hood that has LEDs for visible and the T5 tube for UVB). I called ZooMed to get some specifics and they provided the chart below (and said I could share the information). Hopefully it will be of use to others as well.



Am I correct in thinking this would NOT be a good fit for my large enclosure, given it would only provide roughly a square foot of coverage in the correct Furgeson Zone?

I have observed my torts self-regulate their heating for digestion (i.e. they are always directly under my current CHE after eating). However, would they really locate and seek out a single square foot (within 32 sq ft) for their UVB/D3 synthesis needs? Seems like a little wishful thinking, no? Wouldn't the 4' linear T5 bulbs would be a better option.

@Kapidolo Farms, in what size enclosure do you use the 12 inch units?

 

[CherryLover]

By way of follow-up, I went with the quad bulb T5 HO fixture (Agrobrite), replacing two of the standard bulbs with Arcadia 14%. This works very well for my setup. Using a solarmeter to adjust, it turns out I can leave the fixture almost at the very top of my tall enclosure and still get a .8 or .9 UVI reading (depending on the depth of substrate in the area and distance from the light fixture). I have plants for shading, along with hides, for self-regulation. Seems to work well ... hope this knowledge benefits others.