Is this T5 ok for UV lighting. Any other tips on enclosure are welcome.

[moriah2971]

Hi! I ordered this T5 and I know it’s supposed to sit on the tank but due to trying to make it enclosed for my hatchling my husband wired it on the inside so we could keep the top sealed as much as possible to get the correct heat and humidity. I just want to be sure everything is correct. I know he’ll outgrow this enclosure soon but its what we are using for now. We have a CHE heat emitter (for nighttime heat), 65 watt incandescent flood bulb for day time heat. We have a hide out in the cool side. It’s cypress mulch and terra-cotta bowls for food and water. We keep humidity around 90% and the hot side is around 90-95 degrees.
Any other tips are appreciated!

 

[AgataP]

For CHE buy a thermostat (amazon like 20$) it will turn on and off CHE as needed.
so the temperature stays as close to ideal.

 

[moriah2971]

For CHE buy a thermostat (amazon like 20$) it will turn on and off CHE as needed.
so the temperature stays as close to ideal.

Perfect! Thank you! What’s it called? Does the CHE plug into it?

 

[AgataP]

This is the one I have and seems to be working fine so far.

 

[moriah2971]

I appreciate it! Thank you!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I've never heard of a SUNBLASTER.
Is it a plant grow light?
It's likely not what your tortoise needs.
An internet search says these are 6500 kelvin full spectrum. But Kelvin is just the color of the light. There are no claims made about the actual UVB output.
We have several members with considerable knowledge about these things.
Hopefully one will be along soon.
I use these:

 

[method89]

Hi! I ordered this T5 and I know it’s supposed to sit on the tank but due to trying to make it enclosed for my hatchling my husband wired it on the inside so we could keep the top sealed as much as possible to get the correct heat and humidity. I just want to be sure everything is correct. I know he’ll outgrow this enclosure soon but its what we are using for now. We have a CHE heat emitter (for nighttime heat), 65 watt incandescent flood bulb for day time heat. We have a hide out in the cool side. It’s cypress mulch and terra-cotta bowls for food and water. We keep humidity around 90% and the hot side is around 90-95 degrees.
Any other tips are appreciated!

I use the sunblaster fixture but you need to use a t5 uvb bulb like the reptisun 10.0 or Arcadia 12.0. the sunblaster bulb is a plant grow light. Not great for the tortoise

 

[Krista S]

I also use the SunBlaster fixture and it works great, but as @method89 said, you definitely need to use a different bulb than the one it comes with.

 

[Engineer]

I’m passionate when it comes to lighting. I think it’s important to give any tortoise full spectrum as well as UVB. Obviously humans and tortoises are not the same but imagine a world in only blue tinted fluorescent light. Depressing. I try to find bulbs that come with a graph of the spectrum that shows the UVB peeks. You can also use name brand T5s from your local pet store. But I prefer to find other brands. Do some digging online or look in a local aquaponics store (that’s what I do).

Take a look at all the photos I added. These are all High Output T5 lights. Not all of them have light in the UVB range. I like to use a light in which almost all light is in the UVB range.

 

[Connie Jo]

Hi! I ordered this T5 and I know it’s supposed to sit on the tank but due to trying to make it enclosed for my hatchling my husband wired it on the inside so we could keep the top sealed as much as possible to get the correct heat and humidity. I just want to be sure everything is correct. I know he’ll outgrow this enclosure soon but its what we are using for now. We have a CHE heat emitter (for nighttime heat), 65 watt incandescent flood bulb for day time heat. We have a hide out in the cool side. It’s cypress mulch and terra-cotta bowls for food and water. We keep humidity around 90% and the hot side is around 90-95 degrees.
Any other tips are appreciated!

Can this be mounted on the back side of the enclosure instead overhead

 

[moriah2971]

I am SO confused. I thought this was the right lighting. I don’t understand all of that below ??‍♀️ Can you please send me a link from amazon of what I need? I can’t believe this is the wrong light. It was a T5.

I’m passionate when it comes to lighting. I think it’s important to give any tortoise full spectrum as well as UVB. Obviously humans and tortoises are not the same but imagine a world in only blue tinted fluorescent light. Depressing. I try to find bulbs that come with a graph of the spectrum that shows the UVB peeks. You can also use name brand T5s from your local pet store. But I prefer to find other brands. Do some digging online or look in a local aquaponics store (that’s what I do).

Take a look at all the photos I added. These are all High Output T5 lights. Not all of them have light in the UVB range. I like to use a light in which almost all light is in the UVB range.

 

[moriah2971]

I've never heard of a SUNBLASTER.
Is it a plant grow light?
It's likely not what your tortoise needs.
An internet search says these are 6500 kelvin full spectrum. But Kelvin is just the color of the light. There are no claims made about the actual UVB output.
We have several members with considerable knowledge about these things.
Hopefully one will be along soon.
I use these:

Thank you!