LED lights: ok or not?

[Moozillion]

Are the LED lights for growing aquatic plants too bright for turtles?
My Reptisun 5.0 UVB doesn't seem to help the aquatic plant I have, and I'd like to have more.

 

[Tom]

These are still new to the market, but I've heard no negative feed back yet. I recently installed 6 of the counter top type household units in my new baby enclosures and I couldn't be happier with them. I've had about a half dozen leopard babies living under them for a couple of months now and everything looks good.

I've never used the plant ones, but if you also have shade and cover areas, I think they would be okay.

@Markw84 might have some insight.

 

[Moozillion]

These are still new to the market, but I've heard no negative feed back yet. I recently installed 6 of the counter top type household units in my new baby enclosures and I couldn't be happier with them. I've had about a half dozen leopard babies living under them for a couple of months now and everything looks good.

I've never used the plant ones, but if you also have shade and cover areas, I think they would be okay.

@Markw84 might have some insight.

Thanks, Tom! [emoji2]

 

[Markw84]

Are the LED lights for growing aquatic plants too bright for turtles?
My Reptisun 5.0 UVB doesn't seem to help the aquatic plant I have, and I'd like to have more.

I think the LEDs have good potential. However, the cheaper lights tend to have very limited spectrum coverage as each type of diode emits a different spectrum of light. So a well balanced light will have several different diodes to create the best color balance. The cheaper lights have less types of diodes in them so you can get a 5500K light, but most all of the light is very blueish as there are no red or green diodes. So a cheaper light will not at all be full spectrum. That is important if you want to grow plants, and I feel for a tortoise to have things look right to him too!

LED's are also more effected by heat, and it will have to prove over time how they do in our heated enclosures where it is even hotter at the top where the lights are. This will shorten their life, but rated at 20,000 hours or so, they should still outlast most other choices. They do run much cooler than other lights, including fluorescents, so seem a really good option for an enclosed chamber - where overheating can be a concern.

 

[Moozillion]

I think the LEDs have good potential. However, the cheaper lights tend to have very limited spectrum coverage as each type of diode emits a different spectrum of light. So a well balanced light will have several different diodes to create the best color balance. The cheaper lights have less types of diodes in them so you can get a 5500K light, but most all of the light is very blueish as there are no red or green diodes. So a cheaper light will not at all be full spectrum. That is important if you want to grow plants, and I feel for a tortoise to have things look right to him too!

LED's are also more effected by heat, and it will have to prove over time how they do in our heated enclosures where it is even hotter at the top where the lights are. This will shorten their life, but rated at 20,000 hours or so, they should still outlast most other choices. They do run much cooler than other lights, including fluorescents, so seem a really good option for an enclosed chamber - where overheating can be a concern.

THanks, Mark!!!!

 

[Paschendale52]

These are still new to the market, but I've heard no negative feed back yet. I recently installed 6 of the counter top type household units in my new baby enclosures and I couldn't be happier with them. I've had about a half dozen leopard babies living under them for a couple of months now and everything looks good.

I've never used the plant ones, but if you also have shade and cover areas, I think they would be okay.

@Markw84 might have some insight.

Hey Tom did you mean all LEDs are relatively new to the market or do you have some particular ones in mind that you prefer.

 

[Tom]

Hey Tom did you mean all LEDs are relatively new to the market or do you have some particular ones in mind that you prefer.

I mean that LEDs haven't been used over reptiles by very many keepers yet. New as in this type of lighting is new to being used over reptiles.

 

[Moozillion]

Tom, exactly which LEDs did you install? Do they have UVB?

 

[Tom]

Tom, exactly which LEDs did you install? Do they have UVB?

They were off the shelf units from Lowes. Meant to be mounted under cabinets to illuminate the counter tops below.

I have not heard of UVB producing LED lights yet. If they are selling them, I haven't seen them yet.

 

[Moozillion]

They were off the shelf units from Lowes. Meant to be mounted under cabinets to illuminate the counter tops below.

I have not heard of UVB producing LED lights yet. If they are selling them, I haven't seen them yet.

OK- thanks!!!

 

[Levi the Leopard]

They were off the shelf units from Lowes. Meant to be mounted under cabinets to illuminate the counter tops below.

Moo, they are called puck lights, I use these over all my insects. $9 for a single puck light and $20 something for a set of 3

 

[Tom]

Moo, they are called puck lights, I use these over all my insects. $9 for a single puck light and $20 something for a set of 3

No, these are 24 inch hard wired units.