Linear UVB Lighting Style?

[axeman25]

Hello all,
I'm still very new here and with tortoise in general, in fact, my first tortoise (3 russian rescues) don't arrive until Thursday. And I can't wait! I have a lighting question that I searched on and and found no results for. I just took back the cfl bulb that I bought and exchanged it for a 24" linear bulb. I went to Lowe's and bought a $13 hardwired fixture and added a cord to it so I could hang it closer to my torts. I have a picture below that is the style of the one I bought (not the exact one but close)


My question is if it should have the side wings (not sure what their called) like the picture below? Does this reflect light towards the cage better? I have some extra fixtures like this that I could easily use parts from to make it look like the one below............Or, am I being way to paranoid about the direction if my uvb light rays?

 

[Ryan Kruse]

I like to use the reflectors whenever possible. It keeps the light focused more to one area and can increase the amount of light depending on the reflector.

 

[axeman25]

I like to use the reflectors whenever possible. It keeps the light focused more to one area and can increase the amount of light depending on the reflector.

Ah yes, I meant reflectors, not 'side wings'. Geesh, long day.

Thanks

 

[axeman25]

Reflector a.K.a side wings installed. Maybe tomorrow I'll put a basement on the enclosure with a walkout to the pool, overlooking the servants quarters. I....just....can't.....stop.

 

[Tom]

Looks like you are all set. I use reflectors and side wings too.

 

[inkling13]

Interesting, this rather answers the question I was just getting ready to post. I have a normal non-uv fluorescent light and fixture on one end of my enclosure (MVB on the other side) and I was looking to replace it with a UV bulb. I wasn't sure if the regular fluorescent fixture would be okay to use. Obviously I'll double check what it's rated for first but I know that MVB bulbs get way too hot and need special fixtures and I didn't know if the long tube UV bulbs are the same. If the generic fixture you got from Lowes works though then I'm assuming it will be okay? I haven't seen anything posted that contradicts this.

 

[axeman25]

So far so good. No overheating issues at all.

 

[jaizei]

Interesting, this rather answers the question I was just getting ready to post. I have a normal non-uv fluorescent light and fixture on one end of my enclosure (MVB on the other side) and I was looking to replace it with a UV bulb. I wasn't sure if the regular fluorescent fixture would be okay to use. Obviously I'll double check what it's rated for first but I know that MVB bulbs get way too hot and need special fixtures and I didn't know if the long tube UV bulbs are the same. If the generic fixture you got from Lowes works though then I'm assuming it will be okay? I haven't seen anything posted that contradicts this.

As long as the fixture/ballast matches the lamp it'll work, ie t8, t5, t5HO, etc

 

[inkling13]

As long as the fixture/ballast matches the lamp it'll work, ie t8, t5, t5HO, etc

That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I figured there would be more to it then just making sure it was the right wattage. I'm assuming t8, t5, t5HO will be printed on both the bulb and fixture to compare?