Mecury Vapor Bulb

[lvstorts]

Anyone have experience with these? I've heard good and bad. Not sure if I want to use them. I've heard some of the problems are eye infections because the bulb is too close. I'm looking for a bulb that will provide UVA/UVB. It will be used in my tortoise shed. The shed is 8x12 feet and the bulb would be mounted in the middle at a height of 6ft. The torts are on the floor.

Thanks for any suggestions and input.

 

[DeanS]

You could drop it down to 3 feet if you want and use a CHE as well...you've got more than enough space to be concerned with overheating or eye problems...GOOD LUCK!

 

[lvstorts]

What's a CHE?

 

[Kevin Kelly]

Ceramic heat emitter.

 

[lvstorts]

ah...got it. I've got 2 150w CHE in the warm spots and the thermostat is kept at 75F. It gets nice and toasty in there!

Need a clarification, you typed I had "more than enough space to be concerned..." did you mean 'not' to be concerned with using a Mercury Vapor bulb? Or should I be concerned with using one?

 

[DeanS]

ah...got it. I've got 2 150w CHE in the warm spots and the thermostat is kept at 75F. It gets nice and toasty in there!

Need a clarification, you typed I had "more than enough space to be concerned..." did you mean 'not' to be concerned with using a Mercury Vapor bulb? Or should I be concerned with using one?

I meant the MVB can be within 3 feet of the tort without doing any harm...it seems to me that six feet is too high to be truly effective...on the other hand, if you're using 2 CHEs then they could be that high and still get the job done. I trust you're mntoring your temps and humidity...at tortoise level?!?!?

 

[lvstorts]

OF COURSE I'm monitoring temps an humidity at tortoise level! Four different thermometers, 4 different places all remote to a center in my house with programed alarms in case of unexpected drop in temperature. The shed is fully insulated as well.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[DeanS]

I'd love to see a picture of your shed...

 

[SunsetHypo]

This sounds like the setup I will have next year. I would love to see pics. Do you have back up heat or back up generator in case your electric goes out?

 

[lvstorts]

I'm on it. I'll try to get them posted today.

 

[lvstorts]

I posted pics and details of the shed under 'enclosures: Winter Accommodations for Refoots'.

 

[taithelles]

A mercury vapor lamp is a gas discharge lamp, the use of mercury in the excited state, producing light. Arc generally limited to a small quartz arc tube mounted in a big ball of borosilicate glass.