MVB Advice

[Sandy Martinez]

I have my closed chamber set up with mvb between one end and the middle and the Che between the other end and the middle with the hide near the Che and connected to the thermostat -- I also have another available socket right in the center of the chamber for use just in case. My question is my mvb is 100w -- would that be enough uv ray for my sulcata or would I possibly need another mvb in the center??? It just doesn't look very bright to me like it would provide enough uv for him? I've only put him in the chamber at night -- our days here in SA are still very warm so I haven't used the mvb yet but when it is cool enough to leave him in during the day I want to be ready and make sure he gets enough uv. Closed chamber is about 5x8

 

[Lyn W]

I have my closed chamber set up with mvb between one end and the middle and the Che between the other end and the middle with the hide near the Che and connected to the thermostat -- I also have another available socket right in the center of the chamber for use just in case. My question is my mvb is 100w -- would that be enough uv ray for my sulcata or would I possibly need another mvb in the center??? It just doesn't look very bright to me like it would provide enough uv for him? I've only put him in the chamber at night -- our days here in SA are still very warm so I haven't used the mvb yet but when it is cool enough to leave him in during the day I want to be ready and make sure he gets enough uv. Closed chamber is about 5x8

Hi Sandy

What make MVB are you using?
I use an Arcadia mini D3 80w and that seems quite bright.

 

[Sandy Martinez]

Reptispa UV Sun Lamp 100 Watts - UVB & UVA Self-Ballasted Mercury Vapor Lamp

 

[Lyn W]

Hi Sandy
My leopard has a whole room to himself and I only use one MVB similar to yours, which he basks under or near.
I use it in ceramic bulb holder with a wide dome which reflects the heat/light etc so maybe that helps with mine.
If you can post a picture of your enclosure then maybe someone with more experience of MVB can suggest something or maybe they use the same bulb and can give their opinion of it. It looks good to me but I've not used one.

Sorry I can't be of more help but a picture may help.

 

[Tom]

An MVB all by itself should be plenty of UV for any tortoise over the winter months.

However, I see two possible issues:
1. I can't use MVBs in my closed chambers because they run too hot and overheat the whole chamber. If your chamber is bigger or has more ventilation you might be just fine. Your thermometer will answer this for you on day one.
2. I don't know that brand and have never even heard of it. I would not trust it as a sole UV source without putting a UV meter under it. It might be perfectly fine, but without measuring UV output, its a bit of an unknown.

 

[Yvonne G]

I think it would be a good idea for you to buy a UV meter. That brand bulb is so much cheaper than the ones we usually buy, that I wonder if it's any good.

 

[Sandy Martinez]

What brand of mvb would you recommend. ..i got this off Amazon

 

[Sandy Martinez]

Where would i pickup a uv meter and what reading am i looking for

 

[Tom]

What brand of mvb would you recommend. ..i got this off Amazon

I've had good results with the Powersun from ZooMed.

 

[Tom]

Where would i pickup a uv meter and what reading am i looking for

This one is the industry standard:
https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html

3-6 is good.

 

[leigti]

This one is the industry standard:
https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html

3-6 is good.

The meters are not cheap but they do give me the peace of mind. My tortoises spend at least six months out of the year indoors so I need to know they are getting the UV they need. The expense isn't so bad when you figure the years of use you will get out of it.

 

[SteveW]

This one is the industry standard:
https://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html

3-6 is good.

Wouldn't the 6.2, that only measures UVB, be a better choice than the 6.5 that measures the UVI, so both UVB and UVA? I get that both are important but as UVA does not contribute to Vit D synthesis, why measure it?

 

[Tom]

Wouldn't the 6.2, that only measures UVB, be a better choice than the 6.5 that measures the UVI, so both UVB and UVA? I get that both are important but as UVA does not contribute to Vit D synthesis, why measure it?

Everyone used to use the 6.2, but the 6.5 more closely measures the specific spectrum that our reptiles need for D3 synthesis. I got this info from Frances over in the UK. She is the leading authority that I know of studying UV and D3 synthesis in reptiles and tortoises especially.

 

[Sandy Martinez]

wow that meter is quite expensive -- I've got the powersun by zoo med that you recommended on order - thanks