Our Modular Russian Tortoise Table(s)

[Tom]

This looks amazing. Great job. I'd swap both the Powersun and the spot bulb for regular incandescent flood bulbs. Two UV sources can be too much. Do you have a Solarmeter 6.5?

Since you mentioned it... I'm a bird guy too. What kind of birds? Consider this an invitation to start a new thread about your birds and how you house them in the "Other Pet" section.

 

[jpfieber]

This looks amazing. Great job. I'd swap both the Powersun and the spot bulb for regular incandescent flood bulbs. Two UV sources can be too much. Do you have a Solarmeter 6.5?

The recommendation I saw for the Powersun was that it provides UVA, which none of the other sources really address. I do have a Solarmeter 6.5, but I'm not sure how to use it. It seems like you have to stand it up underneath the light, but then you're measuring the UVB ~3" above your target. I must be misunderstanding how to use it, any pointers?

 

[Tom]

The recommendation I saw for the Powersun was that it provides UVA, which none of the other sources really address. I do have a Solarmeter 6.5, but I'm not sure how to use it. It seems like you have to stand it up underneath the light, but then you're measuring the UVB ~3" above your target. I must be misunderstanding how to use it, any pointers?

You are using it correctly. If your tortoise was 3 inches tall, it would be perfect. I usually dig a hole in the substrate and put the bottom of the Solarmeter flush with the bottom of the enclosure. This should give most people a pretty good estimate.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

The recommendation I saw for the Powersun was that it provides UVA, which none of the other sources really address. I do have a Solarmeter 6.5, but I'm not sure how to use it. It seems like you have to stand it up underneath the light, but then you're measuring the UVB ~3" above your target. I must be misunderstanding how to use it, any pointers?

@Alex and the Redfoot what is your opinion on the powersun? Have you seen any tests?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

@Alex and the Redfoot what is your opinion on the powersun? Have you seen any tests?

Powersun H.I.D are metal-halide lamps with good "sunlike" output spectrum (visible light and UVA) and very bright.

They also output UVB (however, may degrade faster than T5HO tubes) and plenty of infrared (but too much of IR-A for tortoises). Excessive UVA can also be damaging to keratin. Probably, metal halides are fine for open table setups as an auxillary ambient light (or highlight for the basking area) but risks of increasing pyramiding should be considered.

T5 UVB lamps emit significant amount of UVA (around 30%) too. However, UVA peak in natural sunlight is almost twice longer than UVB peak hours, so a 4 hour timer is a bit limiting.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Powersun H.I.D are metal-halide lamps with good "sunlike" output spectrum (visible light and UVA) and very bright.

They also output UVB (however, may degrade faster than T5HO tubes) and plenty of infrared (but too much of IR-A for tortoises). Excessive UVA can also be damaging to keratin. Probably, metal halides are fine for open table setups as an auxillary ambient light (or highlight for the basking area) but risks of increasing pyramiding should be considered.

T5 UVB lamps emit significant amount of UVA (around 30%) too. However, UVA peak in natural sunlight is almost twice longer than UVB peak hours, so a 4 hour timer is a bit limiting.

Probably a stupid question, but how does the UVA output compare to the one in a basking floodlight for example?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Probably a stupid question, but how does the UVA output compare to the one in a basking floodlight for example?

Incandescent lamps have neglible amount of UVA (despite what's written on the box). I've been tricked too not so long ago (thanks to Markw84 for correcting me).

 

[jpfieber]

You are using it correctly. If your tortoise was 3 inches tall, it would be perfect. I usually dig a hole in the substrate and put the bottom of the Solarmeter flush with the bottom of the enclosure. This should give most people a pretty good estimate.

I did as you suggested. In the middle of the basking area, the meter reads 3.1 at the surface, and 3.5 at the height of Boris' shell. Directly under the UVB bulb it reads 3.9 at the surface and 4.3 at the height of his shell. Best I can tell those are good readings, yes?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I did as you suggested. In the middle of the basking area, the meter reads 3.1 at the surface, and 3.5 at the height of Boris' shell. Directly under the UVB bulb it reads 3.9 at the surface and 4.3 at the height of his shell. Best I can tell those are good readings, yes?

Looks all good to me.

 

[Tom]

I did as you suggested. In the middle of the basking area, the meter reads 3.1 at the surface, and 3.5 at the height of Boris' shell. Directly under the UVB bulb it reads 3.9 at the surface and 4.3 at the height of his shell. Best I can tell those are good readings, yes?

Not just good. Excellent.