Q about lighting..

[Martin Martinussen]

Setup right now is only a HID Heat/UV. As basking spot. And nothing in the rest..

But often see them laying in the open part with the legs out half hidden in the grass or under some of there other plants..

So was thinking about installing 3 uv tubes over the open part of the enclosure.
To try to make sure they get enuff uv.. when then don't use the basking spot...

Good or bad idea?

 

[Tom]

Not a bad idea, but why three? One 46" HO or 48" regular tube should do it. I'd use a UV meter to check it.

Any reason your tortoise can't get real sunshine in a large outdoor enclosure in summertime?

 

[Martin Martinussen]

Well tubes need to be at 25-45cm for right output..
So if I Install 1x 40w 120 cm.. it need to be on the ground to cover 80cm out to the sides.. So not a good option..
Did this test measurement see pic. The 2 tops is where the tubs need to be.

So if I Install 2 In this and one over the cold part in there closed enclosure they will be close to 100% covered with uv.. and still have all there shade spots for sleeping etc.

But someone told me long time ago that it's not good to mix tubes and HID.
And his reason sounded good at that point.
But can't remember it now.

 

[Martin Martinussen]

Not a bad idea, but why three? One 46" HO or 48" regular tube should do it. I'd use a UV meter to check it.

Any reason your tortoise can't get real sunshine in a large outdoor enclosure in summertime?

This summer here In Denmark. Not 1 fricking summerday yet.. That's a temp in the shade of 25c..
Not one yet... just rain and cloudy all the time.. and if the Sunis out the wind is to cold..

But when I roll them out in the open enclosure they just run straight for there tree log and hide till I take them inside again..
They are around 3.5 months old..

 

[Tom]

I see what you are saying there. Personally I'd hang one tube over the middle and call it good. No need to have every square inch hit by UV.

Different bulbs need different mounting heights. I'm not so sure the 25-45cm covers everything, and I'd still want to run a meter under there and check it no matter what the package says.

I don't know what HID lighting is. Over here we have mercury vapor bulbs of florescent bulbs.

 

[Markw84]

You do want a light ( and UVB) gradient in your enclosure. You do not want complete UVB coverage over the entire enclosure. You HID lamp is a good choice for overall light/ heat and UVB. I like them better than MVB as the light is about the closest to natural sunlight you can get in an artificial light. They also put out slightly less IR per watt than MVB so that is good. It will have a smaller basking area under it than a fluorescent tube, however. So if your goal is a larger UVB zone, the fluorescent would accomplish that better. The HID is a much better overall light with normally a 6500k color and a great 95 CRI. So if you want to use both, just be sure to not have them too close together as you will get a doubling effect with the UVB from both

 

[Martin Martinussen]

You do want a light ( and UVB) gradient in your enclosure. You do not want complete UVB coverage over the entire enclosure. You HID lamp is a good choice for overall light/ heat and UVB. I like them better than MVB as the light is about the closest to natural sunlight you can get in an artificial light. They also put out slightly less IR per watt than MVB so that is good. It will have a smaller basking area under it than a fluorescent tube, however. So if your goal is a larger UVB zone, the fluorescent would accomplish that better. The HID is a much better overall light with normally a 6500k color and a great 95 CRI. So if you want to use both, just be sure to not have them too close together as you will get a doubling effect with the UVB from both

My goal is to give them UV when they are not basking also.. just like when they are outside or in the wild..

Why I want to cover there open enclosure with UV.
Every day they go to the open enclosure and sleep.. in the grass or under there flower.. and they lay with there legs out just like when they are under the basking lamp. So if outside they would get UV.
But because they are inside they don't.

I'm 100% Sure they know where the good basking spot is.. But they don't know they are inside and don't get UV when cooling down in the shade.

And not gonna install one near the basking spot. So they overlap each other..

 

[Martin Martinussen]

I see what you are saying there. Personally I'd hang one tube over the middle and call it good. No need to have every square inch hit by UV.

Different bulbs need different mounting heights. I'm not so sure the 25-45cm covers everything, and I'd still want to run a meter under there and check it no matter what the package says.

I don't know what HID lighting is. Over here we have mercury vapor bulbs of florescent bulbs.

Gonna try and buy both and see what I like best.
It's uv10 index so if it's only 7-8 out in the sides they will be fine.. Plus they will be installed with reflectors so might even be ok all the way out.

About the HID bulbs all brands have them now. Zoo-med, exo etc. And as Mark said it's the best type of lamp there is when it comes to natural sunlight.
And they last till they go out.. So you don't have to be replaced every 6 month.

 

[Martin Martinussen]

I see what you are saying there. Personally I'd hang one tube over the middle and call it good. No need to have every square inch hit by UV.

Different bulbs need different mounting heights. I'm not so sure the 25-45cm covers everything, and I'd still want to run a meter under there and check it no matter what the package says.

I don't know what HID lighting is. Over here we have mercury vapor bulbs of florescent bulbs.

Tom here is a few pic of the HID bulb.
This brand is German.. But it's the same.

 

[Martin Martinussen]

You do want a light ( and UVB) gradient in your enclosure. You do not want complete UVB coverage over the entire enclosure. You HID lamp is a good choice for overall light/ heat and UVB. I like them better than MVB as the light is about the closest to natural sunlight you can get in an artificial light. They also put out slightly less IR per watt than MVB so that is good. It will have a smaller basking area under it than a fluorescent tube, however. So if your goal is a larger UVB zone, the fluorescent would accomplish that better. The HID is a much better overall light with normally a 6500k color and a great 95 CRI. So if you want to use both, just be sure to not have them too close together as you will get a doubling effect with the UVB from both

They do just like this most of the day..
Hide in the "shade" and still get some UV. If they where in the wild..

 

[Martin Martinussen]

They do just like this most of the day..
Hide in the "shade" and still get some UV. If they where in the wild..

And this is right now.. just no UV..
That must be trying to get some UV even in the "shade"

 

[Reptilian Feline]

It looks so nice, Martin! I think they know what to do, just don't know there is no real sun.

 

[Martin Martinussen]

It looks so nice, Martin! I think they know what to do, just don't know there is no real sun.

Just what I'm thinking..
And kinda easy to see they are trying to get some UV even when hiding in the "shade"
So better help them.

 

[Reptilian Feline]

Just what I'm thinking..
And kinda easy to see they are trying to get some UV even when hiding in the "shade"
So better help them.

If they have a favourite spot, then the UVB above that spot might be enough. Some people will tell you to buy a really expensive UVB sensor to check the amount of UVB. A great investment if you can afford it. I would get one, but first I want my little one to make it.

 

[Martin Martinussen]

Just what I'm thinking..
And kinda easy to see they are trying to get some UV even when hiding in the "shade"
So better help them.

Have ordered 2x20w twin starters and 4 tubes with reflectors.. and 1 starter for 15-40w tube.. So should be covered even if I add another pallet to the setup..

 

[Martin Martinussen]

If they have a favourite spot, then the UVB above that spot might be enough. Some people will tell you to buy a really expensive UVB sensor to check the amount of UVB. A great investment if you can afford it. I would get one, but first I want my little one to make it.

No need to pay so much. This is fine.. if it's 9 or 10 doesn't matter
https://exotiskedyr.dk/lys-174/uva-uvb-spare-spiral-paere-179/uvb-paeretest-kort-reptech-1522.html

 

[Tom]

No need to pay so much. This is fine.. if it's 9 or 10 doesn't matter
https://exotiskedyr.dk/lys-174/uva-uvb-spare-spiral-paere-179/uvb-paeretest-kort-reptech-1522.html

Are you saying you want a UV index reading of 9 or 10? That would fry any reptile. Am I misunderstand what you mean by these numbers? Mid day summer sun, which is WAYYYYY higher than what any tortoise needs gives a UVI reading of less than 7.0.

 

[Reptilian Feline]

I was wondering about those cards... do you know how they work? I mean how do you know how much UVB is given out?

 

[Martin Martinussen]

Are you saying you want a UV index reading of 9 or 10? That would fry any reptile. Am I misunderstand what you mean by these numbers? Mid day summer sun, which is WAYYYYY higher than what any tortoise needs gives a UVI reading of less than 7.0.

You can buy UV 2% 5% 10%
Where 2 is a full shade frog or something like that that never go out in the sun.
5 is for lizards and snakes that out doing the morning and afternoon. Forrest animals.
10 is for dessert animals and basking spot is here I would say. Since it's living in a desert most of the time..

 

[Martin Martinussen]

I was wondering about those cards... do you know how they work? I mean how do you know how much UVB is given out?

The color change in some crystals and it show approx.. each color is 2 UV.. so easy to see if the UV drops.. and for 30kr.. it's fine.. better then paying 1800kr..