- Joined
- Jul 16, 2014
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This is my experience and first hand findings with these two types of lamps.
I'd never used T5 lighting until recently.
I've also never owned a SOLARMETER to see just how well these lights transmitted or didn't transmit UV.
For the sake of this test, ALL of these readings are THROUGH a screen cover. (The screen cover blocks out up to 50% of the UV.)
Ideally you want a reading of 3 on the scale.
T8. The type I've always used. The most common type out there.
At 4" a 5.0 puts out just 1.7.
At 4" a 10.0 puts out 3.1. Ideal. But its 4"!
At over 6" the readings drop off very sharply.
So, if you have a screen top and are using a T8. Even at just 6" the 5.0 is doing almost nothing and a 10.0 is generating a reading of about 1.
Screen tops and T8 tubes are not a good mix.
T5HO. The newest type. The type I've just been schooled on by members here and on the chameleon forum.
At 4" a 5.0 puts out 5.1
At 4" a 10.0 puts out 7.8
At 10" the 5.0 puts out an ideal 2.9
At 10" the 10.0 puts out 5+. So the light must be raised up or in the case of Chameleons, the branches must be lowered.
T5HO is ideal for placing on top of a screen top. And is the ONLY choice for having the lamp far away from your animal.
What I've learned is that a T8 can work if it is not going through screen (or plexiglass) and the animal is within 10" of the lamp. At like 7" a T8 can and will provide adequate UV.
A T5 is much more powerful and is the best choice for providing UV for animals up to 20" or more away from your fixture of it is not going through a screen. Or for those of us using a screen top. Like me. In the case of my Chameleons.
I'd never used T5 lighting until recently.
I've also never owned a SOLARMETER to see just how well these lights transmitted or didn't transmit UV.
For the sake of this test, ALL of these readings are THROUGH a screen cover. (The screen cover blocks out up to 50% of the UV.)
Ideally you want a reading of 3 on the scale.
T8. The type I've always used. The most common type out there.
At 4" a 5.0 puts out just 1.7.
At 4" a 10.0 puts out 3.1. Ideal. But its 4"!
At over 6" the readings drop off very sharply.
So, if you have a screen top and are using a T8. Even at just 6" the 5.0 is doing almost nothing and a 10.0 is generating a reading of about 1.
Screen tops and T8 tubes are not a good mix.
T5HO. The newest type. The type I've just been schooled on by members here and on the chameleon forum.
At 4" a 5.0 puts out 5.1
At 4" a 10.0 puts out 7.8
At 10" the 5.0 puts out an ideal 2.9
At 10" the 10.0 puts out 5+. So the light must be raised up or in the case of Chameleons, the branches must be lowered.
T5HO is ideal for placing on top of a screen top. And is the ONLY choice for having the lamp far away from your animal.
What I've learned is that a T8 can work if it is not going through screen (or plexiglass) and the animal is within 10" of the lamp. At like 7" a T8 can and will provide adequate UV.
A T5 is much more powerful and is the best choice for providing UV for animals up to 20" or more away from your fixture of it is not going through a screen. Or for those of us using a screen top. Like me. In the case of my Chameleons.
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