UV Reptisun T5 not meeting Ferguson zone 3 HELP PLEASE

Thundersnow

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I be posted a thread a couple of weeks ago regarding the UV lighting in my Indian Star Tortoise’s tank. I had a Reptisun T8 and replaced it with the T5 so more of the UV would be more beneficial. I used my SolarmeterR to check the Ferguson Zone. The recommended zone my my Star ⭐️ Squirt is 3. I have to hold the meter 4-5 inches from the bulb for it to register 3 on the meter. The bulb is in reflective housing. I would have to find a basking platform super high and then if he went on it he would fall off!!!
To raise the substrate would not work because 6” up the length of the tank is ventilation openings. I have the entire tank covered in foil to hold in heat(constant 90 degrees) and humidity (70-85%) when it’s at 70% I spray the substrate which is coconut fiber.
Advice needed please
 

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Markw84

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What type of bulb is it? Brand, Length, HO?, %UV, etc. For example:
Arcadia 34" HO T5 12% With Arcadia hood?
A picture of the box it came in will help.
 

Thundersnow

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What type of bulb is it? Brand, Length, HO?, %UV, etc. For example:
Arcadia 34" HO T5 12% With Arcadia hood?
A picture of the box it came in will help.
What type of bulb is it? Brand, Length, HO?, %UV, etc. For example:
Arcadia 34" HO T5 12% With Arcadia hood?
A picture of the box it came in will help.
Zoomed Reptisun 36”Reptisun hood.T5 5.0 UVB
This picture I took a screenshot. I bought the bulb from Chewy.com
 

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TeamZissou

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5.0 bulbs do not put out much UV, as you are finding. A new 10.0 T5 bulb should output something closer to 3-5 UVI at 20-22" of height.
 

Markw84

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That is the regular T5 not the High Output. And at 5.0 it will put out little UVB at distance. The HO bulbs will almost double the UVI reading. The 10.0 will double it again. That is why we recommend using the ZooMed 10.0 HO or the Arcadia HO 12.0
 

Thundersnow

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I bought the wrong bulb? I thought I just had to get a T5 to replace the T8 didn’t realize there was another number that was needed to get more UV ugh ?
 

Markw84

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I bought the wrong bulb? I thought I just had to get a T5 to replace the T8 didn’t realize there was another number that was needed to get more UV ugh ?
Unfortunately you also have the wrong fixture. An HO bulb cannot go into a regular fixture. Wrong wattage put out. You really need an HO fixture and bulb.
 

Thundersnow

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That is the regular T5 not the High Output. And at 5.0 it will put out little UVB at distance. The HO bulbs will almost double the UVI reading. The 10.0 will double it again. That is why we recommend using the ZooMed 10.0 HO or the Arcadia HO 12.0Thanks going buy that oneMuch appreciated. It would be nice to be able to get a light that only needs to be 6” or less from an average height basking spot ?
 

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Markw84

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You have a T5 fixture, correct? If so, then you can just buy the same length T5 bulb in 10.0 and it should work.
Just be sure it is a regular T5 bulb, not an HO. Not sure if you can still find a regular 10.0. The wattage for a regular T5 is different than for an HO T5 of the same length.
 

Thundersnow

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Just be sure it is a regular T5 bulb, not an HO. Not sure if you can still find a regular 10.0. The wattage for a regular T5 is different than for an HO T5 of the same length.
Why HO too strong? If I’m not mistaken another responder said to get the HO.
Thanks
 

Markw84

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"Thanks going buy that oneMuch appreciated. It would be nice to be able to get a light that only needs to be 6” or less from an average height basking spot"

The problem with adjusting a UVB to be at the right height at 6" is that UVI levels increase geometrically with distance. So at 6" if you adjust to a UVI of 3.0, at just 1" closer you will very will see a UVI of 4.0. And 6.0+ at 2" closer.

When you use a bulb where your 3.0 is acheived at 20" or so, the difference of even 3-4" will barely change the UVI reading. So much more room for error or a tortoise reaching a bit of a higher position.
 

Thundersnow

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I think my old brain( I’m a bit long in the tooth) doesn’t want to grab the concept. Would it be possible or would you happen to know what would be the best bulb to achieve that zone 3 at a height of 12” from my torts basking spot or is that unobtainable? I greatly appreciate the response to help me keep my❤️? healthy. He/she is now almost 8 months old. I got Squirt a little over one month. Squirt weighs now 2.40
 

Markw84

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I think my old brain( I’m a bit long in the tooth) doesn’t want to grab the concept. Would it be possible or would you happen to know what would be the best bulb to achieve that zone 3 at a height of 12” from my torts basking spot or is that unobtainable? I greatly appreciate the response to help me keep my❤️? healthy. He/she is now almost 8 months old. I got Squirt a little over one month. Squirt weighs now 2.40
I would really recommend a bulb mounted more in the 18"-20" range for a better basking zone.

If you are strictly limited to a 12" height:
I would imagine a regular T5 10.0 would do that. IF you can find one, that would work in your existing fixture.
An Arcadia Pro T5 with 6% fixture would probably be good at about 14"
A Zoo Med HO T5 5.0 Would probably work at about 12"
 

Thundersnow

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I don’t mind buying a whole new lighting system. I just want my lil kid to get everything necessary to be healthy and happy. I saw this a while back. What do you think?
 

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TeamZissou

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I'm confused too. I did not think there were regular UVB T5 bulbs. Usually T8 is referred to as regular, or non High Output. ZooMed T5s are 5.0 and 10.0, and are both High Output. Most T5 fixtures that are available are ballasted for HO, so I figured that's what you had.

Can you post the info for the exact bulb and fixture that you have?
 

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