Uvb
- Thread starter Hai
- Start date
Something tells my you have purchased the Compact Fluorescent Bulb. These are not very good, and if your tortoise is a baby, it might harm his eyes.
I like to use the tube type fluorescent UVB bulbs:
And I leave it on for 12 to 14 hours a day.
I like to use the tube type fluorescent UVB bulbs:
And I leave it on for 12 to 14 hours a day.
No I didnt buy the ones that are harmful. I have a 48" light fixture and I can either get a reptile sun which is 5% or 10% or can get arcadia which is 12% or 14%
Np. I'm kinda assuming higher the % is, the less it has to be on. What brand do you have?
The info on the hood says, "Sun Blaze T5 HO 22" I think the HO stands for high output, and the 22 stands for 22" long. But it doesn't refer to the percentage.
The simple answer first. The percentage is an indication of the distance required for proper placing of a bulb more than for the amount of time you would want one turned on. Since light intensity declines GEOMETRICALLY with distance, a small amount of UVB will become negligible and simply not useful a very short (6 inches or so) distance from the bulb. I would not bother with the 5% bulb as it puts out little UVB at the distance that would be most practical for a good installation of a fluorescent tube in an enclosure. To get the right intensity of UVB for tortoises you will need at least a 10% bulb when dealing with closer distances (12" range) and anything mounted further away will be better accomplished with an HO (high output) T5 bulb - usually a 12% or 14%. These bulbs can give a nice wide basking zone of proper intensity when mounted in the 18" - 24" range above the tortoise.
Once you have the proper intensity of UVB for a basking zone, the amount of time you leave the light on depends upon your total lighting design of the enclosure and how much ambient light you ave in addition to the UVB light when the UVB light is off. Most people will need to leave the UVB on the total amount of time you are creating the daytime for the tortoise. Normally 13 - 14 hours a day. However, if you have good, full spectrum ambient lighting of proper intensity in ADDITION to the UVB light, you can use the UVB light to create a midday increase in UV and just have the UVB light on 5 hours midday, for example. BUT - you need to have good lighting for the entire photoperiod you are trying to create or your tortoise will often react by becoming less active. If I were keeping a hibernating (brumating) species, I would keep the UVB bulb on the full 14 hours as long as I am trying to keep the tortoise active and avoid hibernation (brumation)
To be more technical:
The percentage a Manufacturer puts on a UVB bulb is meant to tell how much of the light that the bulb produces is actually in the UVB range. A fluorescent UVB bulb normally will produce about 40% of its light as TOTAL UV and 60% as visible light. That's why a UVB light will look dimmer than an equal wattage standard fluorescent. And also why they are more expensive as different glass and phosphors are needed to make them.
So - a 5% bulb will be 5% UVB, 35% UVA and 60% visible light.
A 10% bulb is 10% UVB, 30% UVA and 60% visible light.
HO bulbs put out more intensity for the same size bulb. So in very general terms, a T5 bulb of the same length, will put out about 1.5 - 1.6 times the light of a standard T8 or T5.
The type of ballast you have will also greatly effect output, so a cheaper fixture may often result in lower light output when measured.
Once you have the proper intensity of UVB for a basking zone, the amount of time you leave the light on depends upon your total lighting design of the enclosure and how much ambient light you ave in addition to the UVB light when the UVB light is off. Most people will need to leave the UVB on the total amount of time you are creating the daytime for the tortoise. Normally 13 - 14 hours a day. However, if you have good, full spectrum ambient lighting of proper intensity in ADDITION to the UVB light, you can use the UVB light to create a midday increase in UV and just have the UVB light on 5 hours midday, for example. BUT - you need to have good lighting for the entire photoperiod you are trying to create or your tortoise will often react by becoming less active. If I were keeping a hibernating (brumating) species, I would keep the UVB bulb on the full 14 hours as long as I am trying to keep the tortoise active and avoid hibernation (brumation)
To be more technical:
The percentage a Manufacturer puts on a UVB bulb is meant to tell how much of the light that the bulb produces is actually in the UVB range. A fluorescent UVB bulb normally will produce about 40% of its light as TOTAL UV and 60% as visible light. That's why a UVB light will look dimmer than an equal wattage standard fluorescent. And also why they are more expensive as different glass and phosphors are needed to make them.
So - a 5% bulb will be 5% UVB, 35% UVA and 60% visible light.
A 10% bulb is 10% UVB, 30% UVA and 60% visible light.
HO bulbs put out more intensity for the same size bulb. So in very general terms, a T5 bulb of the same length, will put out about 1.5 - 1.6 times the light of a standard T8 or T5.
The type of ballast you have will also greatly effect output, so a cheaper fixture may often result in lower light output when measured.
P
pguinpro
Guest
I would reccomend getting a T8 that way you can buy a 2ft T8 strip light; keep mait. costs down. 12% is the output of UVB rays. If you have a uv meter you can test this and the reading should be a percentage.
KieranMcKeown
New Member
I take it having both a UVB and basking light is the best? I only have a UVB installed and have to rise and lower it to get the proper temperature, however I'm concerned that sometimes it's too low to the substrate.
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pguinpro
Guest
I don't think UVB is a sufficient heat source. You'll definitely need an incandescent flood bulb 65w. Make sure it doesn't say 65watt equivalent because those are not hot enough.
KieranMcKeown
New Member
Great! I have a basking bulb in storage anyway - just need to buy and install a new holder to get it up
I currently have a 4ft and a 2ft t8 light fixture that I have available. Would the 2ft be enough or should I used the 4ft. I was gonna buy the 12% Arcadia
What type of tortoise?
What size is the enclosure?
It's a sulcata and the size is 4' x 2' x 2'
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pguinpro
Guest
Get the 48 inch light strips from lowes or walmart. Get the T8 Arcadia 12% UVB get t5 if you want but then the light fixtures will be more expensive.
The 2 foot bulb would work for that size enclosure, but that size enclosure is only going to last a sulcata 6 months or so and you will need a bigger enclosure. You will then need a 4 foot bulb so perhaps getting that now would work better, and upgrade the enclosure as soon as possible.
I know a lot of people suggest going with a cheap fixture and then putting in the UVB bulb, but the type and quality of the ballast can dramatically effect the quality of the light a good UVB can put out. Some ballasts may end up putting out 1/2 the UVB from the same bulb a high quality fixture will produce.
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pguinpro
Guest
Or two 48in strips...
I bought this 4ft one from home depot. I ordered a repti sun 5.0 by mistake. Gonna order the 12% Arcadia. I want to build a bigger enclosure but have to figure where I can put it.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Metalux...Narrow-Strip-Light-Fixture-SNF232RT/206663835
Be aware that is s T8 fixture so be sure the Arcadia 12% is a T8 not a T5
Also just a heads up that that fixture and ballast may put out less UVB with the bulb than a fixture designed for uvb bulbs. And if you put in two UVB bulbs the mounting height would change. With all the variables it’s hard to know what you will get without s solarmeter to check.
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pguinpro
Guest
Recommended meter?
