which of the following tubes is best for a hermanns?

Tom

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If you are going with a standard T-8 bulb like the ones in the link, the 2.0 and 5.0 put out very little UV. 10.0 is the only choice if providing UV is your goal. Note that you must mount the bulb no more than 10-12" over the tortoise and even then that 10.0 bulb makes pretty weak UV. Using a reflector hood will help.

The newer T-5 HO bulbs from Arcadia and other manufacturers produce A LOT more UV and must be mounted farther away from the tortoise. Find them here: http://www.lightyourreptiles.com

This guy imports them from somewhere in Europe, so I'm sure you could find the Arcadia brand in London.

My Arcadia bulbs are still going strong and making great UV after 2+ years.

A UV meter is essential in placing your bulbs correctly and making sure that you are providing enough UV in a climate like yours where the tortoise is inside most of the year. Like this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65....t=6.5UVIndex&gclid=CKn7gPD8ztMCFdu3wAodMbUIyg
The meter may seem expensive at first glance, but I would argue that it will save you a ton of money in the long term since you are not replacing bulbs every six months that are working perfectly fine. It also has the added benefit of making sure your tortoise is getting what it needs. This meter is much cheaper than trying to treat MBD, not to mention the suffering a tortoise would endure.
 

JaySparks

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If you are going with a standard T-8 bulb like the ones in the link, the 2.0 and 5.0 put out very little UV. 10.0 is the only choice if providing UV is your goal. Note that you must mount the bulb no more than 10-12" over the tortoise and even then that 10.0 bulb makes pretty weak UV. Using a reflector hood will help.

The newer T-5 HO bulbs from Arcadia and other manufacturers produce A LOT more UV and must be mounted farther away from the tortoise. Find them here: http://www.lightyourreptiles.com

This guy imports them from somewhere in Europe, so I'm sure you could find the Arcadia brand in London.

My Arcadia bulbs are still going strong and making great UV after 2+ years.

A UV meter is essential in placing your bulbs correctly and making sure that you are providing enough UV in a climate like yours where the tortoise is inside most of the year. Like this: https://www.solarmeter.com/model65....t=6.5UVIndex&gclid=CKn7gPD8ztMCFdu3wAodMbUIyg
The meter may seem expensive at first glance, but I would argue that it will save you a ton of money in the long term since you are not replacing bulbs every six months that are working perfectly fine. It also has the added benefit of making sure your tortoise is getting what it needs. This meter is much cheaper than trying to treat MBD, not to mention the suffering a tortoise would endure.


I purchased one of this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002UDZ140/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I found these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcadia-FD...1498235194&sr=8-2&keywords=arcadia+light+tube
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcadia-Ra...1498235194&sr=8-3&keywords=arcadia+light+tube
 

Markw84

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THANK YOU!!!!!!

I have been trying to find these remote ballasts and they will not come up when searching from the US. I believe them to be a perfect fit for our closed chambers. No heat from the ballast inside the chamber, and totally resistant to moisture with the bulb clips. The one you linked is for the T8 bulbs, and I also (as does @Tom ) prefer the T5 HO bulbs. Just be sure the controller you get is rated for wattage as high or higher than the bulb you are using.

I have emailed Todd Goode - owner of light your reptiles to see if he can get / stock those as the link you shared will not come up in the US and the supplier will not ship to the US.

Thanks, again, and YES a good choice!
 
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Tom

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I'm not familiar with the particular product in your first link, but I've used something similar in the past and liked it.

Bulbs look good. Whether you go with the 10% or 12% depends on mounting height over the tortoise. This is where I believe a UV light meter is essential. Just like using a thermometer to tell the temperature and adjust basking bulb height, a person needs a UV meter to be able to tell how high the bulbs should be mounted.
 
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