Arcadia 14% - First Impressions

[Taterbug]

Yeah, the decay does play a role as well. Fran tests the lamps at intervals to judge the rate of decay, which is nice but slows down results of new bulbs, of course.

275W sounds like their zoo grade? The minimum distance on that one is 34" away but makes a 30" diameter patch of light, not to shabby but not practice unless the enclosure is realy big. A solar meter would be a good investment if you don't have one, getting into that levels of UV. Honestly if your enclosure is big enough to support that lamp more than one bulb for a basking zone would probably not be a bad idea.

MH are really appealing because the quality of light is excellent - some are the closest you can get to sunlight. Sodium would probably be way too yellow? There are non-UV emoting MH out there as well.

I highly recommend the reptile lighting group on Facebook. They are a wealth of information about lighting.

 

[Rankins]

MH lights give off UV in the blue spectrum. Sodium's are in the yellow spectrum. The MH do look better than the sodium's. I have a bunch of them but they are not self ballast and need a separate ballast to run them. The ones I have are definitely hard on the eyes.

 

[Rankins]

As for how far away to mount the 275 watt I'll determine that based on basking site temps. Hopefully it won't be 3 ft away, or the UV rays won't be too strong.

 

[Taterbug]

As for how far away to mount the 275 watt I'll determine that based on basking site temps. Hopefully it won't be 3 ft away, or the UV rays won't be too strong.

Maybe consult Bob Mac for that? UV bulbs should always be placed first for UV exposure and second for heat - a big reason many MVB iseser need extra heat lamps.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Glad to hear the Arcadia T5 14% is so good. We have been using the T5 12% for awhile. They hold up a long time! I just measured them with both meters recently & was stunned that they were still very strong. I use the Arcadia MVB in combination with them, so some degradation is fine.
Eventually I will upgrade to the 14% though, just for comparison.
I have considered the metal halides but have never used them yet.


Tracie

 

[CooperDragon]

Taterbug, do you have any updated readings from this beast now that it's had time to burn in a bit?

 

[Taterbug]

Taterbug, do you have any updated readings from this beast now that it's had time to burn in a bit?

I want to take some this weekend. Things have been hectic at work and its way past lights out by the time i get home these days

 

[CooperDragon]

I know how that goes. No rush at all I was just thinking about it while answering a lighting question and was curious.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That reminds me also, that I should do some readings of our bulbs, too.
They are still excellent but should write it down for official record keeping.

Tracie