lighting concern

[Lovinonmybell]

reptisun T5 5.0

good ...bad? okay?

i just bought two brand new light fixtures for my beardies for Christmas and they came with a bulb inside.. i spent a good amount of money on them and now im worried because im seeing somthing about 10.0 being better and that i can buy a 10.0 but not for this light fixture i just bought.
did i get the wrong lamp? i will admit i didnt keep the packaging from the last uvb i bought so i went wiith this one because it was the same name brand (reptisun) as the last one i have bought in the past and i know that one had a beardie on the packaging so i thought they were the same one please tell me this works

 

[Sixxx]

Nope. A T5 5.0 doesn't give as much UVB as required by your beardie. A T8 10.0 is highly recommended for your dragon's UVB supply.

 

[kingofnobbys]

This will give an good comparison : viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235611

At 30cm the following will be delivered
T8 10%UVB tube in a reflector hood ==> 58 microW UVB/sq.cm
T8 12%UVB tube in a reflector hood ==> 70 microW UVB/sq.cm
T5HO 6%UVB tube in a reflector hood ==> 80 microW UVB/sq.cm
T5HO 5%UVB tube in a reflector hood ==> 67 microW UVB/sq.cm
T5HO 12%UVB tube in a reflector hood ==> 170 microW UVB/sq.cm
T5HO 10%UVB tube in a reflector hood ==> 142 microW UVB/sq.cm

so Sixxx clearly is wrong.
A T8 10%UVB tube is weaker than a T5HO 5%UVb tube by about 20%.

So if the choice is between these two, get / use the T5HO tube (I'c be considering upgrading to an Arcadia T5HO 12% tube if the distance from the tube to the basking spot is about 12", or if it's even further between the basking spot and the tube , or you insist on mounting the hood ontop a mesh lid , I'd strongly recommend going to an Arcadia T5HO 14% tube.

If you can't find the tube you want locally, try Ebay or Amazon , plenty of places .

How tall is your tank ?
How far will your basking spot be off the substrate surface (bottom) of the tank ?

 

[Sixxx]

Apologies on false information. Thought I had done enough research on lighting but good thing for clarification now. Thanks

 

[Lovinonmybell]

I have a 40 gallon breeder tank. Where I live I haven’t been able to get Arcadia my tank is about 16 1/2 inches tall and I had all sorts of different basking and climbing areas but he got hurt so I had to take them down for the next couple weeks while hes healing. So this light is okay? I can probably fix it to the inside of the tank instead of right on top of the mesh I have tons of fishing line around. Can you tell me how to add pictures so I can show you and be certain please?
Thank you.

 

[CooperDragon]

The T5 5.0 is similar in output to a T8 10.0 bulb with optimal range at around 6-8''. A T5 10.0 bulb is better though and will provide even better UVB output at 12''.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

We are ALL learning, all of the time, so, no need to be so abrupt in correcting information. The
correct information will be laid out eventually with us all.
The T5 tube bulbs are very good & nice & bright, in comparison to the T8 tubes.

Tracie

 

[Lovinonmybell]

Thank you for clearing things up guys we are all learning still. I’ve been in this whole reptile hobby for 2 years and I’m constantly reading new info about all sorts of things and trying to soak up as much as I can