Lighting

[doe222]

So basically it is time to renew my bulbs and this time i want to go a different route than what i currently have my spectrum UVB is too small for the viv i have now but it was only 2 weeks old and didnt want to throw 50$ down the toilet, i think im going to stick with MVB i like having uvb and heat source all in one but downgrading from a 160w obv. But i have also heard that mvb could cause a problem? even though presonally ive had no problems.

I was doing some research and i have decided on the UVB bulb i want. i want to get the arcadia d3 t5 bulb.
1) where can i get this bulb?
2) i need a pretty large one my viv is 4ft long
3) where can i get a reflective fixture for it that isnt extremly wide?

Than for a heat lamp i currently have a 160watt MVB (it gets cold in my house during the winter) but now that its warm i had to move the bulb so far away to get to a proper temp of 105. since i have to replace it anyways i was going get suggestions? money is no object this time around (finally) and i want to do it 100% so whats the best of the best? if you guys know of anything better than the arcadia d3 t5 let me know? on the cool side of his viv he would be 1.5ft away from the lamp and on the hot side hed be about 8in from the lamp. i do know what he needs and the basic necesities are currently met. but i want the best for him. basically what im asking for is to tell my how to setup my viv with top notch lighting.

 

[doe222]

I live in american BTW which is why im having problems finding the arcadia lighting. on thier website i have found the bulb and the reflective fixture that i desire but i dont know how to get it here in america.

 

[aussiefreak101]

http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/ is a USA based site and has the Arcadia.

 

[doe222]

http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/46t5hofihouw1.html
is this considerd a reflective fixture? i cant really see it well in the picture.
so is that the way to go? im thinkin so. how often do these bulbs need to be replaced? do the ballasts ever go bad? if so where can i get the balast w/o having to buy a whole new fixture?
and if i get this what do i need to offer for heat. like a halogen bulb? as long as his basking temp is what its supposed to be and is a bright white light it doesnt really matter what kind of bulb. correct?? or can i still get him a MVB. can he have TO much UVB?

 

[Claudiusx]

If you are using the Arcadia you should not use a MVB also.

You can use any Bright White bulb. Even the cheap household Bright Whites. As long as they get you the temperatures you need in the tank, and provide bright white light, they are fine.

-Brandon

 

[doe222]

thats what i thought, i believe it was you who said MVB's were questionable in another post. that is why im raising these questions. what if the arcadia fixture cannot be placed directly where he basks? is this a problem? it would be close i believe the radius of the UVB would still hit him. and how often do the arcadia bulbs need to be replaced? every 6 months still? or do they last longer.
and also why is this bulb almost 30$ more than the reptisun 10.0 is the difference really that much better? the only reason i ask is that when it does need to be replaced the reptisun is way more readily available. what if somthing ever happend and i was unable to get t5 uvb bulbs because the fixture is made to fit t5?

 

[Venutus1]

thats what i thought, i believe it was you who said MVB's were questionable in another post. that is why im raising these questions. what if the arcadia fixture cannot be placed directly where he basks? is this a problem? it would be close i believe the radius of the UVB would still hit him. and how often do the arcadia bulbs need to be replaced? every 6 months still? or do they last longer.
and also why is this bulb almost 30$ more than the reptisun 10.0 is the difference really that much better? the only reason i ask is that when it does need to be replaced the reptisun is way more readily available. what if somthing ever happend and i was unable to get t5 uvb bulbs because the fixture is made to fit t5?

Hi doe222,

Good questions!

The link they showed you above is a bulb with a t5 fixture.

The Arcadia T5 D3 bulbs are the Mercedes Benz of flo. bulbs. They have no equal.

They last at least a year and can go two years or more in certain applications* (*if you have a Solarmeter to monitor the bulb and can adjust distance as the UV rate decays to keep a constant correct UV reading at the animals basking spot.)

You will always be able to get them in the US because they have become such a hit ... they will always be available through LightYourReptiles.com. :mrgreen:

(And because of all the wholesale interest I have been getting, you will soon be seeing the whole Arcadia bulb line at a few other ENLIGHTENED online retailers in the near future.
Maybe even some local retailers in your area... and feel free to ask your local retailer to carry Arcadia, the finest bulb... and give 'ol Todd here a buzz. I can set them right up! :wink: ).

Now, to address heat, you will need to use a basking bulb or 2 in conjunction, since flo. lights do not project heat as you know.

And you asked ...can you use a merc vapor with an Arcadia T5 D3?

The answer would be "maybe" ....depending on the size of your set up and if you have a Solarmeter to check the UV readings.. so they were not too high.

BUT I suspect it would NOT be what you should do........... unless you have large exhibit type enclosure and a Solarmeter 6.2 for UV testing.

So, go for say a Halogen bulb of the correct wattage in a dome for a basking spot.
Or have 2 basking spots with 2 domes if your enclosure is larger.

I hope this helps!

And also feel free to e-mail me directly if you have any size/pricing / etc. questions.
PLUS--- always feel free to e-mail me a pic(s) of your enclosure.
This goes for you or anyone... so I can get a gist of the set up and make even better lighting recommendations.
Thank you for your interest in Arcadia and Happy Herping!
Sincerely,
Todd
http://[email protected]

 

[DanaW]

I hate to jack this thread but I am wanting to get an arcadia with the fixture package. But I was wondering if the uv will reach 14-16 inches down to my dragon? He can't have a high basking spot as he is partially blind and falls off of them so his basking spot is about 14 to 16 inches from any bulb.

 

[doe222]

i was watching a video someone posted on this forum somewhere, where the arcadia was still affective at 24in or somthing around there. but the arcadia is the best bulb on the market (that i know of) so if your going to get that distance the arcadia is your best chance.

 

[DanaW]

Thanks for the reply. Do you think I should still use calcium with d3 with the arcadia?

 

[doe222]

UVB makes it so beardies can actually gain from calcium and d3 supplements....it doesnt give them calcium.

 

[Claudiusx]

Thanks for the reply. Do you think I should still use calcium with d3 with the arcadia?

I would still use a Calcium powder with D3 added to it.

-Brandon

 

[DanaW]

I realize that uv doesn't give beardies calcium lol. That's not what I was asking. I asked if I should still give calcium containing d3. I have both kinds one with d3 and one without. Thank you brandon for your answer I will continue the d3 one. I ordered the light and fixture so hopefully should have it next week.