Lightning help

[Bluemoon]

Hi all, just after some advice, I just wanted to check everything in my set up was okay but have read that the lights my beardie currently has are not recommended, he has 2 76cm 25w repti glow bulbs, one 10% UVB and one 2% UVB , I want to change over to the recommended Arcadia tubes (am in the UK) but I'm confused about which one to buy now and if it's just as simple as swapping them over or will I need a different fitting also? Thanks for any help

 

[HylianHealeys]

Unfortunately the switch will be a bit of a hassle, as the Repti Glos are a T8 size bulb, and the Arcadia Desert 12% and 14% bulbs are high output (HO) T5s, so you'll need a new fixture. The good news here is that a HO T5 bulb can be safely placed on top of the screen without blocking too much UVB for your beardie.

Which percentage of UVB you want to get depends on your enclosure. How tall is it?

 

[CooperDragon]

Yes it does depend on the distance you can mount the bulb from the basking zone. A T5 with a reflector has an optimal output at around 25-35cm or so. To upgrade, you'll want a bulb, fixture/controller, and reflector (24w version in most cases)


https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadia-d3-reptile-lamp-t5-12-uvb/

https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadia-t5-controller/

https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadia-t5-reflectors/

 

[Bluemoon]

Hi thanks for the answers- his tank is 50cm high and it doesn't have a mesh lid so it will need to go inside as pervthe ones we have now. Will it be a hard job to change the fixtures? I have zero DIY skills unfortunately

 

[kingofnobbys]

Hi thanks for the answers- his tank is 50cm high and it doesn't have a mesh lid so it will need to go inside as pervthe ones we have now. Will it be a hard job to change the fixtures? I have zero DIY skills unfortunately

Need to arrange the basking spot so the UVB flux is about 180-200 microW UVB / sq.cm AT THE BASKING SPOT and the UVB flux is about 100 microW UVB / sq.cm elsewhere .

Data for the Arcadia 12%UVB T5HO tube in a reflector is included here : viewtopic.php?f=34&t=235611

From the graphs , a 12%UVB T5HO tube in a reflector hood has an optimal distance of 25 - 30cm , and if the tube in a reflector hood.
At 40cm from the tube surface (again in a reflector hood) you can expect 100 microW UVB / sq.cm .