MVB?

[Sammy28]

What's a MVB light? I am looking at buying a larger tube UVB light, and I just wanted to make sure I get something right.

Also, if the brand is something else than Reptisun, is it bad? It was something sounding similiar, but when I look it up to check on the store webpage it isn't there. but it wasn't reptisun!

and I heard I should get a '10'. what's the difference between a 10 and a 5?

-sam

 

[Tigg]

MVB stands for Mercury Vapour Bulb.

They emit very high amounts of good UVB rays, as well as sufficient heat for basking. They are the best source of artificial UVB you can offer your reptile, however they run extremely hot, and are usually only recommended for enclosures larger than 40g. another benefit is they have a longer life span them most other types of UVB bulbs. MVB's are good for 12 months, where are others like the Reptisun 10.0 are only good for 6 months.


There ARE other good brands out there of UVB bulbs, Acadia 12.0 and Reptisun 10.0 being the best. some others are known to be dangerous to reptiles such as the Reptiglo 10.0 (Which is the one I think you are talking about sounding similar to the Reptisun) They are very hard on the reptiles eyes, and can even cause permanent blindness over long periods of time.

the number 5.0 and 10.0 ect refer to the UVB output or "strength" of the bulb.

How this helps.

 

[hartungs]

An MVB is a Mercury Vapor Bulb. It provides all of the necessary lighting and heating requirements in one bulb. Here is the website for the best MVB on the market and the one that most on this forum recommend.

http://www.reptileuv.com/

There are also links on there that exlain all about lighting.

 

[Sammy28]

Would this be right? I got it off the website provided above. It (from what I gather) is a flood light, with UVB and the heat all in it. Shouldn't I have a tube UV light? I'm really confused on the whole lighting thing...


Mega-Ray European High Voltage (HV) SB 100watt - 220volt flood UVB lamp
This all-in-one lamp is our top-of-the-range 100 watt SB Par-38 Narrow Flood 220-volt (European Higher Line Voltage) Lamp which has been shown in tests to produce similar amounts of UVB to natural sunlight! - along with adequate heat to create a basking spot at the recommended distances, in many circumstances.

This Mac Industries/Westron Lighting original design provides the necessary UVB, UVA and heat for your UVB-dependent basking reptiles.

More UVB - But SaferOur Mega-Ray® European SB 100 watt Narrow Flood Lamp produces more UVB than other true Mercury Vapor Floods, yet is safer for owners! Our design directs the majority of the UVB from the face of the bulb, rather than diffuse it across a 180° angle.

Specifications
Mega-Ray® European SB 100-watt narrow-flood all-in-one is a 100-watt SB Par-38 220 volt True Frosted Flood Lamp. A true flood lamp, it will disperse usable UVB in a 30" circumference at a 20" distance.

MINIMUM distance setting of 12" will produce approximately 150-200 microwatts per square centimeter (uW/cm2) of UVB and 900-1200uW/cm2 of UVA.

MAXIMUM distance setting of 20" will produce 50-75 microwatts per square centimeter (uW/cm2) of UVB.

(Distance is measured from lamp face to basking spot or reptile for optimum UVB and heat.)

 

[Tigg]

with this light, there is no need for a TUBE UVB, this puts out UVB, as well as regular light your beardie needs to back. But how big is your enclosure? the min distance of 12" from your beardie is very important, and hard to do in smaller tanks, as well as controling your heat gradients from hot end to cool end.

 

[Sammy28]

its a 55g tank. will this light give my beardie the correct... everything even if he's as far away from the light as he can get?

and if i were to get this light, do i up it on one end of the tank, or in the middle? should i put it on a stand so the 'rays' go diagonally into the tank?

i never thought this would be so confusing for me!
-sam

 

[Tigg]

A MVB will work perfectly for a 55g tank and your beardie will thrive and thank you for it!

You need to put the MVB light on one end of the tank, on a stand that keep the light 12" from your beardie (MVB bulbs emit radiation, closer than 12" is dangerous for your BD) and you will want the light pointing straight down onto the basking site to avoid any eye irratation from the light shining in your beardies eyes all day (They have a ridge over their eyes that acts almost like a sun shade)

The MVB light being on one end, will make this your "hot end" Basking surface temps should be between 100-110* with ambient air temps on the hot end in the mid 90's. You will also want to be sure that there is a gradual heat gradient through the tank into the "cool end" with ambient air temps on that side in the low to mid 80's. These temps are EXTREMELY important to your beardies health, and should be taken with an accurate digital thermometer.

 

[Sammy28]

so... i'm just double, triple, quadruple checking (before i buy it) is that flood light MVB one I listed before something (and the only) thing I should buy for his lighting?

sorry for being so persistent.

-sam

 

[Tigg]

This will take care of the UVB, and basking, yes.... However, I cannot guarantee it will be the only lighting you need. if your cool side is not warm enough you will either need to add a regular houshold bulb for a little added heat, or a Ceramic heat emiter which will work for day and night.

But this will not be known until after you purchase your light, turn them on and test your temps.

 

[kornival]

according to my research, all u need is the MVB. the MVB will serve both as UVB and heat for basking so there's no need for a UVB tube. although, u can still add a regular house bulb for extra light and like tigg said, depending on your gradient temp ( the overall temp of your tank from one end to the other, there should be a cool end in the 80s increasing gradually as you move to the basking end where your MVB will be in which the temp will be 100-110 for basking ), if your cool end is too cold, then you will want a ceramic heat emitter.

the MVB will be able to cover 1/2 to 3/4 of your 55gallon enclosure. thank you vickson420 for that last piece of info

 

[ZANESMAMA]

Just an FYI here: the one you copies and pasted from the reptileuv website is the European bulb which I think is different. I bought one of the Megarays in February and I got this one:

Mega-Ray SB 100 watt Self-Ballasted Flood UVB Lamp - Item# 100 $46.95 USD

 

[coachrachel]

I too have a 55 gallon tank and have an MVB for my Jarjar. I love this light. I went with the PowerSun brand 100w and got it from PetMountain.com. I believe I was told on here that they are just as good but maybe a little less powerful. My little guy has improved so much since we started using this bulb about a month ago. I had only had him for a few weeks and went through two bulbs before giving up and getting the MVB. I have no problems with keeping my temps right however, right under his light is really hot but he has never sat there much and when he does he moves when he gets too warm. My cool side stays around the mid to lower 70's at night and around low to mid 80's during the day. My light is towards the middle of my tank but he has loads of shade in his cool area. I don't use any other light as it's bright in our house during the day and that combined with the MVB puts out enough light for him in his viv. This is just what I've done and my very unexpert opinion but it works for us so I hope this helps you some.

 

[Embee]

Just an FYI here: the one you copies and pasted from the reptileuv website is the European bulb which I think is different. I bought one of the Megarays in February and I got this one:

Mega-Ray SB 100 watt Self-Ballasted Flood UVB Lamp - Item# 100 $46.95 USD

Just wanted to second this.

The MegaRay is the best of the MVBs, puts out more UVB and HEAT than any other. The T-Rex is a close second. The PowerSun is also a good and safe bulb, but more on a par with the Reptisun 10.0 tube with regard to UVB output. Here is a thread that gives a little more information as to the outputs of several MBVs, and the ReptiSun tube (FYI): viewtopic.php?f=34&t=98349&p=764473&hilit=Megaray+200#p764473 (see second post of thread)

Tigg has you well covered here, but I wanted to mention that if you do go with the MVB, you will want calcium withOUT D3 for dusting feeders such as: http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-health/105556/rep-cal-ultrafine-calcium-without-vitamin-d3.html Also, the MVBs have a burn in period. You will need to gauge temps very closely for the first few days as the bulbs tend to run hotter and hotter, leveling out on about the fourth day or so. You may need to raise the bulb (or lower the basking surface) over those first few days to achieve proper temps.

Aside from that, as Tigg mentioned, some tanks do need extra heating/lighting even with a MVB. We use a T-Rex in our 40 breeder and use a 45w household flood on the cool side to keep the cool side temps at 80, and to give the tank some extra light. You'll probably just have to gauge each of the temps and experiment (Rachel had some nice ideas as well). If you find that temps are running fine, but would like more light on the cool end, you can always plop a household fluorescent energy efficient bulb/coil type in a dome, as they put out light but little heat.

The best,
Em

 

[Sammy28]

lol i wanna get the MVB so bad but it's back ordered!!! AHHH.

-sam

 

[diamc]

The T-Rex is another great MVB and I have one on Sabrina's 55 gallon and she loves it. At a distance of 15", that 100 watt bulb gives a basking temp of 105 to 106. I also have a lower wattage household bulb on the cool side, a 40 watt which gives a temp there of 80. Here's where you can get the T-Rex. http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-heat-bulbs/503619/t-rex-active-uv-heat-flood-spot-lamps.html