Hi all,
We just brought home our 2 month old a week ago today. I received a tank from a friend of a friend. I pretty much have everything but I have a UVB question. The tank came with a coil UVB light. Is the tube style light better and if so, above the screen or in the tank? I have been doing some research but am finding too many choices. What is the difference between T8 and T5. from everything I have read it sounds like the zoo med ReptiSun 10.0 is what I should get??? is it a T8 or T5???
The best UVB lights are the Reptisun tube HO( high output )
T5, 10.0 . Also the Arcidia tube. Most everyone mounts it in tha tankin the middle, not on the back wall. You can get them on Amazon, just make sure if you get the Reptisun T5 that it is a 10.0 UVB. They come in different sizes. The 22ā tube fits into a 24ā fixture. That you can also get on Amazon. Anything you find online at the lowest price, Petsmart will price match. My Petsmart only carries the old T8 bulbs and fixtures, which are not so good. Iām sure someone else will give more information on the lights.
Welcome to the forum and I am so glad you asked --- you need to get a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 is the best it is a stronger bulb and only needs to be replaced once a year-- it does take a T 5 fixture -- it is a flat fixture compared to the T 8 which takes a regular fixture-- the T 8 needs to be changed out 2 times a year--- the covers need to be off the bulbs and for the T 5 it needs to go inside the tank unless you have wide holes on the top of your tank then it can sit on top -- the T 8 needs to go inside the tank as it needs to sit closer to his basking spot-- 6-8 inches --- the T 5 if its inside the tank 10-11 inches from basking-- better effect for the UVB rays---
Karrie
ok w/ the cat you want to have the fixture inside the tank --- and you dont want the cat on top of that tank --- I have 4 cats but they never get on top of my tank --- nor do they bother Hiccup but they are also used to him and I am always supervising him when hes out-- the fixtures can be ordered from Amazon you can search them on Amazon or you can go look at them at pangeareptiles.com - that is where I got mine however when I ordered mine it came w/ the 5.0 bulb not the 10.0 so I also ordered the Arcadia 10.0 bulb for a back up to replace the 5.0 when it needs changing out-- you will eventually want to upgrade your tank to something bigger so w/ that in mine you might want to get a 24" fixture- that is what mine is and I have a 120 gallon tank -- some recommend them bigger like a 36' but for a 40 gallon I would get a 24" -- it will work for a bigger tank as well
Karrie