Opinions on UVB bulb

[SteffMathes]

Hello. I am currently using a ReptiSun 10.0 fluorescent 18" bulb. I found another lamp fixture in my storage room that takes two compact bulbs. I was curious if I could use the ReptiSun 10.0 mini compact fluorescent bulbs with that fixture as well as my current one when I get her a bigger viv. Lucy was rehomed with me a couple weeks ago, and I believe she has MBD. So proper UVB lighting is very important, of course, and I don't want to use anything that won't be beneficial to her healing. Any advice would be great! Thank you.

 

[MAK]

Dont use the coil reptisun bulbs. Problems have occured with them. Just get a longer tube bulb if you have to

 

[CooperDragon]

Stick with the 10.0 for now. Make sure nothing is in the way to block the UVB between the bulb and the basking spot. Move to a larger 10.0 if you feel it's needed. Don't use the compact fluorescents.

 

[jarich]

It really depends on what new enclosure you are getting and what distances you are talking about. There is nothing wrong with using the CFLs to supplement the Zoomed light. They arent the best design, so dont really project enough on their own, however, since in your case you would just be using them to supplement the ZooMed light, they could work well. They would also add additional lumens, which is always a good thing. It would also be helpful to know if there is a reflector in your Zoomed tube fixture, and if it is a T8 bulb or a T5 bulb (the T8 bulbs are an inch wide, a little fatter than the T5s, which are a little more than half that width).

Since I know that few will take my word for it on CFLs, by all means read the thread that has been stickied above, by arguably the worlds foremost reptile lighting expert, Dr Francis Barnes, wherein she states that not only are CFLs not dangerous, but that she uses them in certain situations herself.

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=112482

 

[SteffMathes]

The bulb is a T8, it has a refector, and I have it 6 inches from her. She doesn't climb I removed the plastic cover from the fixture as well. The bulbs I was looking at are these: http://m.petco.com/product/122963/Zoo-Med-ReptiSun-100-Mini-Compact-Fluorescent-Lamp.aspx#. Are these still considered coil bulbs? She came with a spiral coil bulb which I promptly replaced. I will indeed be using the 10.0 long as well. With the other fixture, it takes two bulbs sideways. She is currently in a 20 gal, but we are hoping once she is more active we can move her to at least a 40 or bigger. Thank you for the replies!

 

[jarich]

Those are considered coil (CFL) bulbs, but are a slightly better design when mounted sideways in the fixture. They give a bit better diffusion of light than the spiral ones you mentioned though. One of those bulbs at 8" gives you a UVI of around 2, as well as quite a lot of visible light increase. So if you have two in that fixture, you would be significantly increasing the UVB and overall lighting of your enclosure. If I remember right, those double fixtures also usually have a reflector in them too, which effectively doubles the output on the bulbs. With the linear tube light and those together you would be giving your dragon appropriate levels of UVB exposure.

As for your linear tube light, I would recommend moving it slightly further away. Normally a good distance is 8" for safe exposure levels with a reflector. Can I ask how you have the light mounted?

 

[SteffMathes]

It was recommended at 6" but I can easily adjust it. I strung metal wire through all four corners of the light fixture, down the length of it, and brought those through the metal mesh of her screen lid, twisted and clamped it down. The cord is secured going up through a corner of the screen and weighted on the side of her tank so it will not loosen and hang down at all. Her light hangs in the center of her viv. Her lid has a door on top which makes feeding, handling, and daily cleaning easy. I only have to take it off once a week for thorough cleaning of her whole tank.

 

[jarich]

Nice, sounds like a handy rigging. The only slight correction I might suggest is putting it to one side or the other rather than right in the middle. You can kind of think of it like you do thermoregulation, where you want to give an area of most intense exposure and then have it taper off to an area of no exposure/very limited exposure. So whatever side you have your basking light on, move the UV light over that way too.

 

[SteffMathes]

Sorry I should have clarified that. Her UVB bulb starts where her basking bulb ends. It was so I wouldn't inadvertently melt the plastic of the 18", but I'm glad that set up is good. I meant it hangs in the center of the lid rather than closer to the front or back or the tank. Oh, wait are you saying both on one side and nothing on the other?

 

[jarich]

Sort of, yes. Basically if you put the basking light on one end toward the back, and put the UV light all the one to that same end, towards the front, then when the dragon comes to bask, it's getting both the most heat and the most UV exposure in the same area.

 

[SteffMathes]

Ah, ok. Thank you!

 

[jarich]

No problem glad I could help