Plastic cover on UVB light?

[phobosdthorga]

What is this 'plastic cover' that people speak of on UVB lights like the ReptiSun? When I ordered a ReptiSun two weeks or so ago, there seemed to be no applicable cover on it, unless I am missing something. I have a Arcadia 14% UVB now and that too seems to also have no cover. Is the Australian market just different? Or can someone provide me with a better explanation of how to remove it, or even maybe a video?

Thank you and I appreciate everyone's time.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Some people set up their vivs on the cheap and buy budget domestic light fittings for their viv and simply fit a 10% or 12% T8 or T5HO tube in the fittings.
These ready to use domestic fittings always come with a plastic cover and have no shaped reflector in them (making them a false economy because it's then necessary to buy a slip on reflector to slip onto the tube and it's a common mistake to leave the plastic cover installed - result = zero UVA , zero UVB to the dragon.

The light and UV given off by the tube should not be obstructed by anything , ie no cover over the tube - the acrylic covers found on domestic fluorescent fittings is there ONLY to - diffuse the light, protect from dust, these will block 100% of the UVA and UVB.

The fitting should have only a shaped metal reflector above the tube , and nothing else.

 

[AHBD]

The uvb fixtures with plastic shields in the U.S. were primarily the Zilla brand . The Reptisun + Exo terra reptile uvb fixtures never had the plastic to my knowledge.

It may be different in Australia so the Aussie owners would know which specific ones have them.

 

[EllenD]

As far as the "Reptile Specific" tube light fixtures, it's only the Zilla brand, to the best of my knowledge, their "Slimline Fixtures", that come with a thick, hard, clear plastic cover that is actually bolted-on the bottom of the fixtures and covers the UVb tubes completely. It's meant to be a "Safety Cover", and according to the email I got back from Zilla a year ago about this, they insist that "The clear plastic safety covers on their Slimline fixtures are made of a special plastic that only blocks around 10% of the UVB light from penetrating through", and also "We sell Slimline Fixtures for applications other than reptile lighting, so that's the reason we don't sell any of the Slimline fixtures without the safety covers". In response to their response, I asked why they would include the covers on their "Desert 50 T8 UVB tube and Slimline Fixture" package deals, which are specifically sold for use with Desert Reptiles, who need strong UVB light, and they basically told me that the covers are removable by using a screwdriver and taking out the 4 screws at the corners, and should be removed if used for a reptile. Basically they save money on the assembly line in China by just putting these covers on every tube fixture they sell. And they gave me no answer as to why their don't AT THE VERY LEAST tell people to remove the cover if they are using the fixture for a reptile that needs all the UVB light emitted by the tubes...it was obvious that Zilla didn't care one bit that my friend's dragon will forever be disabled because of their product...

There are also a ton of flurescent tube fixtures that are sold individually and not specifically in pet shops or for reptile or aquarium lighting, but rather for household lighting, that people buy to save money. I know personally that I have several 24" tube fixtures that I've purchases at Walmart or inherited that were purchased at Walmart and also at Lowes and Home Depot, that all came with a flimsy plastic cover that is easily removed by just pinching the clips in and pulling them off. This actually makes sense, because they are not meant for use with reptile tube lights, but rather household lighting, and these types of light tubes do get very, very hot, and people would burn themselves if there were no safety covers over the light tubes. These are usually meant to be under-cabinet light tube fixtures. I have a 36" double light tube light over the bar in my kitchen, it's installed on the underside of a row of cabinets that go over the bar, and there is a cover on them as well, which makes sense. But people trying to save money by buying a 24" tube fixture for $10 at Walmart need to be aware that they must remove all of these covers before putting a UVB tube inside the fixtures.

Knobbys is absolutely correct, people try to save money by buying cheap tube fixtures to hold their UVB tubes, and they end up either spending more money because they don't include a Metal Reflector, or even worse, they spend a small fortune at the Reptile Vet after their Dragons get sick with MBD...

 

[phobosdthorga]

Thank you, everyone! I already knew that the UVB light in question had to be free of obstruction in order to do its work most effectively and when it came to acrylic, those had to be completely out of the way.

The uvb fixtures with plastic shields in the U.S. were primarily the Zilla brand . The Reptisun + Exo terra reptile uvb fixtures never had the plastic to my knowledge.

It may be different in Australia so the Aussie owners would know which specific ones have them.

As far as the "Reptile Specific" tube light fixtures, it's only the Zilla brand, to the best of my knowledge, their "Slimline Fixtures", that come with a thick, hard, clear plastic cover that is actually bolted-on the bottom of the fixtures and covers the UVb tubes completely. It's meant to be a "Safety Cover", and according to the email I got back from Zilla a year ago about this, they insist that "The clear plastic safety covers on their Slimline fixtures are made of a special plastic that only blocks around 10% of the UVB light from penetrating through", and also "We sell Slimline Fixtures for applications other than reptile lighting, so that's the reason we don't sell any of the Slimline fixtures without the safety covers". In response to their response, I asked why they would include the covers on their "Desert 50 T8 UVB tube and Slimline Fixture" package deals, which are specifically sold for use with Desert Reptiles, who need strong UVB light, and they basically told me that the covers are removable by using a screwdriver and taking out the 4 screws at the corners, and should be removed if used for a reptile. Basically they save money on the assembly line in China by just putting these covers on every tube fixture they sell. And they gave me no answer as to why their don't AT THE VERY LEAST tell people to remove the cover if they are using the fixture for a reptile that needs all the UVB light emitted by the tubes...it was obvious that Zilla didn't care one bit that my friend's dragon will forever be disabled because of their product...

There are also a ton of flurescent tube fixtures that are sold individually and not specifically in pet shops or for reptile or aquarium lighting, but rather for household lighting, that people buy to save money. I know personally that I have several 24" tube fixtures that I've purchases at Walmart or inherited that were purchased at Walmart and also at Lowes and Home Depot, that all came with a flimsy plastic cover that is easily removed by just pinching the clips in and pulling them off. This actually makes sense, because they are not meant for use with reptile tube lights, but rather household lighting, and these types of light tubes do get very, very hot, and people would burn themselves if there were no safety covers over the light tubes. These are usually meant to be under-cabinet light tube fixtures. I have a 36" double light tube light over the bar in my kitchen, it's installed on the underside of a row of cabinets that go over the bar, and there is a cover on them as well, which makes sense. But people trying to save money by buying a 24" tube fixture for $10 at Walmart need to be aware that they must remove all of these covers before putting a UVB tube inside the fixtures.

Knobbys is absolutely correct, people try to save money by buying cheap tube fixtures to hold their UVB tubes, and they end up either spending more money because they don't include a Metal Reflector, or even worse, they spend a small fortune at the Reptile Vet after their Dragons get sick with MBD...

I believe for Acrylic, it's just the one molecule that repeats over and over and there's no 'customizability' (for lack of a better word) when considering its chemistry, unless you want an entirely different molecule that's definitely not called Acrylic. So if Zilla do indeed use a 'safety cover' that is made of Acrylic, and this plastic is reputed to block 100% of the UVB, then that is indeed what's happening no matter what Zilla claim unless they have independent research to backup their claims (or use a different plastic altogether). They could be using polycarbonate instead now I think about it, as I hear that has good optical qualities. You are right though, EllenD, they clearly care more about saving money than the health of Desert dwelling reptiles that are under the use of these products made by Zilla themselves if they sell the reflectors with the plastic cover attached. Even if they are removable, many people out there will not know to remove it and/or do the research needed in order to know such.

I'm sure the pet-shops are no help either with getting the correct advice out there about UVB light and the health of your Dragon, or just reptiles in general, and this is why so many people buy the household lighting fixtures instead. Thank you for all the informative posts though ^ ^

 

[kingofnobbys]

UV transparency requires thinness and special polymers , see

and

Regarding Zilla's claims , i'll call them out on this , BS , they are extremely unlikely to use Fused Silica or PMMA or TOPAS grade 8007X10 polymer all off which are EXPENSIVE.

 

[Drache613]

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