PowerSun Mercury Vapor Bulbs Research Help

[Loganator]

Thanks everyone for the congrats. The T-Rex is really making a difference. I am still surprised that there is so much difference from one MVB to another. Not sure if I mentioned that the Powersun was actually the second MVB that I had tried. The first (I don't remember the name, "Solar" something, maybe?) was way too sensitive to ambient temps. It's "safety shut-off" kicked in all time. The company told me the ambient temperature of the room had to be in an optimal range for it to stay on. Anyway, all is good, now that i have the T-Rex.

Hey Sunkist, until you have the $$ for a T-Rex try raising the Powersun. I did that with mine until I was able to switch it out and it helped. I originally had it at about 12", then raised it to 15" at the advice of another poster here.

Debbie

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great to hear that you both are doing much better with your dragons' behavior now with a different light. It just takes some time, but they should adjust fine now with better lighting. Sorry that you had so much trouble with the Zoomed Powersun, that is too bad. They have always been a trusted light, so hopefully, they will get them fixed quickly. I have inquired about the problems on the UVB board, so when I find something out I will report back on this thread just for an update.
Sorry to hear that you & your fiance broke things off. I hope you are doing ok.

If you either one of you would like to help us out with UVB data compilation, please refer to my announcement thread here for details, thank you:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=105419


Tracie

 

[MissPaula]

Just thought I'd give you a quick update of Puff. Sorry I haven't posted pics but it was a busy weekend! He is doing much better! He is keeping his eyes open and chasing after crickets a bit more. I even caught him eating his greens this morning and then he laid a big wet poop. All good signs. I am still waiting for my T-Rex, should be here today, but already I can see a big change. Shortening the amount of time that his lights are on, longer baths, and removing the Zoomed seem to be doing the trick. I'm going to order some worms for him to fatten him up a little bit, but he is already looking much better. Thanks for all of the help guys, I appreciate it!

 

[Drache613]

Hello All,

If anyone has had their bearded dragon under a new Powersun 100 or 160 watt & has had recent health or eye problems or complications, that you believed to have been caused by this MVB, please contact me. Frances would like for willing participants/volunteers to send her their Powersun so she can test them please. It would really help out. Here is a recent thread answering some concerns of mine on the UVB discussion board:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/UVB_Meter_Owners/message/6614

Here is the initial earlier report by Frances Baines regarding the initial detection of the problems:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/mercvapourfloods.htm#zoomedpowersun

How can you help? There are a couple of ways that you can help us. This is requested directly from Frances Baines:

"They can help in two ways.
Firstly, they can keep a diary of exactly what happened to their beardie,
with dates and details like what lamp they bought, how far above their
beardie's head it was placed, how soon they saw symptoms, what symptoms
there were.... and how long the beardie was exposed to the lamp before they
turned it off, and how the recovery progressed. All their posts on the forum
are useful, too, in this respect..
Photos of the set-up that caused the problem - showing the lamp - are really
helpful, as are the tragic pictures of the beardie with his eyes closed in
pain. I'll need to email them privately to get their written permission to
use their material, and to send them a copy of the Case Report I'll prepare,
so they can check it out and okay it.

Secondly, they can send me the lamp. It does cost maybe $15 - 20 sent by
regular USPS Airmail (by far the best way, in terms of time, money and
care - couriers are horrendously expensive and very rough with the parcels)
so not everyone will want to spend that... but I really do need at least one
BAD lamp that's caused a problem, to prove that the output from these is
hazardous. If people want to send me a lamp, again I'll need to email them
privately, to give them my address and instructions on how best to pack and
post the lamp to me."


Thank you for your assistance.

Tracie

 

[sunkist]

I'd be happy too once I get the new lights in. He's gone back to his old habits with the Powersun so I have to order the new ones soon.

 

[Embee]

Just thought I'd give you a quick update of Puff. Sorry I haven't posted pics but it was a busy weekend! He is doing much better! He is keeping his eyes open and chasing after crickets a bit more. I even caught him eating his greens this morning and then he laid a big wet poop. All good signs. I am still waiting for my T-Rex, should be here today, but already I can see a big change. Shortening the amount of time that his lights are on, longer baths, and removing the Zoomed seem to be doing the trick. I'm going to order some worms for him to fatten him up a little bit, but he is already looking much better. Thanks for all of the help guys, I appreciate it!

Miss Paula!

This is really great news. Thanks so much for keeping us posted. Sounds like turning off the PowerSun really made a difference, and I imagine you will see an even more dramatic difference once the TRex is installed... continued to keep us posted...

Here is a thread you might have an interest in participating in:

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=105421&hilit=

The best,
Em

 

[diamc]

Wow, that's great that Puff is doing so much better in just a few days. Sounds like those changes made a big difference, especially turning off the PowerSun. As Em mentioned, please post your experiences in the thread that she applied the link to. It's very important that the latest issues with that bulb be known and also tested to make other owners aware to prevent these scary health issues.

Thanks for the update, can't wait to see the change in Puff when the new bulb arrives. Be sure to test the temps when using it frequently the first 3 days because it does need some "burn in time" meaning that it gets hotter the 2nd & 3rd day. Also, we love pictures. :wink:

 

[MissPaula]

Yes, I am going to wait until next week to install the T-Rex because I am not home ask much this week because of my research. This morning I caught him eating greens, and then tonight he gobbled up crickets again! I don't have any "after" pictures, I am going to wait until he is under the T-Rex for a few days....but here are the before pictures

 

[MissPaula]

ok....i know i've posted pictures before....it didn't work this time, grrrr....well, sorry guys i'll have to figure out how to get an image up here

 

[sweetiepie9]

We have 5 Powersuns in our home, only Sweetie still has the 10.0 Reptisun. I haven't noticed any problems, but will keep checking daily & I think I'll put them up another inch to make sure. I'll let you know if I find any eye problems. Could you let me know what exactly is happening, are they keeping their eyes closed? Thanks, Tracie, I'll let you know right away. We've already decided to replace them all with Megarays, but that won't be until the end of the year, as the Powersuns are all relatively new.

Deborah

 

[diamc]

Hi there, I managed to fix one of the pictures so it would show up. When you're in your photobucket, right click on the last img abbreviation then copy & paste here. Puff looks quite proud sitting on his basking log. That's great that he ate crickets and greens. Can't wait to see how he does under the T-Rex.

In the meantime, if I could make a suggestion............the cool side of the tank looks quite dark. Do you have an extra clamp lamp that you could put another bulb in on that side? Perhaps even a 25 watt household bulb will help brighten it up a little and not change the temps much at all. What are you getting for temps now on both sides?

 

[MissPaula]

Hi there, I managed to fix one of the pictures so it would show up. When you're in your photobucket, right click on the last img abbreviation then copy & paste here. Puff looks quite proud sitting on his basking log. That's great that he ate crickets and greens. Can't wait to see how he does under the T-Rex.

In the meantime, if I could make a suggestion............the cool side of the tank looks quite dark. Do you have an extra clamp lamp that you could put another bulb in on that side? Perhaps even a 25 watt household bulb will help brighten it up a little and not change the temps much at all. What are you getting for temps now on both sides?

Yes, sorry, i have a longer strip light for him (24") but i need to get a fluorescent bulb for it. I do have extra clamp lamps so i'll throw one over top of the other side. The cool side of the tank today was 76 degrees F, and the basking spot 107 degrees F. I got the T-Rex today but have to leave him in the care of my in-laws from thursday-sunday because i am out of town for research, so unfortunately I am going to have to wait to put it in I would rather wait since the reptisun still has some juice and i don't want to have to worry all weekend about his temps when i'm away since the bulbs burn hotter over a few days. thanks for the image advice, I will post some pictures next week after he gets his T-Rex for a few days

 

[diamc]

Sounds like a good idea to wait before using the T-Rex so you can keep a close eye on it. You're doing the right thing, being cautious. Good luck with your research. :wink:

 

[Drache613]

Hello Deborah & Sunkist,

Thanks! Any help is great.
It is not all of the Powersuns that have the phototherapy phosphors on them, for some reason it was just a few batches, we just don't know yet. She is trying to test as wide of an array of lights from different areas as she can.
Yeah, the symptoms are just basically them keeping their eyes closed, lethargic behavior, not wanting to bask & reduced appetite & activity.

Tracie

 

[sunkist]

Hello Deborah & Sunkist,

Thanks! Any help is great.
It is not all of the Powersuns that have the phototherapy phosphors on them, for some reason it was just a few batches, we just don't know yet. She is trying to test as wide of an array of lights from different areas as she can.
Yeah, the symptoms are just basically them keeping their eyes closed, lethargic behavior, not wanting to bask & reduced appetite & activity.

Tracie

Yeppers... that's Fargo.

I had him better but he's gone back to hiding. I miss my yellow legged dude