Quick Lighting Question

[Sinplystik]

Heya!!

so i'm just curious .. I've had the same UVA light on Froggy for going on 4 years now .. how often need they be replaced? .. someone said the other day they lose effectiveness over time, but today someone told me they don't at all unless they blow .. so now i'm at a loss .. anyone have any idea?

-SiN

 

[RioReptiles]

What is the brand name and wattage of the light? Do you also have a UVB light? If its a basking bulb only (all lights produce some UVA), it's probably fine. If its UVA/UVB, depending on what kind, it might not be doing to much.

 

[Sinplystik]

it's a "ESU Reptile Slimline Reptile Fixture w/ Super UV Lamp"

it's a 15 watt 18" florescent bulb .. i have the same light on both beardies

and yes, i have a 150 watt UVB basking bulb on the 40 gal breeder and a 50 watt on the 20 gal breeder

thx again ;D

edit: the box says it produces "3%+ UVB and 7%+ UVA" but i do have basking bulbs to compensate and provide heat

 

[RioReptiles]

Well, it's probably time for a new one and probably a better one. The phosphors in the fluorescents degrade rapidly and need to be replaced every 6 months to provide adequate UVB for calcium metabolism. If its that old, it's just old, and the quality of bulbs has changed and gotten better since then too.

 

[Sinplystik]

i figured as much .. i'll go get a new one as soon as i can ..

is there any other light i can use for UVA besides a florescent? and am i misunderstood in the fact that my basking light provides adequate UVB?

edit: ok so i just read that the basking lights i use provide adequate UVA .. so do the florescents provide adequate UVB?? wow for years i thought the basking lamps provided UVB .. so if the basking lamp provides UVA is there a better solution to providing UVB than the florescents?

 

[NegativeCreep]

i figured as much .. i'll go get a new one as soon as i can ..

is there any other light i can use for UVA besides a florescent? and am i misunderstood in the fact that my basking light provides adequate UVB?

edit: ok so i just read that the basking lights i use provide adequate UVA .. so do the florescents provide adequate UVB?? wow for years i thought the basking lamps provided UVB .. so if the basking lamp provides UVA is there a better solution to providing UVB than the florescents?

A GOOD florescent tube provides adequate UVB, such as the ReptiSUN 10.0 (no compact bulbs!). Many of the florescent tubes say they are good for bearded dragons (along with a bunch of other reptiles), but they are not. Different reptiles have different needs, and BDs need high levels of UVB.

And yes, there are better solutions.. Mercury Vapor Bulbs! I upgraded to the MegaRay (which lasts twice as long as florescent tubes), and I can't believe the improvements in my baby!! Check out reptileuv.com, they are the best MVB's on the market, and there is a lot of info there.

 

[Sinplystik]

wow .. so after checking reptileuv.com .. it says that the 5.0 compact and 10.0 linear UV lights actually cause severe damage in several noted cases, up to and including the death of some species .. they simply provide TOO much UV light .. time to hit the books again and find a new shop .. the guy i've been going to for years says "yea that should be fine" but clearly it's not .. WoW! i'm shocked!!

edit: and with one light from these guys I can provide adequate heat, uvb AND uva? that's just awesome!

 

[NegativeCreep]

wow .. so after checking reptileuv.com .. it says that the 5.0 compact and 10.0 linear UV lights actually cause severe damage in several noted cases, up to and including the death of some species .. they simply provide TOO much UV light .. time to hit the books again and find a new shop .. the guy i've been going to for years says "yea that should be fine" but clearly it's not .. WoW! i'm shocked!!

edit: and with one light from these guys I can provide adequate heat, uvb AND uva? that's just awesome!

Yeah, I believe it's the high amounts of uvA that are damaging in these bulbs...
and also.. yeah, I'd find a new shop guy too. "yeah, that should be fine" isn't really acceptable IMO.

The MVB provide great amounts of UVB, UVA (from what I understand) is provided naturally by just about any bulb.. but, the MegaRay's are the best there is IMO, of course. You can't go wrong with one of those!

 

[Sinplystik]

i'm learning all types of interesting stuff .. the plastic shield on the ones i have block "almost all the UVB" as per uvguide.co.uk .. and the screen lids block some as well ..

so .. that's settled .. scrap the heat lamp and linear UV light .. and test the 3-in-1 Mega-Ray bulb ..

thanks for all ur help guys!

-SiN