5.0 or 10.0?

[broderp]

Arcadia lights last up to a year, so for pricing it's a lil cheaper. I just switched all cages to arcadia t5. Looks much better then t8.

Is there any evidence of this aside from the manufacure's clam? How are we judging the life of the bulb? In one years time, how much does it drop off? Is the amount it drops off still adequate for chameleons, taking into accound loss thru the mesh? How was it tested?

Not knocking your comment, I hear this a lot, in this discussion and others, there seems to be a lack of actual proof to support the aracdia's performance over others when it comes to longevity.

I'd love to see a side by side test.

Lets assume the cheaper ReptSUN brand lasts 9 months before it's UVB drops to a point where is is no longer adequate, and the Arcadia lasts 12 months. The $18 price of the RepiSUN is about $2 per month. The arcadia at $40 a pop lasting 1 full year is about $3 a month.

So which is really the better bargain? (these are not facts, just the kind on info I'd like to see tested, then we can accurately evaluate the bulbs cost per per month and see which is actually better.)

 

[Panther mania]

Time will tell!!!

Competition keeps people honest! If Arcadia beats Reptisun hands down everyone will be using Arcadia and Reptisun will have to step it up...Also, it is forums such as this that will bring out the truth. Consumers with meters doing their own testing and revealing their results here. Good thread!

 

[deadhd5]

Is there any evidence of this aside from the manufacure's clam? How are we judging the life of the bulb? In one years time, how much does it drop off? Is the amount it drops off still adequate for chameleons, taking into accound loss thru the mesh? How was it tested?

Not knocking your comment, I hear this a lot, in this discussion and others, there seems to be a lack of actual proof to support the aracdia's performance over others when it comes to longevity.

I'd love to see a side by side test.

Lets assume the cheaper ReptSUN brand lasts 9 months before it's UVB drops to a point where is is no longer adequate, and the Arcadia lasts 12 months. The $18 price of the RepiSUN is about $2 per month. The arcadia at $40 a pop lasting 1 full year is about $3 a month.

So which is really the better bargain? (these are not facts, just the kind on info I'd like to see tested, then we can accurately evaluate the bulbs cost per per month and see which is actually better.)

I would feel safe in saying that it has been proven over time that Reptisun T8 bulbs last about 6 months and Arcadia T5HO bulbs last a year. This has been tested by many cham keepers on this forum who have Solarmeters, including myself.

That being said, I don't think the Reptisun T5HO bulbs have been out long enough to draw a conclusion. I recently replaced an Arcadia T5 with a Reptisun T5 and will be monitoring it with my meter to see if it is a matter of manufacturer or if T5HO bulbs inherently have a longer lifespan.

 

[TheGuvnor]

Living in the UK, the Arcadia are available everywhere, and I've used them for yeas with my Beardies and Rankins.

And currently have a Arcadia T8 6% for my Veiled. But getting the Arcadia Luminaire T5 6% nextmonth. Cant wait.

I have had T5's a couple of years and both although guaranteed for the full 12 months. I always renew at the 11th month.
The 12 month guarantee is based in the 12hours usage daily cycle as stated on the website.

They truly are a great bulb. But I can not compare to the likes of Repti Sun or Repti Glo as I've not used them.

But interesting thread

 

[summoner12]

There are a lot of answers

If using a CFL in a clip light, so that the lamp is verticl to the top of the cage, try to use a wide clip light dome. If you are using it in a fixture like the Exo Terra viv fixtures where the lamp is laying on it's side, or horizontal, use a 10.0 if the enclosure is big. If the enclosure is small use a 5.0.


If you have a tall enclosure using linear tubes (I highly recommend tubes over CFL) then you should use 10.0 lamps. But if the enclosure is small or short, use a 5.0.

I ALWAYS recommend you use an aluminum foil reflector. Just grab some foil from the kitchen, unplug your light fixture, remove UVB lamp, ensure none of the foil touches the light socket and press the foil into the reflector area, re-install the lamp and you're done. I can't stress the importance of not getting the foil in contact with the light socket!

I personally use 10.0 on my 48" tall enclosure and the basking spot and UVB are about 8-10" away.

 

[broderp]

I would feel safe in saying that it has been proven over time that Reptisun T8 bulbs last about 6 months and Arcadia T5HO bulbs last a year. This has been tested by many cham keepers on this forum who have Solarmeters, including myself.

That being said, I don't think the Reptisun T5HO bulbs have been out long enough to draw a conclusion. I recently replaced an Arcadia T5 with a Reptisun T5 and will be monitoring it with my meter to see if it is a matter of manufacturer or if T5HO bulbs inherently have a longer lifespan.

I tend to agree with you, but the logical engineer in me wants proof.

Word of mouth is not proof, testing and recording imperial data over time and making a direct comparison is what I like to see.

As good as many people are, and as great as this forum is, I'm surprised there is no sticky with this info. We have a Sticky on cham POOP for cryin' out loud. We need something more concrete on this debatable topic.

I also can't help and be synical in thinking that people are being drawn in to the whole "only available" or "hard to get" propoganda of these bulbs here in the USA. Makes it sound like a fad or great marketing by the company behind the bulbs. lol

I look forward to your reading your results and thoughts and hopefully we can draw some comparisons and logical conclutions from it.

There shuld be a Sticky on this.

 

[broderp]

Now I've even more curious. I just recieved my T5 10.0 RepiSUN HO UVB bulb. It claims on the bulb it's good for one year.

 

[Shanar808]

Anyone with a solarmeter tested any Zilla brand t8 bulbs? It’s the only one available at my nearest 2 petcos and the nearest local stores. They offer a tropical(25) and a desert(50) but I can’t seem to find out any info on its uvb output in a way that is comparable to the reptisun or archadia bulbs.

 

[MissSkittles]

Anyone with a solarmeter tested any Zilla brand t8 bulbs? It’s the only one available at my nearest 2 petcos and the nearest local stores. They offer a tropical(25) and a desert(50) but I can’t seem to find out any info on its uvb output in a way that is comparable to the reptisun or archadia bulbs.

I doubt that any members from this thread will respond as it’s from 2014 and they are long gone.
I can’t answer your question about the T8’s, but I can tell you that most likely your best bet would be to buy a T5, on line if need be.

 

[Kaizen]

does it matter that they are a mini compact fluorescent?

Don’t get a compact fluorescent

god! Another old thread

 

[Shanar808]

I doubt that any members from this thread will respond as it’s from 2014 and they are long gone.
I can’t answer your question about the T8’s, but I can tell you that most likely your best bet would be to buy a T5, on line if need be.

Lol yes it was a long shot but had my fingers crossed? I’m planning on checking out another pet store a few cities away but if that fails I’m going to put in my order online. I’m thinking of getting a t5 10.0 after reading this forum. I just love this site and getting to talk with people like you all. Planning on posting a new member enclosure type thing so I can get any adjustment suggestions soon so please critique cuz I want the best for my Alexa ? thanks

 

[Kaizen]

Yup, get a t5 10.0, and you can just hang it a bit off the top if it’s too much.

 

[MissSkittles]

Lol yes it was a long shot but had my fingers crossed? I’m planning on checking out another pet store a few cities away but if that fails I’m going to put in my order online. I’m thinking of getting a t5 10.0 after reading this forum. I just love this site and getting to talk with people like you all. Planning on posting a new member enclosure type thing so I can get any adjustment suggestions soon so please critique cuz I want the best for my Alexa ? thanks

Just gave this link to another post. https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html Arcadia is the same price as ReptiSun and I’ve heard is of better quality. Plus, the uvb bulbs only need be changed every year, unlike every 6 months for ReptiSun. I’d go with a 5.0 or 6%.

 

[Shanar808]

Just gave this link to another post. https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html Arcadia is the same price as ReptiSun and I’ve heard is of better quality. Plus, the uvb bulbs only need be changed every year, unlike every 6 months for ReptiSun. I’d go with a 5.0 or 6%.

Thanks for the site... but they don’t have the size I need in stock rn and shipping to me is $33 ?

 

[Shanar808]

Yup, get a t5 10.0, and you can just hang it a bit off the top if it’s too much.

My lamps are a couple inches above the top of the enclosure and my highest branches are 5-6 inches from that so that gives me a bit of distance for a 10.0, but of course getting the Arcadia 6% would be nice, just wish shipping wasn’t soo high.