Gabriellehernandezxxx
Avid Member
The t5HO desert light?
New UV light
- Thread starter Gabriellehernandezxxx
- Start date
Rst_Cham
Chameleon Enthusiast
Per @nightanole message above if you can get T5 HO 6% or 5.0 that's what I would do.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Im still a bit confused but will try to help again.
"tropical" is code for 6% or 5.0
"desert" is code for 12% or 10.0
T5 Is 30% more efficient vs T8
T5 HO is double the wattage per foot vs normal "T5" or "T8"
So you want a desert/12%/10.0 T8
or you want a tropical/6%5.0 T5HO
You do not want a desert/12%/10.0 T5HO. That would be way to strong and is reserved for experienced keepers with UVB meters, and very tall cages.
Gabriellehernandezxxx
Avid Member
Ok this is so much more helpful!! I had no idea what any of those numbers meant. I’m keeping my Tropical T8 5.0 for now. If that’s not good enough, is there a link you could send me to purchase the one I need?
DartFrogKeeper
Member
Just out of curiosity, have you measured the output of compact fluorescent bulbs? A 26W 10.0 bulb, for example? The Zoomed chameleon kit comes with a 13W 5.0 and everyone tells people not to use it, but what if someone used the 26W 10.0 CFL to get by for a while? I wonder what the actual UVB measurement of that is. You can get that bulb for $14 versus the Zilla desert fixture for $38 (price matched from Petco's website). I realize this isn't an ideal scenario, but if someone wanted a quick option to get by for a while before they spent $50 on a T5 fixture and bulb...
DartFrogKeeper
Member
Did you get yours at Petco? They price match from their website so the "desert" Zilla T8 fixture would be $38. Or you can order a Zoomed T5 fixture (with bulb) on amazon for $50 for the 24" or $36 for the 14" (bulbs are slightly shorter than the fixture). Those T5 fixtures come with 5.0 bulbs.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
Like darkfrogkeeper said, either return the tropical and get the exact same thing in desert. Or spend a bit more money and get the zoom med T5HO for $10-20 more if you can get a full refund.
https://zoomed.com/t5-reptisun-led-uvb-terrarium-hood/
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
The only cfl's that work in a cage that is taller than 1ft, are the arcadia ones that are not curly. They used some black magic to bend them around and use a special hood reflector.
The normal curly CFL's put out almost no UVB, aka a 26 watt 10.0 cfl will put out as much UVB as a 13 watt linear, only on that 1 square inch spot directly under the CFL, vs getting the same amount for the entire length of the linear tube. I dont have my sheet infront of me, but it was something around 75-80% reduction in UVB per watt going from a T5 to a curly CFL.
So its really hard to go by "measurements". Yes if you are Really good at setups, you could convince the cham to stay in the perfect zone of the CFL, you could use the $14 vs the $50 T5.
So you treat a $14 CFL like a "basking spot" for UVB vs getting a linear (T8 or T5) and have an "entire area / level" of the cage for UVB.
Now UVB CFLs do have there place, but they are for "tanks", anoles, geckos, anything that thrives in a 10-20 gallon long. You certainly done want to grab a 20 gallon long, and pop on any T5HO on it, without a meter. 9/10 you would end up with too high of UVB for that lizard.
CamoChameleonsHuman
Chameleon Enthusiast
I believe CFLs should only be used on small glass enclosures no bigger than 12x12x18
Rst_Cham
Chameleon Enthusiast
So question for you then. I do have an anole in a 20 gallon long. I could use a UVB CFL for him? Do you have a recommendation on brand/watt/type?
CamoChameleonsHuman
Chameleon Enthusiast
How tall is it? If it's more than 18" I'd recommend the slimline T8 desert from Zilla.
Rst_Cham
Chameleon Enthusiast
So, I do have the 18" zilla T8 tropical on it now. I noticed one of his eyes shut this morning, so I wonder if the UVB is too strong. I had just replaced the bulb a few days ago. I think the tank is probably about 18" but then there is a couple inches of substrate.
CamoChameleonsHuman
Chameleon Enthusiast
How far is its basking branch from top?
cyberlocc
Chameleon Enthusiast
I'm not saying don't remove it, but has this actually been tested?
There is quite a few type of plastics and a specially designed acrylic that Filters Zero UVA or UVB.
It's pretty expensive though, it's used in tanning beds.
https://www.acplasticsinc.com/categories/uv-transmitting
I'm just wondering which if any, Fixtures splash guards have been tested. We are insulting the company for providing something that could actually not block UVB and the plastic does exist.
I seen it stated all the time, and always wondered that. Because like you just said, if it blocks it, why ship it. Maybe because it doesn't and this is just don't use Glass Vivs all over again lol
.
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Rst_Cham
Chameleon Enthusiast
Maybe 5 inches? But he also hangs out on glass near top, probably too close.
Why is my $5 anole harder than my chameleon? Lol
CamoChameleonsHuman
Chameleon Enthusiast
If he does that a lot a 10.0 CFL wouldn't be a horrible choice for it. However the T8 tropical will do better in this case I would believe. Especially since Anoles love the sun and he's got a large enclosure for a little anole
DartFrogKeeper
Member
I believe Lexan allows UV to pass through, but it's usually thicker than the flimsy plastic used as a cover on the Zilla fixture from what I've seen.I'm not saying don't remove it, but has this actually been tested?
There is quite a few type of plastics and a specially designed acrylic that Filters Zero UVA or UVB.
It's pretty expensive though, it's used in tanning beds.
https://www.acplasticsinc.com/categories/uv-transmitting
I'm just wondering which if any, Fixtures splash guards have been tested. We are insulting the company for providing something that could actually not block UVB and the plastic does exist.
I seen it stated all the time, and always wondered that. Because like you just said, if it blocks it, why ship it. Maybe because it doesn't and this is just don't use Glass Vivs all over again lol
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
I'm not saying don't remove it, but has this actually been tested?
There is quite a few type of plastics and a specially designed acrylic that Filters Zero UVA or UVB.
It's pretty expensive though, it's used in tanning beds.
https://www.acplasticsinc.com/categories/uv-transmitting
I'm just wondering which if any, Fixtures splash guards have been tested. We are insulting the company for providing something that could actually not block UVB and the plastic does exist.
I seen it stated all the time, and always wondered that. Because like you just said, if it blocks it, why ship it. Maybe because it doesn't and this is just don't use Glass Vivs all over again lol
I read a few reviews. People who called zilla, where told to remove the plastic if you are placing the the hood on screen. So it does block "some" UVB. Its just so hard to get zilla information vs the bigger players. I dont even know how they get 25 watt out of a 18" T8.
Rst_Cham
Chameleon Enthusiast
He hangs out more under his basking light than he does his UVB. So I was wondering if I put his baking light and a UVB CFL in a double dome if that would be better? You know, like exactly what we tell people not to do with chameleons, Lol.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
T8 tropical will not hurt "ANYTHING" at any distance. Its the lowest output you can get, other than the really odd "2%" that are for night time herps, and i think those are just marketing and really are normal bulbs.
