Solarmeter

[Nursemaia]

I found a solarmeter for $50. Does anyone else have one and did they find it was worth the investment?

 

[jpowell86]

I wish I would have found one for $50. That's a steal...get it!

 

[brownie64]

That's about 1/4 what mine cost it sounds like a steal.

 

[Nursemaia]

I know it's a steal. I change my bulbs every 6 months and I'm about to update all my lighting to Arcadia t5 HO bulbs and was thinking that I'm being a nervous nelly by getting it.

 

[rambonerzilla]

I know it's a steal. I change my bulbs every 6 months and I'm about to update all my lighting to Arcadia t5 HO bulbs and was thinking that I'm being a nervous nelly by getting it.

I was told by Todd at [email protected] that the arcadias are good for 12 months for sure...... is that true in anyone's opinion

 

[Nursemaia]

I was told by Todd at [email protected] that the arcadias are good for 12 months for sure...... is that true in anyone's opinion

That's what I was told too and part of the reason why I'm upgrading but that's also why I want a solarmeter to monitor their uvb output. I don't want to risk my chams health. He said he's going to have a dual 36in fixture going up on his site in about 10 days and that's what I'm interested in because I can put a uvb bulb in it plus a broad spectrum bulb for the plants. That's what he recommended anyway. Very knowledgeable and excellent customer service.

 

[jpowell86]

That is exactly why I like having one. The bulbs can last longer than what they say. Conversely, I have bought some that were weak out of the package. Good to be able to test them regularly!

 

[rambonerzilla]

That's what I was told too and part of the reason why I'm upgrading but that's also why I want a solarmeter to monitor their uvb output. I don't want to risk my chams health. He said he's going to have a dual 36in fixture going up on his site in about 10 days and that's what I'm interested in because I can put a uvb bulb in it plus a broad spectrum bulb for the plants. That's what he recommended anyway. Very knowledgeable and excellent customer service.

I agree he took the time to talk extensively with me even let me send him pics of my set up... ultimately I when with the dual 24" fixture with a arcadia 12 uvb bulb and a 6500k seaworld bulb. So far I'm more than pleased and so is my cham. My plants are thriving (hibiscus flowering, pothos going bat crap crazy) but not to risk it is plan to get the same bulbs every 11 months and replace them as soon every 11 months ... just to be sure. But that being said there is a little cricket in my head saying "but what if it goes bad before the?" . I've looked into solarmeters aswell and I honestly will probably purchase one just to be safe and to get a real feel right at the 10 month mark. From what I have researched and heard here the arcadia is above all others in life and quality. Just saying

 

[Furciferocious]

Which model of Solarmeter? Is it one of the units that was recalled?

 

[rambonerzilla]

That is exactly why I like having one. The bulbs can last longer than what they say. Conversely, I have bought some that were weak out of the package. Good to be able to test them regularly!

So I should definitely get one for the sake of my cham! I'd hate to think I'm doing my best to raise my only boy and be wrong and him pay?

 

[jpowell86]

So I should definitely get one for the sake of my cham! I'd hate to think I'm doing my best to raise my only boy and be wrong and him pay?

I am not going to say that it is a must, but when you work with species that require bulbs emitting at a certain strength, it can be incredibly helpful.

Todd's products are amazing. But if you are working with products like Zoomed, I would get one!

 

[rambonerzilla]

I am not going to say that it is a must, but when you work with species that require bulbs emitting at a certain strength, it can be incredibly helpful.

Todd's products are amazing. But if you are working with products like Zoomed, I would get one!

But what about if I'm strictly arcadia 12% ? He made me feel very very assured I'd be alright .... well alright with replacing every 11 months... he said 12 but I want to do 11 just to be certain for my only boy

 

[Decadancin]

But what about if I'm strictly arcadia 12% ? He made me feel very very assured I'd be alright .... well alright with replacing every 11 months... he said 12 but I want to do 11 just to be certain for my only boy

I use those, and I replace every year. (It is likely that they could go longer, but I don't use a solarmeter, so I just mark the calendar.) Todd ( @Venutus1 ) knows his stuff! I think he has a 10% Labor Day sale going now, and I think the Solarmeter would be included if you wanted a new one @Nursemaia .

 

[jpowell86]

But what about if I'm strictly arcadia 12% ? He made me feel very very assured I'd be alright .... well alright with replacing every 11 months... he said 12 but I want to do 11 just to be certain for my only boy

Then I wouldn't be concerned. The arcadia bulbs are awesome!! I think it is also not as big of a deal for someone who just keeps a few chameleons. It is not as costly.

I have roughly 40-50 UVB bulbs going, so I like to be able to get a reading.

 

[rambonerzilla]

Then I wouldn't be concerned. The arcadia bulbs are awesome!! I think it is also not as big of a deal for someone who just keeps a few chameleons. It is not as costly.

I have roughly 40-50 UVB bulbs going, so I like to be able to get a reading.

You just reassured me so much thank you

 

[Nursemaia]

This is the brand of solarmeter I'm looking at. It's used but like I said it's only $50. I also put my chams outside all summer so I like the idea of measuring how much sun they are getting naturally. I think I'm going to buy it.

 

[MelissaB]

This is the brand of solarmeter I'm looking at. It's used but like I said it's only $50. I also put my chams outside all summer so I like the idea of measuring how much sun they are getting naturally. I think I'm going to buy it.

Don't get it, that's not the version you need. You need either the 6.2 or the 6.5 for checking your UVB bulbs.

 

[MelissaB]

Which model of Solarmeter? Is it one of the units that was recalled?

How do you know which units are part of the recall?

 

[Furciferocious]

How do you know which units are part of the recall?

The best description is here: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/Solarmeter6-5batch-problemMay2016.htm
Annoyingly, there is NO information about this on the Solarmeter website. If the meter is in the affected batch you email Solarmeter, they will reply with an authorization, and you ship the meter and a copy of the email to Solarmeter. I had to do this and it worked fine, if a bit amateurish.
The Solarmeter 5 you are looking at measures a wide range of the UV spectrum. New it's $189. The Solarmeter 6.5 only measures the part of the UV spectrum that is involved in D3 synthesis. The Solarmeter 5 would give you an indication of the reduction in output of a bulb over time. BUT the danger is that the bulb could be putting out a lot of light in non-useful parts of the UV spectrum but not enough for D3 and you wouldn't know it. Recent opinion seems to be that the Solarmeter 6.5 is the best option, though many people use the 6.2, which has a bit wider spectral coverage.
If you explore the website linked above you will learn a lot about UV lighting.
As an aside, everyone seems to agree that chameleons "do better" in natural sunlight. This says to me that we're still missing something in the vitamin synthesis process, be it heat (Infra-red) or some other wavelengths that facilitate secondary reactions. Our indoor lighting is sufficient but not optimal. I'll leave that for the chemists and biologists to figure out.

 

[Nursemaia]

The best description is here: http://www.uvguide.co.uk/Solarmeter6-5batch-problemMay2016.htm
Annoyingly, there is NO information about this on the Solarmeter website. If the meter is in the affected batch you email Solarmeter, they will reply with an authorization, and you ship the meter and a copy of the email to Solarmeter. I had to do this and it worked fine, if a bit amateurish.
The Solarmeter 5 you are looking at measures a wide range of the UV spectrum. New it's $189. The Solarmeter 6.5 only measures the part of the UV spectrum that is involved in D3 synthesis. The Solarmeter 5 would give you an indication of the reduction in output of a bulb over time. BUT the danger is that the bulb could be putting out a lot of light in non-useful parts of the UV spectrum but not enough for D3 and you wouldn't know it. Recent opinion seems to be that the Solarmeter 6.5 is the best option, though many people use the 6.2, which has a bit wider spectral coverage.
If you explore the website linked above you will learn a lot about UV lighting.
As an aside, everyone seems to agree that chameleons "do better" in natural sunlight. This says to me that we're still missing something in the vitamin synthesis process, be it heat (Infra-red) or some other wavelengths that facilitate secondary reactions. Our indoor lighting is sufficient but not optimal. I'll leave that for the chemists and biologists to figure out.

This was immensely helpful and informative. Thanks