Sunblaster NanoTech T5 High Fixture/Reflector Combo

[broderp]

Would this work for UVB bulb?

https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-9...rd_wg=D7KsX&psc=1&refRID=XGRGCVD5TS95GD830R82

I could easily add two rows of LED's lighting to the edges of the reflector, one high output 6500K white and a row of red for the plants.

I'm considering ways to open up the top of my terrarium to allow more sir flow. (And sadly return the ZooMed hood I just bought)
https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Rept...8&qid=1488488453&sr=8-1&keywords=LED+UVB+hood

The above is not as bright as I had hoped, and is fairly wide. It blocks about 1/2 the mesh screen on top, restricting airflow and allowing humidity to stay high for long periods of time.

 

[Alexander1]

Yeah I try to warn people about how dim those lights are

 

[Dave Bolamperti]

I bought one last year

 

[Dave Bolamperti]

Would this work for UVB bulb?

https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-9...rd_wg=D7KsX&psc=1&refRID=XGRGCVD5TS95GD830R82

I could easily add two rows of LED's lighting to the edges of the reflector, one high output 6500K white and a row of red for the plants.

I'm considering ways to open up the top of my terrarium to allow more sir flow. (And sadly return the ZooMed hood I just bought)
https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Rept...8&qid=1488488453&sr=8-1&keywords=LED+UVB+hood

The above is not as bright as I had hoped, and is fairly wide. It blocks about 1/2 the mesh screen on top, restricting airflow and allowing humidity to stay high for long periods of time.

Hey Broderp,
I bought a zoomed led uvb hood last year , the led's started to flash on and off after about 4 months . I thought I got a bad unit / these suck. I replaced it with a 2 bulb t5 and put Acadia uvb & plant bulb in it
Much better now
Good luck
Dave

 

[Dino_]

I'm using the exact fixture you linked except in a 3ft version, I like it though I'm not sure I'd do what you're thinking of doing. For one thing the reflector isn't made of metal like you may be thinking, its instead made of a kind of rubbery stiff plastic (I'm trying to think of some kind of everyday object with a similar feel and I'm drawing a blank) with a mirror finish on the inside. You might be able to run a strip of those leds that come in the roll but anything heavier I wouldn't do it (and certainly no high power leds that get hot). Additionally, I'd be concerned with obstructing the reflector dramatically cutting down on the efficiency.

The one minor complaint I have with this strip is that it is absolutely designed to be hung. While you can just set it flat on top of a cage the end caps (where the bulb plug into) are a teensy bit longer than the reflector. Not a big deal, doesn't hurt it any - it just bugs me that it doesn't sit completely flat. LOL

 

[broderp]

Yeah I try to warn people about how dim those lights are

I'm going to use it for my UVB stick, nothing else. Does the power supply lack and prevent a less than full brightness of any T5 light used or are you referring to the included T5 lamp (which I will be tossing out anyways)?

I bought one last year

And......

Hey Broderp, I bought a zoomed led uvb hood last year , the led's started to flash on and off after about 4 months . I thought I got a bad unit / these suck. I replaced it with a 2 bulb t5 and put Acadia uvb & plant bulb in it Much better now
Good luck
Dave

Mine is still going strong, but am reaching the return window soon. My concern is not with the fixture, or light output (although not as bright as I had hoped) but more so the fact that it blocks about 1/2 of the terrarium screen top and this restricts airflow, so much that I have constant high humidity. I'm looking for a narrower hood just for UVB as I have made and use my LED's to light up the terrarium sufficiently. (Custom made screen top with high output LED lights build in around the perimeter)

I'm using the exact fixture you linked except in a 3ft version, I like it though I'm not sure I'd do what you're thinking of doing. For one thing the reflector isn't made of metal like you may be thinking, its instead made of a kind of rubbery stiff plastic (I'm trying to think of some kind of everyday object with a similar feel and I'm drawing a blank) with a mirror finish on the inside. You might be able to run a strip of those leds that come in the roll but anything heavier I wouldn't do it (and certainly no high power leds that get hot). Additionally, I'd be concerned with obstructing the reflector dramatically cutting down on the efficiency.

The one minor complaint I have with this strip is that it is absolutely designed to be hung. While you can just set it flat on top of a cage the end caps (where the bulb plug into) are a teensy bit longer than the reflector. Not a big deal, doesn't hurt it any - it just bugs me that it doesn't sit completely flat. LOL

I didn't think about not sitting flat. I need something pretty flat so my controller has a place to sit. I may have to mod the fixture or look elsewhere.
How has it worked otherwise for you? Is it worth the money?

 

[RcManChild]

I know I have told you before @broderp but I highly recommend a sunray fixture. Looking on Amazon it is $30.00 more than the LED zoo med you bought, but it takes care of heat, uvb and provides excellent light to view your cham.
This is $123.99 amazon not too bad considering what you get. This sticks to the back of the tank and sits about 6' above it leaving room for airflow. At 6" above the tank and no moisture the basking spot which is about 10" away is right around 85 degrees.

To simply answer your question, what you posted should work. What I have found is that I do not like the light that the UVB bulbs produce, it simply is just not enough for myself.

 

[broderp]

I know I have told you before @broderp but I highly recommend a sunray fixture. Looking on Amazon it is $30.00 more than the LED zoo med you bought, but it takes care of heat, uvb and provides excellent light to view your cham.
This is $123.99 amazon not too bad considering what you get. This sticks to the back of the tank and sits about 6' above it leaving room for airflow. At 6" above the tank and no moisture the basking spot which is about 10" away is right around 85 degrees.

To simply answer your question, what you posted should work. What I have found is that I do not like the light that the UVB bulbs produce, it simply is just not enough for myself.

Yes you did, and I like it. BUT Since I use a digital controller that monitors heat and humidity, every time the heat met or exceeded the set point, it would cycle the light on and off. I use a controller with a ceramic heat element and I never have to worry about temp changes and adjusting a lamp up or down. If the house is 66 F, no problem backing is set and maintains 84 F. If house temp is 76 F, then I still have a 84 F basking spot.

And yes my house can vary that much sometimes. I made the controller as I was tired of adjusting a light. Now I'm just spoiled..lol

 

[nightanole]

Im really digging the nano blaster with a 18" t5 ho for those reptibreeze XL's. That would be a much better option vs a cfls or a 18" T8 that doesnt come with a reflector. I kinda cheated and used a 24" and ran it catty corner, but it still stuck out the sides...

They are not kidding about the 300% output vs a normal T8 either. You might not need leds.

 

[broderp]

Im really digging the nano blaster with a 18" t5 ho for those reptibreeze XL's. That would be a much better option vs a cfls or a 18" T8 that doesnt come with a reflector. I kinda cheated and used a 24" and ran it catty corner, but it still stuck out the sides...

They are not kidding about the 300% output vs a normal T8 either. You might not need leds.

Are you saying you used it for main lighting or UVB? I'm looking for a slim UVB lamp. A UVB bulb will have a fixed brightness right? Less any perceived brightness due to reflection.

 

[nightanole]

Are you saying you used it for main lighting or UVB? I'm looking for a slim UVB lamp. A UVB bulb will have a fixed brightness right? Less any perceived brightness due to reflection.

Yea you can get a reptisun arcadia T5 HO UVB lamp that would be about 300% brighter than the same T8.

The only hard part is figuring out what bulb they use.

T5 HO's come in 12" /15 watt and 22" / 24 watt. Im assuming the sunblast 18" uses the 15 watt, and the sunblast 24" uses the 24 watt.

Personally i would get t he 24 watt, since you can use arcadia or reptisun, arcadia does not make a 12".

And yes it would have a fixed brightness and can only be turned on and off via wall power, it cant be dimmed with rheostat nor a pwm controller.