Switching to T5 HO & Arcadia's!

Very interested in switching to these, especially since I am upgrading my boy's cage soon. But I am not going to lie, I went to the website and got super overwhelmed.

From looking at the LYR web I can see were lighting upgrading might be overwhelming. There should be clearer images of all the lights not just leds and florescents. Most of us don't understand what the physical differences are and how the different parts and pieces fit into what fixtures. I would like to see what a bulb/reflector/fixture would look like in each category. Just sayin'
 
I've been using this same setup since September. I couldn't believe how much brighter it was at first. I was almost worried it was too bright, but your cham can regulate by moving around the cage. My plants have grown so much toward the light, and are so thick at the top, I'm thinking I have to trim it back because right now I'm not sure if it's bright enough!
 
Been wanting to switch to Arcadia's, but the setups I'm looking at are always out of stock. :(

Hi Big Gulp....
yes, you are right!
They have been selling so fast it has been hard to keep up!
I apologize profusely!--
but since they have basically gone "viral".:eek:... (both Arcadia Bulbs and Tropic Blaze HO T5 Fixtures ) we sold out literally to the bare walls over the holidays.

Side note:
I certainly did not expect that we would go through anywhere near that many fixtures & Arcadia bulbs in that short of time. :eek::eek::eek:

(Plus-- some of the Arcadia HO t5 bulb shortage is due to the fact that many Zoos are using Arcadia now to re-lamp because they last so long (it is much more economical for these large institutions).
They sometimes place orders for up to 100 or more bulbs at once --- and that can pretty much clean 'Ol Todd here out of out inventory in any given size all at once when that happens.:cool: )

As far as the t5 fixtures go---most folks don't realize that we have a factory custom make the orders of ho t5 lights.
Unfortunately they aren't just sitting in some nearby wholesale warehouse in inventory just waiting for me to order a few in every weeks or so we can keep re-stocked.
That would be way too easy.... LOL:rolleyes:
We buy & import them in made to order shipments that take 4 - 6 week lead time to complete and ship. *sigh*

Now--
Onto the good news.
The next shipment of HO t5 fixtures has been made (finally!) and was shipped (1/29) and now is on a container ship somewhere crossing the Pacific ocean... headed for the Panama canal... and then up to NJ to dock and unload.
If all goes accordingly, then the fixtures should be back in stock in about 3 - 3.5 weeks.:D
Also, another large order of bulbs is scheduled to arrive from Arcadia in England next week. :D

So you see my friends -
there is MUCH more logistics to this lighting biz than one might at first think.;)


I do thank all Chameleon Forums customers for being so patient~ you guys are awesome and I promise to have great lighting to take these animals we love to the next level.....and beyond!

Cheers!
Sincerely,
Todd
PS
Please follow us on Facebook (to keep up with the latest shipments :)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/LightYourReptilescom/139473289508979
 
All I know is, I had been using the Reptisun tubes and fixtures for months,
got my first Arcadia 6% HO, plugged it in, and my jaw hit the floor!! :eek:

It lit up the cage and was several times brighter, and more natural looking
then the Reptisuns!

So, I retired all the reptisun stuff and replaced it with Arcadia tubes and fixtures, which are mostly made of metal, not cheap plastic, like the others
I was using.
 
Hi Big Gulp....

yes, you are right!

They have been selling so fast it has been hard to keep up!

I apologize profusely!--

but since they have basically gone "viral".:eek:... (both Arcadia Bulbs and Tropic Blaze HO T5 Fixtures ) we sold out literally to the bare walls over the holidays.



Side note:

I certainly did not expect that we would go through anywhere near that many fixtures & Arcadia bulbs in that short of time. :eek::eek::eek:



(Plus-- some of the Arcadia HO t5 bulb shortage is due to the fact that many Zoos are using Arcadia now to re-lamp because they last so long (it is much more economical for these large institutions).

They sometimes place orders for up to 100 or more bulbs at once --- and that can pretty much clean 'Ol Todd here out of out inventory in any given size all at once when that happens.:cool: )



As far as the t5 fixtures go---most folks don't realize that we have a factory custom make the orders of ho t5 lights.

Unfortunately they aren't just sitting in some nearby wholesale warehouse in inventory just waiting for me to order a few in every weeks or so we can keep re-stocked.

That would be way too easy.... LOL:rolleyes:

We buy & import them in made to order shipments that take 4 - 6 week lead time to complete and ship. *sigh*



Now--

Onto the good news.

The next shipment of HO t5 fixtures has been made (finally!) and was shipped (1/29) and now is on a container ship somewhere crossing the Pacific ocean... headed for the Panama canal... and then up to NJ to dock and unload.

If all goes accordingly, then the fixtures should be back in stock in about 3 - 3.5 weeks.:D

Also, another large order of bulbs is scheduled to arrive from Arcadia in England next week. :D



So you see my friends -

there is MUCH more logistics to this lighting biz than one might at first think.;)





I do thank all Chameleon Forums customers for being so patient~ you guys are awesome and I promise to have great lighting to take these animals we love to the next level.....and beyond!



Cheers!

Sincerely,

Todd

PS

Please follow us on Facebook (to keep up with the latest shipments :)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/LightYourReptilescom/139473289508979


I'm waiting myself, no rush I just want to make sure I get on the next shipment. Followed on Facebook!
 
I have a 20w jungle dawn grow and glow and that definitely improved my light output. I have been thinking about trying a new UVB bulb such as the Acadia 6%. With the combination of the jungle dawn and 1 arcadia 6%, should that be enough light? I don't want to have too much light in the cage and cause eye problems.
 
I also made the switch to T5s/Arcadia through Todd of LightYourReptiles.com, and absolutely love it! My only thing is that I wish I had gone with two, 24" instead of one 48", so that I could play around with positioning more. I have a free-range situation, and I went with the 48" because it's stronger.
 
Does anyone know if they make a 18 inch hood for the t5 bulbs and if they do i would like to know where, i emeailed todd because i couldnt find them on his website and am currently waiting on a reply. thanks
 
to my knowledge t5 blubs come in 22", 34", 46"...i dont know of any smaller than 22"

my cage is 18x18x60 and i dont want it to look sloppy hanging over the edge, thsi is the only cage i will play with until at least a year or so when i get the money and the space to build a custom one
 
These really are the way forward in terms of reptile lighting. Here In the UK we have had access to them a littl longer than you in the US. I have been using them for two years on chameleons, day geckos and my tortoise and they are the best out there.

Here in the UK we also have more products that havent been released in the UK yet like the 18 inch vivarium canopy and the Arcadia UV flood. I am not sure whether these will be released in the US but they certainly are great products.

Here is the arcadia website which shows all their products although all products available in the US are most likely on Todds site.

The website also gives links to great articles and what lamps are recommended for certain species

http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/
 
my cage is 18x18x60 and i dont want it to look sloppy hanging over the edge, thsi is the only cage i will play with until at least a year or so when i get the money and the space to build a custom one

Can you fit a light hood going diagonally? I've seen other people's cages set up like that.
 
These really are the way forward in terms of reptile lighting. Here In the UK we have had access to them a littl longer than you in the US. I have been using them for two years on chameleons, day geckos and my tortoise and they are the best out there.

Here in the UK we also have more products that havent been released in the UK yet like the 18 inch vivarium canopy and the Arcadia UV flood. I am not sure whether these will be released in the US but they certainly are great products.

Here is the arcadia website which shows all their products although all products available in the US are most likely on Todds site.

The website also gives links to great articles and what lamps are recommended for certain species

http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/

Thank you Bradly!

And for what its worth, I can special order anything like a plug in light fixture off the Arcadia Web-site for anyone in North America.:D

But remember, the Arcadia light plug in fixtures are only available right now in 240v for European use.
Guess what?
YES!!!
THEY WILL WORK *GREAT* OVER HERE in North America *WITH* A 110 - 220/240v CONVERTER.:):)

I am using some configurations like that myself.
But a converter would have to be factored into the overall cost if folks are considering that.

So,
if James was considering that I special order that size for him... that would be great... and I am happy to do it.
But seriously,
at that point he could just buy the 24 x 24 cage, because these are kind of expensive.:(

Not to mention then he would need to also get the 20.00 - 40.00 converter too boot. (depends on wattage)


As a side note:
If anyone wants me to special order any plug in appliance off the Arcadia site .... sure, I am happy to do that.
But then they just have to remember they would need a converter too. (I can advise them on that.)
They sure are the bee's knees though. And very stylish looking.
But it would make it all kind of expensive.
But then again...
so are Austin Martins. (think: James Bonds car for those non car folks.;))
But who wouldn't want one? LOL

Cheers!
Todd

click on thumbnails to enlarge... to see length of light fixtures in metric and get better look at the car.
my dream car. *sigh* LOL!
 

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the difference is amazing, im just going through the change now, cant wait to get my new lights
 
New lights are up and bright

Thank you Todd - at Light My Reptiles - for the Arcadia bulbs and the advice on the set up... Now I get to watch the orchids, pothos, staghorn fern and airplants grow.... along with the new little guy; Sid the Panther Chameleon
 

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