NHenn
Avid Member
For anyone who is considering switching from their T8 fixtures to T5 fixtures I highly recommend it! I recently started the process of converting all my lighting from the T8 ZooMed fixtures with ReptiSun UVB bulbs to new T5 High Output fixtures with Arcadia UVB Bulbs from LightYour Reptiles.
The one and only goal in lighting is to create light that is as close as possible to natural sunlight as that is the main template for all life on earth. With that being said, the single T8 fixtures in my opinion do a very poor job at this. That is why I'm changing all my lighting over to Dual T5 HO fixtures with one 6% Arcadia bulb and one 6.5k Day-light bulb. You will be amazed with how much brighter and more vivid your cage will look with these fixtures, not to mention it is better for both your chameleon and live plants.
In the past the, the prices for the T5 HO fixtures were much higher than the T8 so that is why I, like most people, purchased the T8 fixtures. But now with newer technology, they are virtually the same price. As for the Arcadia bulbs, I don't believe there is a better option for UVB lighting. Some arguments can be made about prices but they are usually flawed. I would purchase my ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 UVB 18" bulbs for about $16-17 per bulb. The 22" Arcadia 6% UVB bulbs are $30 a piece. So right off the bat they seem more expensive but the Reptisun bulbs need to be replaced every 6 months where the Arcadia bulbs only need to be replaced once a year. So in reality the T5 Arcadia bulbs are actually less expensive than the T8 UVB bulbs.
Todd at LightYourReptiles.com is the man to talk to about lighting if you are considering switching or just buying lights for the first time. He has been a huge help with all my questions and is more than willing to help get you setup with some amazing lights!
First picture is of my setup with the T8 fixture containing a Reptisun 5.0 UVB bulb.
Second picture is with a T5 HO fixture containing a 6% Arcadia and 6.5k bulbs.
The one and only goal in lighting is to create light that is as close as possible to natural sunlight as that is the main template for all life on earth. With that being said, the single T8 fixtures in my opinion do a very poor job at this. That is why I'm changing all my lighting over to Dual T5 HO fixtures with one 6% Arcadia bulb and one 6.5k Day-light bulb. You will be amazed with how much brighter and more vivid your cage will look with these fixtures, not to mention it is better for both your chameleon and live plants.
In the past the, the prices for the T5 HO fixtures were much higher than the T8 so that is why I, like most people, purchased the T8 fixtures. But now with newer technology, they are virtually the same price. As for the Arcadia bulbs, I don't believe there is a better option for UVB lighting. Some arguments can be made about prices but they are usually flawed. I would purchase my ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 UVB 18" bulbs for about $16-17 per bulb. The 22" Arcadia 6% UVB bulbs are $30 a piece. So right off the bat they seem more expensive but the Reptisun bulbs need to be replaced every 6 months where the Arcadia bulbs only need to be replaced once a year. So in reality the T5 Arcadia bulbs are actually less expensive than the T8 UVB bulbs.
Todd at LightYourReptiles.com is the man to talk to about lighting if you are considering switching or just buying lights for the first time. He has been a huge help with all my questions and is more than willing to help get you setup with some amazing lights!
First picture is of my setup with the T8 fixture containing a Reptisun 5.0 UVB bulb.
Second picture is with a T5 HO fixture containing a 6% Arcadia and 6.5k bulbs.
