T5 bulb sizes

[broderp]

I'm a bit confused about T5 bulb and fixeture sizes.

I bought a 23" T5 light fixture to fit on my 24" terrarium.
http://www.menards.com/main/lightin...ble-t5-narrow-striplight/p-1723486-c-7242.htm
The fixture is right at 23". The bulbs come in at about 21.5". When buying bulbs, do I look for 23" bulbs or 21.5" bulbs? Or are those considered 22"?

The fixture I got came with two F14 T5 bulbs rated at 4100K each. I wanted to go to one of our sponcers and pick up some 6500K bulbs.

I was thinking of these:
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/22hot56dabu.html
They say good for 22-24" fixtures. One would think my fixture being 23" would be right dab in the middle, but do these types of bulbs only work on THIER fixures? Seems odd a 22" bulb would fit in a 22-24" fixture. You can't stretch them. lol

I can't see paying over $100 when the fixture I got was only $20, with the two bulbs.

I was considering getting one of these:
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/ard3t522in241.html
and getting rid of one of my domes with the UVB.

I have the Exo Terra 24x18x36 terrarium. Anyone know of a good hood/fixture that fit's this width terrarium nicely?

What am I missing here?

 

[MelissaB]

Some fixtures are 24 inches in overall width, but the contact points where the bulb goes are 22. They have an outer casing, and reflectors. I just measured one of my bulbs, and from the ends of the pins it's about 22 1/8 inch, but they call them 22 inch bulbs.

 

[broderp]

Some fixtures are 24 inches in overall width, but the contact points where the bulb goes are 22. They have an outer casing, and reflectors. I just measured one of my bulbs, and from the ends of the pins it's about 22 1/8 inch, but they call them 22 inch bulbs.

That makes so much more sense, but my bulbs and lamps must be some odd ball size (yet commonly available at places such as Walmart, just not in the UVB or 6500K type.)

21.5" is a far cry from 22 1/8 inch, especially since they have to fit in a fixture that has a fixed width and mounting points.

Are you measuring the pins on the end too?

 

[MelissaB]

Yes, I'm measuring from pin to pin. Rough measurement, but I'd still call it 22 1/8. Using a tape measure before my 3rd cup of coffee leaves a little room for error, lol.


ETA:
Just measured cap to cap for you, if you need it. It's 21 5/8" from end cap top to end cap top. Also double checked the pin to pin (after coffee and with glasses on) and it is 22 1/8" from pin point to pin point.

 

[CarlC]

The fixture you got is only a standard output T5. I really doubt you are going to find any UV bulbs in a standard output T5.

A T5 HO 22" bulb is 24 watts.

Carl

 

[broderp]

Yes, I'm measuring from pin to pin. Rough measurement, but I'd still call it 22 1/8. Using a tape measure before my 3rd cup of coffee leaves a little room for error, lol.


ETA:
Just measured cap to cap for you, if you need it. It's 21 5/8" from end cap top to end cap top. Also double checked the pin to pin (after coffee and with glasses on) and it is 22 1/8" from pin point to pin point.

Thanks! Looks like I have the right sized fixture for a 22" bulb.

The fixture you got is only a standard output T5. I really doubt you are going to find any UV bulbs in a standard output T5.

A T5 HO 22" bulb is 24 watts.

Carl

So do I need a special fixture or ballast? What happens if I use the bulbs I linked to?

 

[CarlC]

You would need to change out the ballast and I don't see any reflectors. The difference between T5 NO and T5 HO is night and day.

You would be much better off buying the Light Your Reptiles set up. These units are plug and play so no searching for anything. These units hasve great bulbs and great reflectors all ready to go.

Carl

 

[broderp]

You would need to change out the ballast and I don't see any reflectors. The difference between T5 NO and T5 HO is night and day.

You would be much better off buying the Light Your Reptiles set up. These units are plug and play so no searching for anything. These units hasve great bulbs and great reflectors all ready to go.

Carl

hmmm..good point. I was trying to save some cash on this. The bulbs from the web site were $40 and the fixture I had was only $18, so I would have about $60 invested in a T5 light. BUT if I have to buy a HO ballast, then I hate to see what those cost....
Add the fabrication I would have to do (reflector, mounting etc.) and I'm probably better off with the pre made lamp.

Do you o anyone have any experience with how they mount or if they fit glass terrariums well?

 

[MelissaB]

In the "Definitive lighting" thread, a member (ChameleoPatrick) uses a T5 HO hood on his Xlarge Exo Terra. It looks as though it just rests on top, on the plastic trim. I haven't set my big exo terra up yet, and have a 2 bulb (regular sockets not T8 or T5) set up on my smaller one. I think you'd be fine with a 24 inch hood on your exo terra. With the 24 inch hoods I use on my other cages, if I put it on mine, I'd have a little more than a 1/4 inch overhang on each side. Given that the framing on the bottom sticks out further than the top ledge, it would still look "balanced", as far as aesthetics, go.

 

[CarlC]

If you were to get two of these which come with 6400k daylight bulbs
http://growershouse.com/sun-blaster-t5-ho-fluorescent-strip-light-2

and two of these you would be all set.
http://growershouse.com/nanotech-t5-reflectors-for-sun-blaster-fixtures-3

You could swap out one of the bulbs for whatever UV brand bulb you want. You would have an extra 6400k bulb as a spare.


Carl

 

[broderp]

If you were to get two of these which come with 6400k daylight bulbs
http://growershouse.com/sun-blaster-t5-ho-fluorescent-strip-light-2

and two of these you would be all set.
http://growershouse.com/nanotech-t5-reflectors-for-sun-blaster-fixtures-3

You could swap out one of the bulbs for whatever UV brand bulb you want. You would have an extra 6400k bulb as a spare.


Carl

Thanks for the links! I really appreciate your time hooking me up! I'm working with one of the vendors (LightYourReptiles.com). If the overhang on his fixture is too great, I'll definately consider pick this up.