Which UVB brand is better?

[SoCal Soldier]

So I am looking on getting a new UVB hood for my new tank built.
I am currently looking at the, Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Terrarium Hood.
Has anyone else used this one? I need a 24" and want a T5 output for my UVB. So far I like this one but I did see a Zilla brand one.

What are your opions on them, and have actually used them.

 

[Jaden]

SoCal Soldier,
As far as I know, the Arcadia lights are the best for UVB. Our sight sponsor sells Arcadia lights. I think they only need to be replaced once a year too. However, if you're not going to get Arcadia, Repti-sun is your best bet. Especially the T5HO. That is what I have and it seems to work pretty well. As for the Zilla one, I'm not sure how good it is.
Jaden

 

[SoCal Soldier]

SoCal Soldier,
As far as I know, the Arcadia lights are the best for UVB. Our sight sponsor sells Arcadia lights. I think they only need to be replaced once a year too. However, if you're not going to get Arcadia, Repti-sun is your best bet. Especially the T5HO. That is what I have and it seems to work pretty well. As for the Zilla one, I'm not sure how good it is.
Jaden

Ok I will check those lights from the sponsor on here.

Ya I was going to go with the T5HO, so yours is working pretty good, how often have you had to change your bulb?

 

[Jaden]

Most people say to change the bulb every 6 months. However, I feel like the reptisun would last longer. You'd have to consult someone with UV meter to be sure though.
Jaden

 

[Bam79]

I find Arcadia to be an excellent choice.

As for how long a bulb will last is down to how many hours a day it is being used for.

My Arcadia T5 will last around a year but I normally change around 10 months and That is used for 12 hours a day

 

[DirtyDubbz]

I have the zoomed t5 24" hood also and you can use the arcadia 22" bulbs in it but I still use the reptisun 5.0 in both of my 24x24x48 cages along with a basking bulb works great for me I would change them every 6 months anyway just to be sure

 

[fluxlizard]

I use the zoomed 10s. Lots on here are fans of the arcadia. The arcadia were too expensive for my initial investment but at the time I purchased (I had to buy a couple dozen- the arcadia would have been slightly more than double the cost), I was thinking I might work into the arcadia over time.

Many are claiming the arcadia make up for it by lasting a year instead of 6 months and that they put out more UVB.

I don't have a meter, but have heard that on the bearded dragon forums someone (or more than one) with a meter got exactly the same readings from both brands with the t5 zoo med 10.0 and the 12 pct arcadia. (Maybe the same factory making them?).

Also on the zoo med box it says the t5 10s last a year. So I don't know but it sounds like they may be very similar.

I don't have a meter to confirm though, and the readings are hear-say. Still- zoomed has had a great reputation for many years for their tubes. I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

 

[Venutus1]

Most people say to change the bulb every 6 months. However, I feel like the reptisun would last longer. You'd have to consult someone with UV meter to be sure though.
Jaden

Arcadia bulbs last at least a year.
even longer.

Cheers!

 

[NHenn]

I vote T5 all the way. I had and unfortunately still have a few Zoo Med T8's that I need to replace with T5 fixtures.

As for UVB, I vote Arcadia. Zoo Med only came out with the T5 bulbs around a year ago so there isn't really any testing on them and there is no data to compare them to Arcadia.

I would hit up Todd at Light Your Reptiles and grab a double fixture for your setup. You would be amazed by the difference in lighting when you use an Arcadia bulb and a 6.5K bulb. You will never go back to Zoo Med and their single bulb fixtures.

 

[frankpayne32]

If they're ever in stock... lol

I've been trying to buy one for months now.

 

[NHenn]

Frank,

Wait a little bit longer, they will be back in stock before you know it.

 

[nightanole]

My reptisun 10.0's will go down to 5.0 strength after a year,and i might run them 1 more year after than (so rotate them out of the beardy tank and put them in the cham tank).

The arcaidas are at a whole nother leval. I use news paper in the beardy tank (dont judge ive been doing it for 20 years), and that single 12% will yellow the news paper in less than 3 weeks. In the last 6 months that have bleached out all the logs in the tank. And they are mounted 15-18" up. With reflector i could get 5 years out of them before they would get down to 6 month old non reflector t8 repisun 10.0 levels.

 

[MelissaB]

My reptisun 10.0's will go down to 5.0 strength after a year,and i might run them 1 more year after than (so rotate them out of the beardy tank and put them in the cham tank).

The arcaidas are at a whole nother leval. I use news paper in the beardy tank (dont judge ive been doing it for 20 years), and that single 12% will yellow the news paper in less than 3 weeks. In the last 6 months that have bleached out all the logs in the tank. And they are mounted 15-18" up. With reflector i could get 5 years out of them before they would get down to 6 month old non reflector t8 repisun 10.0 levels.

So your Reptisun 10.0 T8s were producing at a 5.0 level after a year? I'm surprised, that's pretty good. Were your arcadia bulbs T8s as well? Just making sure we're comparing apples to apples.

 

[nightanole]

So your Reptisun 10.0 T8s were producing at a 5.0 level after a year? I'm surprised, that's pretty good. Were your arcadia bulbs T8s as well? Just making sure we're comparing apples to apples.

Nope sorry, the arcadias were t5 HO's.

 

[Big Gulp]

Frank,

Wait a little bit longer, they will be back in stock before you know it.

This.

I called Todd earlier this week (great guy btw), and he said he may be getting his shipments next week. You can go on lightyourreptiles.com and if you order something, it reserves it for you.

 

[kdc5019]

Arcadia all the way.