People often ask how high they should mount their UV bulbs. The problem is there are so many variables it is only solved by the use of a Solarmeter 6.5. They are somewhat pricey so many go without, However, advice then given may or may not be accurate at all. One variable is the type of fixture the bulb will be used in. A different fixture with the identical bulb will give totally different reading and require different mounting heights. I am not even discussing the less expensive hardware brands of T5 fixtures as they are not at all reliable in my opinion. But even the better brands vary tremendously.
My reptile show partner, Will - @Kapidolo Farms and I were looking at various options for sources of fixtures for UVB lights. Will had come across some Sun Blaze fixtures that looked promising, so he asked me if I had experience with them. I replied I did not but would gladly do a test comparison with the Arcadia brand I use as a standard. So Will sent me a Sun Blaze and I did a plotting of the UVI output at both 12" and 18" exactly from sensor to bottom of bulb.
Unfortunately translating that to a easily interpreted chart takes a bit of work and it got shoved and lost on the back burner for a while. Thanks to a reminder from Will, I got the data out and did the plotting and graphics and can now post the results in an easy to see format commonly used in comparing bulbs.
You can immediately see the Sun Blaze is not made for reptile basking, but for Plant lighting. It is designed to fan the light into a broader pattern without the focus of the Arcadia. This is great for plants as you can light a larger area, especially when not dealing with UVB output. At the 12" height it does give a nice broad pattern of UVI in the 2-3 range that is quite useful in an enclosure with limited height. I would not use it with a tortoise that is not small and its positioning could bring it or its eyes closer to the bulb. At 12" there is quite an increase if the tortoise can get to 8" for example. The Arcadia Pro T5 does provide a more designed basking zone and focuses the light into nice gradients. Because the fixture reflector is focused, the UVB is much greater and not usable at the 12" distance as it is too intense. But at the 18" level, it does provide a great, wide basking zone.
Here are the results. The same T5 12% Arcadia bulb was used in both fixtures. It is a new bulb with only a 1 hour burn in time, but I do not see substantial changes in those bulbs after an hour. The fixtures are both the 22" T5 fixture. One is the Arcadia Pro T5. The other the Sun Blaze T5. Both are HO fixtures.
The plot area shown is 30" long by 22" wide
Sun Blaze T5 at 12" height.
Arcadia Pro T5 at 12" height.
Sun Blaze T5 at 18" height.
Arcadia Pro T5 at 18" height.
My reptile show partner, Will - @Kapidolo Farms and I were looking at various options for sources of fixtures for UVB lights. Will had come across some Sun Blaze fixtures that looked promising, so he asked me if I had experience with them. I replied I did not but would gladly do a test comparison with the Arcadia brand I use as a standard. So Will sent me a Sun Blaze and I did a plotting of the UVI output at both 12" and 18" exactly from sensor to bottom of bulb.
Unfortunately translating that to a easily interpreted chart takes a bit of work and it got shoved and lost on the back burner for a while. Thanks to a reminder from Will, I got the data out and did the plotting and graphics and can now post the results in an easy to see format commonly used in comparing bulbs.
You can immediately see the Sun Blaze is not made for reptile basking, but for Plant lighting. It is designed to fan the light into a broader pattern without the focus of the Arcadia. This is great for plants as you can light a larger area, especially when not dealing with UVB output. At the 12" height it does give a nice broad pattern of UVI in the 2-3 range that is quite useful in an enclosure with limited height. I would not use it with a tortoise that is not small and its positioning could bring it or its eyes closer to the bulb. At 12" there is quite an increase if the tortoise can get to 8" for example. The Arcadia Pro T5 does provide a more designed basking zone and focuses the light into nice gradients. Because the fixture reflector is focused, the UVB is much greater and not usable at the 12" distance as it is too intense. But at the 18" level, it does provide a great, wide basking zone.
Here are the results. The same T5 12% Arcadia bulb was used in both fixtures. It is a new bulb with only a 1 hour burn in time, but I do not see substantial changes in those bulbs after an hour. The fixtures are both the 22" T5 fixture. One is the Arcadia Pro T5. The other the Sun Blaze T5. Both are HO fixtures.
The plot area shown is 30" long by 22" wide
Sun Blaze T5 at 12" height.
Arcadia Pro T5 at 12" height.
Sun Blaze T5 at 18" height.
Arcadia Pro T5 at 18" height.
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