Arcadia uv light help

Erik Elvis

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hey guys,

Messing with my uv lights in my animal plastics T-70(24” tall 8’ wide). I have a 36” t5 fixtures on either end. I was planning on running a 12% Arcadia bulb in each fixture for the sulcata/leopard cages but am getting solarmeter readings of 7-7.5 tortoise level with the fixtures hard mounted to the top of the cage. I wanted to run the lights all day. I do have a couple 6% bulbs for the redfoot that read about 3-3.5 at tortoise height. Think I should swap out the 12% bulbs for the 6% if I’m going to run them all day? My other option is just run a bulb with no uv on one end and run the 12% on the “hot” side.
 

Yvonne G

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Sorry it's taking us so long to answer your question. I know nothing about lighting, but I'll send a shout out to @Markw84 and @Tom
 

Kapidolo Farms

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I'd suggest seek out Fran Baines at 'reptile lighting' on Facebook. She literally wrote the book on the topic and is very accessible. She used to be here on TFO, but some a$$ hats drove her off.
 

Tom

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hey guys,

Messing with my uv lights in my animal plastics T-70(24” tall 8’ wide). I have a 36” t5 fixtures on either end. I was planning on running a 12% Arcadia bulb in each fixture for the sulcata/leopard cages but am getting solarmeter readings of 7-7.5 tortoise level with the fixtures hard mounted to the top of the cage. I wanted to run the lights all day. I do have a couple 6% bulbs for the redfoot that read about 3-3.5 at tortoise height. Think I should swap out the 12% bulbs for the 6% if I’m going to run them all day? My other option is just run a bulb with no uv on one end and run the 12% on the “hot” side.
I wouldn't run them all day. There is almost no UV in the mornings and late afternoons outside. Even thought the hot sun is directly hitting your meter, you'll see very low readings early and late in the day. I run my UV bulbs for about three hours mid day to simulate this.

I also think that two 34" HO bulbs running all day are going to over heat your enclosure. Those bulbs generate a surprising amount of heat in a good closed chamber. Best to use LEDs for daylight all day. I've been buying the type that mount under cupboards to light up your kitchen counter tops. You can get them for about $20 form HD or Lowes. These make very little heat, but nice white light for daytime.
 

Erik Elvis

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Thanks Tom. I bought some of those under cabinet strips. Hopefully I can get the wire out the back of the cage. I drilled a slit down and ran all my wires before I attached the top of the cages. I did notice the t5 bulbs do get pretty warm.
 

Tom

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Thanks Tom. I bought some of those under cabinet strips. Hopefully I can get the wire out the back of the cage. I drilled a slit down and ran all my wires before I attached the top of the cages. I did notice the t5 bulbs do get pretty warm.
Yeah man. That is the goal and the beauty of a forum like this. Learn from people who have already done what you are about to do and shorten that learning curve. I've gotten so much good advice here over so many years...
 

Erik Elvis

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Just an update. I may be able to run the 2 34” t5 fixtures. I ran one cage with them both running and a spot lamp and the cage seems to be hanging out in the low 80’s. The other tank I put some led’s in and running the t5’s for 3 hours. No problems with that either. I’m still going to keep an eye on them.
 

Erik Elvis

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Just an update. I may be able to run the 2 34” t5 fixtures. I ran one cage with them both running and a spot lamp and the cage seems to be hanging out in the low 80’s. The other tank I put some led’s in and running the t5’s for 3 hours. No problems with that either. I’m still going to keep an eye on them.

Temps up to about 85-86 with the T5’s running all day. Stays somewhat cool in my basement. Should be ok. If I need to I’ll just run one T5.
 

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