Agathaade
Active Member
Hi there,
I set up my enclosure months ago for my baby, dialed in the temperatures and set up the UV strip before it arrived two weeks ago.
Reading about Ferguson zones for Hermanns (zone 3), I set the UV strip where it reads about 2.3 UVI, which falls within the zone 3 range according to the chart on my meter (Solarmeter). From that value, there is a gradient going down all the way to zero in areas of shade underneath plants that the UV doesn’t reach.
My strip is on 5:30hrs a day between 9:30am and 3pm.
Seeing how my meter reads well above 4 when I set it outside in midday in the sun, I’m wondering if I’m doing this right.
Should I lower my strip to reach a higher index? Should I leave it on longer/shorter?
I’m a bit confused about the Ferguson zone values and how they’re supposed to be used.
I am only able to piece together things I read online, but I don’t have a lot of experience or understanding of UV, so I’m curious what experienced keepers do and what they’ve observed works.
Thank you for any advice you can offer!
Pic of enclosure attached
*************
- DAYTIME
BASKING SPOT: 94/100. She basks in spots that are usually around 96/98.
BASKING SIDE RH: 70% average
COOL SIDE: 82 on average
COOL SIDE RH: 90%+
- NIGHTTIME
TEMP: 82 on hot days - 79/77 regular days
RH: 90%+
-SUBSTRATE : coir at the bottom, orchid bark & cypress mulch on top. About 3in deep.
- LIGHTS
Basking : flood bulb, 45W
UV : 22” T5 HO 10% strip, 5h/day - UVindex ranges from 2.3 to 0.
I set up my enclosure months ago for my baby, dialed in the temperatures and set up the UV strip before it arrived two weeks ago.
Reading about Ferguson zones for Hermanns (zone 3), I set the UV strip where it reads about 2.3 UVI, which falls within the zone 3 range according to the chart on my meter (Solarmeter). From that value, there is a gradient going down all the way to zero in areas of shade underneath plants that the UV doesn’t reach.
My strip is on 5:30hrs a day between 9:30am and 3pm.
Seeing how my meter reads well above 4 when I set it outside in midday in the sun, I’m wondering if I’m doing this right.
Should I lower my strip to reach a higher index? Should I leave it on longer/shorter?
I’m a bit confused about the Ferguson zone values and how they’re supposed to be used.
I am only able to piece together things I read online, but I don’t have a lot of experience or understanding of UV, so I’m curious what experienced keepers do and what they’ve observed works.
Thank you for any advice you can offer!
Pic of enclosure attached
*************
- DAYTIME
BASKING SPOT: 94/100. She basks in spots that are usually around 96/98.
BASKING SIDE RH: 70% average
COOL SIDE: 82 on average
COOL SIDE RH: 90%+
- NIGHTTIME
TEMP: 82 on hot days - 79/77 regular days
RH: 90%+
-SUBSTRATE : coir at the bottom, orchid bark & cypress mulch on top. About 3in deep.
- LIGHTS
Basking : flood bulb, 45W
UV : 22” T5 HO 10% strip, 5h/day - UVindex ranges from 2.3 to 0.