Arcadia t5 twin controller
 

Hi All I need some opinions please :???:
I have recently got a new bunk tort table which is considerably larger than my old hatchling table which is great but i have noticed my hatchlings don't seem to move from the lamp end and most of their table seems unused. They have at the moment got my emergency bulb which is a reptiglo uvb & a basking bulb but are used to a megaray raptor but this light set up has been given to my iberas now (Bottom bunk) as the bulb was too bright for my eyes whilst watching tv in evenings :-D
Thought a solution to this would be to get the Arcadia T5 strip bulb & sunlight bulb to light up the far end abit more? the torts do have hides and a big bedding area to escape to away from the light.


What are all of your thoughts on my idea please.

Thanks in advance

Hi Jodie. I haven't used the T5 yet but I have looked at it. The uv output is relatively high for a tube light but it would be much less than your Raptor in uv. Would you use something else for heat or would that end of the enclosure be cooler? The light would attract them to some extent but if it was cooler down there your little ones may still a avoid it.

But that's just my view.

Hi yes i would have a basking bulb for them to bask under and as the strip light is long most of the table should be lit up in some way hopefully. Does a uvb tube emit much heat?
Do i take it correct that with the arcadia twin controller i could have a tube light along the length of the back wall and a uvb tube going across the side wall?
Sorry for the questions but i am unaware about this form of rep lighting so not sure how it works really.

this would do a good job for you,if you also buy some reflectors this will double the amount of light reaching your tortoise.

the only down side in my opinion is the extra cost,
ie, t5 unit £35 approx
2 tubes £50 "
reflectors £15 "
dont forget tubes need replacing yearly

how about standard fluorescent tubes and fittings if its only extra light that's required, (b+q)

The chap from Arcasia said on here that the T5 tubes have double the UV output of a T8 tube. A reflector would potentially double that again. Thats a lot of intense UV over a large area. You could use reflectors after a few months once the tubes output is on the wane but personally I don't think its needed with a new one. Unless you have solarmeters to check the output.

Hi all thanks for the info.

I have weighed up the pros and cons and have decided that i still don't know whats for best so i will stick with what i know for the time being and just try to avoid sitting opposite the lamp!
I have just ordered an arcadia d3 uvb combi plus solar gloholder and lamp stand so hopefully i will now be able to position the light in a better position( behind a big plant)!
Thanks for your time.

The arcadia T5 looks very interesting but its not cheap. For two 4 foot tubes plus twin electronic controller it looks like 120 pounds. That's without reflectors. Shorter tubes are a bit cheaper and maybe you only need one but there is no heat output. The T5 tubes produce light and uvb. A figure of 60 uW/cm2 is given at 30cm. I wonder what it is at 10cm.

Has anyone used the new T5 who might be able to help with spread figures?

I think it would 'only' be £80 odd quid

Here's the numbers, rounded down to allow for human error and taken using solar meter in a lab.

12% D3+ T5 with reflector

10cms, 548 mws
20cms, 274 mws
30cms, 169 mws
40cms, 109 mws

This is with the Arcadia T5 reflector and show 0mws of UVC at all distances even when placed on the tube!

Without the reflector

10cms, 252mws
20cms, 124mws
30cms, 72 mws
40cms, 49mws.

A 100w M.V lamp would provide 140mws at 20cms.

John.

Thanks John, those figures are food for thought. Its a jump to uvb levels of that order from a tube and no mistake. I was just wondering how high I would want to mount the tubes from the tortoise. At a rough estimtate, if using a reflector I wouldn't want the animal closer than about about 30cm. Under those conditions the accumulated exposure to uvb would soon add up.