Lighting ?!?!?

[Tenth Legion]

Arcadia are saying 169uw/cm2 for the 12% strip at 30cm/12", caledonia on his thread measured 182 at the same distance. Its only a slight increase for the MV so again I'd say its down to personal preference.

[knottyedge]

i completely agree its down to personal preference, the + side is tho a mv bulb is concentrated in one spot which the torts have to be under to get the benefit, a t5 strip could span most of the length of the table(depending which length you go for)meaning the tort could potentially be exposed to a lot more uv as it walks around away from the basking area.
People use all sorts of different lighting set ups and as you say its what ever works for you and you torts

[Tenth Legion]

Yeah that is a big positive for the strip, maybe a combination of both types is the best solution, MV for basking and a strip above the cool end.

[wigwamman]

for me this year it came down to cost,already having the ceramic fittings it was decided to go with the arcadia 160s.changing over to the new tech arcadia tubes +starters+reflectors was going to be serious £.
then you have more spaghetti (wires)around making things look messy!

[Tenth Legion]

I'm pretty good at cable management so that wouldn't bother me. I know a friend who has a 2 year old arcadia controller (still works) which he has no use of and has offered it to me (think it supports up to 18 inch tubes). If arcadia make an 18 inch T5 I may get one for the opposite end of the table.

[wigwamman]

your welcome to "cable manage"the crows nest behind our telly!!!

[Taszia]

Thankyou I have just ordered the Arcadia d3 160 . The Otha one will just have to be thrown in the cupboard lol . Could u tel me how high ? Far away to have this from the table? Many Thanx

[Tenth Legion]

12 inches/30cm from the tort.

[Alan1]

it depends on the temperature, you set it at the height that will give a basking spot of around 32-35c. it comes with instructions which will tell you the min safe height which may be 12 inches as said but my bulbs are 19 inches from the face of the bulb to the substrate. it must point straight down and not at an angle

[knottyedge]

Originally Posted by Tenth Legion

I'm pretty good at cable management so that wouldn't bother me. I know a friend who has a 2 year old arcadia controller (still works) which he has no use of and has offered it to me (think it supports up to 18 inch tubes). If arcadia make an 18 inch T5 I may get one for the opposite end of the table.

will save you a bit of £ if your friends offered it for free just make sure it a controller for a t5 not t8 as t5 tubes are thinner so a t8 controller wont work.
lots of cable clips did the job of keeping the table looking tidy for me ....although i just ignore the mess of cables under the table but that cant be see at all so its all good lol