Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm really interested in this kind of research. If there is anyone out there that has already done the research, then I won't buy the expensive equipment. I'm hoping someone has done tests on the different kind of florescent and mercury vapor bulbs out there. I'd really like to know what I'm buying. I thought this was supposed to be a consumers market - but the companies that make these bulbs are only giving us, the consumer, limited info. We should have access to all of the info. Unless they are hiding something. I know I sound paranoid, but I'm really just curious.

Thanks!

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

Hi Veronica,

I tried to do a search on a survey that was taken about over a year ago (?) on this topic but to no avail. The survey was taken in the old format on KS. I believe the poster was xta, could of been des/desiree. She got good responses from many posters about how well these lights work. There was a link to the old forum but I am not finding it today... but I'm dealing with a migrain right now too.

Anyway, I have one of those UV meters. What I have found is that the 'bulb' types seem to diminish the output of UVA/UVB with distance more than the 'tubes'. This is contrary to what I have read on the internet! Although the UVs of the bulbs are a lot higher at close distance, say 2" away from the bulb, it seems at 6-12" away the UVs are less than the tubes. I don't know if the meter I purchased is bad and I don't know where/how to determine if it is.

I am in the market for new bulbs now and I still have new tubes around too. If you want some specific measurements let me know via email.

OBTW, you have a great informative site on BDs!!!

-eva-
email

i'll do some searches there and see if i can find that thread... also, don't click on the link in the message above, i boobooed.

Here is a link to one test that was done on several of the blulbs
UVB output