ReptiSun 10 and Reflector

[WillemsMom]

I just ordered two 48" ReptiSun 10 tubes. I ordered the 10 because my understanding is that Willie can be further from the bulbs.

He has a megaray over his basking area and the flourescents are over a couple of ledges he sometimes likes to lie on. The megaray reading is 75-80. Good, I think, The ledges are 18" and 12" from the tubes. He prefers the 18" one.

If he doesn't get enough UVB from the ReptiSun 10 I'm thinking of getting a reflector for the fixture.

Any thoughts. Any ideas. All are welcome.
And have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day.

[prism_wolf]

The 10.0's are honestly no better than the 5.0s. The packaging is misleading...the number is misleading. The 5.0's are still the best, but don't throw those away...just get the 5.0's next time you're ready to replace.

As for a reflector for the fixture...just use foil shiny side out. Line what you have it in know being sure not to follow the angles. Let the foil curve in an arc. This can literally double the UVB emissions by collecting them in the arc and focusing it in a more concentrated direction... ;D.

[WillemsMom]

Thanks, Prism. The advertising for ReptiSun 10 is very misleading. But why should I be surprised ?

Thanks very much for the tip on creating a reflector. I would never have thought arcing it. ;D

[Psygirl]

Hi,

I now have a uvb fluorescent lamp, protected by a plastic transparent tube, cut on the down part so it wont interfere with the UV rays. So for what you say I would get more uvb intensity if I covered the inside on the tube with aluminum foil (That's like the silver paper used in the kitchen, right?).

If I'm getting the idea right I'll so it next weekend.




Tania

[IguanaKing]

Yes, Tania, its the sliver paper from the kitchen. You'll have to take the plastic tubes off though if you want the aluminum foil to make a big difference. UVB rays are very directional by nature, so they need something to bounce off of. They won't be able to curve around from the openings you cut in the plastic tubes like other light can. My new Reptisun 10s will be arriving this week. I was using the MegaRays, but I never quite had that type of lamp in mind when I designed my iguana habitat, so they're just not a good fit for what I have at the moment.

[Psygirl]

Thanks (and keep in mind english is my second language if at any moment the questions sound silly)

But, can't I just have a bigger hole? So it will have only a stripe of plastic right on top of the lamp? I didn't set up the lighting but I suspect the tube has a reasonably structural fuction, meaning I don't think I can just get rid of it.

[LotharsPeople]

Tania,
The tube is only to protect the bulb from physical damage. They are commonly used in outdoor fluorescent fixtures here in Canada only. The type you would find in the front of a store. It serves no structural purpose whatever. There are bulbs longer in common use and they are self supporting along the length of the bulb.

[IguanaKing]

psygirl said:

Thanks (and keep in mind english is my second language if at any moment the questions sound silly)

No, you didn't sound silly at all, Tania. Actually, even within the US, basically everybody speaks the same language, but depending on the region, some things just have different names. OT: I went from Colorado to upstate New York once to visit my grandparents. My parents had gone there a few days before me, so we were all going to meet there. I asked my grandmother, "So, where are my mom and dad today?" She said, "oh, they're at the camp." I thought she meant that they had been sleeping in a tent all that time. But, what they call a camp there, is what we call a cabin in Colorado.

So, no worries, and your English is just fine. ;D

[Merlin]

Thanks (and keep in mind english is my second language if at any moment the questions sound silly)

Tania your english is fine! Those of us that are active in forums realize that these forums are international in scope.
We generally manage to figure out what each of us means!

And I also would completely remove the plastic tube. It isn't necessary

[LotharsPeople]

Tania,
Your english is very good for being a second language.
You should hear the way it is spoken on the east coast here, Newfoundland in particular. It really sounds like a totally different language altogether.

IK,
In Northern Ontario it is called a camp, but being raised in Southern Ontario we called it a cottage. Camping is done in tents, I agree.

[Psygirl]

Thanks everyone! You make it really nice and cosy in here! ;D

I think the tube was also to protect the lamp from water sprays. And I'm wondering how am I going to hold up the aluminum foil (the lamp is directly under the air holes and I can't cover those), but I'll figure it out.

Thanks

Tania

[Merlin]

If I understand you the tube is not in a fixture? Its just the two end peices each attached to the roof with nothing else over the tube?

[Psygirl]

I think you got the right idea:

lamp > tube > roof (with holes)

In more words...

I've been taking a better look and I really can't loose the tube. Most fluorescent lights have a metal support that goes along the whole extent of the lamp and then has the little things where the lamp is attached.

Here I have tow round pieces (wider than the lamp diameter) attached to each extremity of the lamp linked by the plastic transparent tube, which in turn is held by two hooks attached to the top of the enclosure (notice the hooks area attached to the tube, not to the black pieces on the extremities). The enclosure is all Plexiglas except for two black perforated metal stripes, that act as air vents. One of these is in the center of the roof of the enclosure an under it is attached the uvb lamp.

I hope I've made some sense, but I'll try to get a picture of it in here.

[Merlin]

I got you now. Most of us us a shop light type fixture that holds 2 tubes and has a reflector over it. In your situation you could make 2 long triangular shaped peices of wood and attach it to the roof of the enclosure one on either side of the lamp. This will give you 2 wings to attach the foil to.


This will increase the amount of light directed at your iguana considerably. I would also advise that you add a second light tube.

[Psygirl]

I now have a 1m wide x 60cm high x 50cm depth enclosure. does this size really justify 2 lamps?
He is now 18cm sv and 58cm st.
Next summer or so we'll be changing the enclosure. We will have to make one ourselves to make the best of the room available (1,20m wide x 1,40m high x 60/80cm). And unfortunatly no free roaming for him We'll have to use very light materials since it's on a mezzanine and it doesn't hold as much weight as a real floor, but he'll keep his view of us little humans from above. ;D Then we will put 2 uv lamps for sure.