lighting differences

[darkluvr]

a friend asked me a very good question the other day: what is the difference between UVB, UVA, growing lights, and full spectrum lights? she's gunna go batty if she has to live out her entire winter in her house again lol. she wants to grow stuff. ;D

[prism_wolf]

I'll get back to you on that. I actually know a bit about this stuff... ...just need to finish out my work day and get home.

[prism_wolf]

UVA = simply put - it's the visible light that emits from any lamp source.

UVB = the invisible spectrum we cannot see but helps in the process of calcium absorption via a process which converts a pre-vitamin D3 into usable D3 which is what allows for that absorption. Iguanas can actually see some into the UVB spectrum because the the amount of cones in their eyes (many more than we have) and allows for certain foods and color cues to show very differently.

Full Spectrum = any flourescent light can be called full-spectrum. This does not necessarily mean it contains UVB. You have to read between the lines here. When talking fish (for instance) they use the "full spectrum" aquarium flourescents using the full spectrum of colors in the blue or green range to bring out the colors of the fish of decorations. So in the aquarists hobby...full-spectrum means color enhancing. Very misleading and messes up a lot of herp keepers who don't understand the difference.

Grow Lights = simply lights that have a certain amount of UVA in what's an International System of Units called illuminous emittance, or LUX, which plants need for the simple process of photosynthesis. I use very strong LUX lighting in Zair's cage for more realistic daytime lighting. Two 6500K fl. tubes in a 4' fixture creating 13,000 lux - bright daylight (indirect sun) range is between 10,000 and 25,000. For growing indoor plants the lower levels of flourescent lighting is fine.

I either made it more confusing...or helped clear that up a touch. I hope it's the latter... ;D.

[Merlin]

Pretty much what V said!
Full spectrum is decieving. It is a color enhancing bulb with all the visible spectrum of colors of light.
UVB is not visible to the human eye. And UVB bulbs also generate UVA.
Grow lights are simply lights that are heavy in the blue and red wavelengths of light since that is the primary colors that plants use in growth.
Full spectrum and grow lights make things look pretty but do nothing for the health of your lizard.

And by the way if your friend is wanting to grow plants inside she can do so using a combination if cool white and warm white flourescent bulbs instead of payng out the nose for growlights!