UVB Light - its pros/ cons

[Azurel]

http://www.pgo.com/pdf/ppg_starphire.pdf

Here is a PDF that has some specs of Starphire glass.....

[Azurel]

I sent PPG an e-mail and asked them all the relevent questions and if they produce a glass that allows UVB in the correct ranges for reptiles and amphibans. Will see what they say or have. Once I get something I will post back.

[Philsuma]

Made this thread a sticky. Keep the info coming guys....

[Philsuma]

Here's another good site - U.K UV Guide

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

[Venutus1]

Just bumping in on on this thread...

Todd

[Venutus1]

Here's another good site - U.K UV Guide

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

I have talked to the owner of the above site and sent her product to test across the pond.
Frances IS the "real deal" on the subject.
The word G-0-D comes to mind.

[Philsuma]

Nice ! Let us know when you get some new info.

Coming from a big Day gecko (who knew ?) background where UVB was an obvious part of the hobby - to Darts where I really didn't think of amphibians as "basking" creatures.....

I'm hooked into the UVB crowd now. The only question is enclosure design ,implementation.

While I like Marcus's approach with a front glass pane and a small spotlight type fixture....I can't help but think about a small 1/3 top pane section. Gotta keep costs down, especially with 30 plus vivs.

[Venutus1]

Ah, spotlights....The halogen Eiko® Supreme Ext/Su/10K, 12V 50W with lens removed.... sigh... not so good.
They can emit wavelengths above 390 into the UVC range. BAD

[Venutus1]

Nice ! Let us know when you get some new info.

Coming from a big Day gecko (who knew ?) background where UVB was an obvious part of the hobby - to Darts where I really didn't think of amphibians as "basking" creatures.....

I'm hooked into the UVB crowd now. The only question is enclosure design ,implementation.

While I like Marcus's approach with a front glass pane and a small spotlight type fixture....I can't help but think about a small 1/3 top pane section. Gotta keep costs down, especially with 30 plus vivs.

Was Chris saying his froglets had more color? Well of course they do.

If you have tanks on a rack and shoplights, thats easy, just replace one bulb with a repti-sun 5.0. There are reasons why only repti-sun should be used. Trust me.
And have areas of the tops with open screen and leave part of it still glass covered.
As we know...the glass filters out UV, so you will have "patches" of UV.
Think of it as creating your own "Ferguson Zones" ... how cool is that?

A solarmeter 6.2 is a handy tool. they run about 160.00. about the price of a frog or two. Money well spent.
if you need one... hint hint... i got 3 in stock. sorry I had to do a plug, please don't ban me so soon. :twisted:

T-5's are a little more difficult, good UV T5s are only available in Europe, but yours truely is working on that.

Tops with strips of glass and open screen areas for UV transmission... that is what I am seeing.

Todd

[Venutus1]

Ah, spotlights....The halogen Eiko® Supreme Ext/Su/10K, 12V 50W with lens removed.... sigh... not so good.
They can emit wavelengths above 390 into the UVC range. BAD

correcting myself, I meant to say "They can emit wavelengths lower than 390 into the UVC range. BAD"
i was thinking "above" visualizing it on a spectral scale.

[dendroworks]

just replace one bulb with a repti-sun 5.0. There are reasons why only repti-sun should be used. Trust me.
Todd

The reasons being..........................? Is there something we need to know?

Regards
Marcus

[Venutus1]

just replace one bulb with a repti-sun 5.0. There are reasons why only repti-sun should be used. Trust me.
Todd

The reasons being..........................? Is there something we need to know?

Regards
Marcus

The Zoo Med bulbs are the highest quality in terms of safety in the US. Arcadia have a good product in the UK and Europe.
They are both manufactured in Germany under tight controls.
Many of the "me too" UV Bulbs are knocked out in China with less care as to quality control. I have been told this by a few sources.
The problem is that some of them, or "batches" of them, emitt UV B rays lower tham 390 and even UV C rays. These cause eye problems and worse in animals kept under them. If the glass isn't right, or the phophors are off, this can happen.
It could be a gamble. The product is fine in one factory run, then they use a different batch of glass in the next factory run and it creates a poor product.... and off to the US it goes.
Side note...I have used a Zilla CFL bulb for over a year without incident, but I was just reading how people had issues with that brand on a Chameleon forum.
Another interesting note, I have seen 2 wholesalers selling off their instore Zilla and Flukers reptile lightbulb merchandising display rack set ups at half (yes, half) price in the past month. Thats why you see products from those manufacturers being dumped all over eBay.
Exo-Terra has had no bad feedback that I personally am aware of. Even though their bulbs come from Asia.
Anyway, I will keep everyone posted if I hear more. Outside of that, it is best to buy Zoo Med in the western hemisphere or buy Arcadia or Zoo Med if you are in Europe. Anything else could be fine, but then, why gamble?

[Venutus1]

Addendum: Sarina Wunderlich is using a method of testing UV lights by combining Solarmeter 6.2 and 6.5 readings to see if UV lights are emitting wavelengths of undesirable low low UV B and UV C rays...hmmm.. by somehow triangulating(?) the readings.
The site is in German. It is in English somewhere on her site, but damned if I could find it this morning.
I am going to try it as soon as I can figure it out.
Her site contains a goldmine of herp light information. Hello Babelfish translation service .
http://www.licht-im-terrarium.de/start

[dendroworks]

I use a 10% Arcadia bulb - when I did my research it was the best option out there for the UK. Like you say there are lots of 'bargain basement ' UV bulbs for sale but I would'nt touch them with a big stick!

The website you linked is fantastic!

Regards
Marcus

[Venutus1]

I use a 10% Arcadia bulb - when I did my research it was the best option out there for the UK. Like you say there are lots of 'bargain basement ' UV bulbs for sale but I would'nt touch them with a big stick!

The website you linked is fantastic!

Regards
Marcus

Yes, Sarina's website is quite extensive!

MARCUS!! Your in UK!
Well, my new friend.. I have been trying to get cases of the new T5 Arcadia D3 (5.0) and D3+ (10.0) for the US market for 3 months now. I even tried going through Australia.
Would you be so kind as to do me a favor and shoot me an e-mail directly of any pet supply wholesaler in the UK? ... please.. please...please?
I have contacted the head of Marketing at Arcadia, Julian Hastings... but evidentally, my little website LightYourReptiles.com must be too "small potatoes" and I don't think they take me seriously.
But we need those T-5's in North America.

My apologies to this forum for digressing so horribly, (and being so opportunistic :oops: ) but as my mother always said, " a faint heart never won a fair maiden"...
and I am not giving up until I am looking at cases of those T5 D3 bulbs piled at my doorstep. period.

I will owe you and this forum big-time. Thanks, Todd

[Azurel]

I got an e-mail back from PPG.....I was sent a PDF that has all PPG glass specifications.

Here is the specs for Starphire
thickness UV%(pass through) visable %
1/8 89 91
3/16 88 91
1/4 87 91
5/16 86 91
3/8 85 91
1/2 83 90
5/8 81 90
3/4 80 90

I have the PDF for all the info of glass here is what the lady said in the e-mail......

James,

Attached is a chart with the UV% that passes through the starphire at various thicknesses. (the average is in the 80’s). This includes UVA/UVB, but if you need exact numbers, please contact Steve Marino at 412-820-8754.



Julie Unitas Giba
Architectural Services Coordinator

Construction Market Team
PPG Industries, Inc.

If someone wants the pdf let me know an I can e-mail it to you.

James

[Azurel]

SO by the looks of the tech info the UV(UVA/UVB) pass through is average in the 80 percentile.I had the numbers spread out but for some reason when I submit the post they all get moved.

[Philsuma]

Nice work on PPG ! I'm glad I made this thread a sticky.

Side by side testing and metering of glasses should be our next project.....

[testudolinks]

Addendum: Sarina Wunderlich is using a method of testing UV lights by combining Solarmeter 6.2 and 6.5 readings to see if UV lights are emitting wavelengths of undesirable low low UV B and UV C rays...hmmm.. by somehow triangulating(?) the readings.

Actually it was Frances Baines' idea (uvguide.co.uk), but the page you are looking for is here: http://www.licht-im-terrarium.de/en/uv/ ... 2_readings :-)

Someone from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust once told me that they x-rayed their frogs (not dartfrogs) and found better bone structure when using UV light, but I think this is not published.

[Azurel]

No problem.....I figured it best to go straight to the people that produce the glass. Of all the glass the PPG produces Starphire allows the highest pass through of UV(UVA/UVB) from the Starphire so for the applications we are looking for in this thread that would be the Starphire or the kind that Marcus uses, but I could not find a distributor here for them. I know there are some acrylics that allow it through for uses in tanning beds. But do not know the type of it.