Puck Light, tiny UVB vivarium helper !

[Philsuma]

Thanks to Roman (Mantisdragon91) and through proxy - Philippe de Vosjoli

Small puck lights ! The halogen variety have a glass filter with a sticker on it that says...wait for it...."UVB Filter". Sooooo if one takes OFF the glass .Presto ! Unfiltered UVB but it an awesome spotlight form !!

How cool !!!

Link below is just a sampling / variety. Look forward to some of you recommending a more exact company product / model.

http://www.lampsplus.com/products/s_puck-light/

http://www.google.com/#q=puck+light&hl= ... 80&bih=636

[mordoria]

those halogen lights get wicked hot!

[Philsuma]

Quite right. I'm gonna get a puck light or 2 when a couple of my vivs come boomeranging back to me ahead of schedule and test em.

Roman uses the puck mainly for Geckos, but George G has a couple too.

I think a auto timer schedule would best for them and location is key. I would place them in a front corner, possibly, to encourage a heat / light gradient.

thoughts ?

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Do all the halogen lights produce UVB?

[Philsuma]

I don't think they ALL do....

[frogfreak]

LED ones won't. Never knew the Halogen bulbs threw UVB.

[Rusty_Shackleford]

That's what I meant. I didn't think that the LED's did, but I was just curious if all Halogen bulb puck lights did or if you have to look for one that says "UVB Filter"

[Dendro_Dave]

LED ones won't. Never knew the Halogen bulbs threw UVB.

Those LED puck lights won't of course, but there are UVB LEDs... I think they are kinda costly though and the only emit light in a very narrow NM range, so you need at least 2-3 versions in a lamp to cover a good range of the UVB spectrum (290-320 nm). Some aquarium fixtures I think are starting to incorporate some UV LEDs but mostly in the UVA range (320-400 nm ). But if one had the money and inclination you could get 3 different UVB led types, 1 at the low end, 1 at mid level, and 1 at the high end of the UVB Nm range and probably get much of the benefit of UVB on metabolism (I'd guess).

[Dendro_Dave]

I don't think they ALL do....

Seems you're right, and according to this.. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829662/ Even with the filter they may still emit some uva, uvb, and the dredded uvc. Remove the filter and you get a significant increase across the board. The UVC amount is especially scary.

Check out section 4.1 in the link above.
"This discovery prompted the scientific community to demand compulsory shielding of all manufactured halogen bulbs"


After reading that, I'd be real leary of removing that filter and putting a halogen light over my animals. Being so low wattage, and maybe raised off the tank a bit might render it relatively safe and effective but I think you're in experimental territory here. A quality reptile uvb bulb would likely be much safer.

[Philsuma]

as long as the light is localized,like only in a corner and the animals had multiple areas to get out of the light - like 90% of the rest of the viv...then I see no reason to worry.

That's why I'm leary of a full size tube/bulb. I would much prefer my UV to be a spotlight and not a full length bulb.

[Dendro_Dave]

I think you're probably right and safe, I just thought I'd throw it out there for you and anyone else interested to consider

[Mantisdragon91]

For whatever its worth I have used pucklights on dozens of tanks containing reptiles and treefrogs for over 5 years. I have yet to see any indications of UV problems like blindness or burns. On the other hand I have seem much more colorful and active animals since I have started using them and a much lower electricity bill.

[Philsuma]

For whatever its worth I have used pucklights on dozens of tanks containing reptiles and treefrogs for over 5 years. I have yet to see any indications of UV problems like blindness or burns. On the other hand I have seem much more colorful and active animals since I have started using them and a much lower electricity bill.

Roman, you are using the Halogen models right? What's the life expectancy , potency of the unit?

[Mantisdragon91]

About 1000 hours. I am using g-8 20 watt bulbs replacements for which can be bough for about $2 each. Within 4" of the bulb the temps can exceed 115F which is perfect for localized hotspots for most arboreal reptiles and amphibians

[Armson]

For whatever its worth I have used pucklights on dozens of tanks containing reptiles and treefrogs for over 5 years. I have yet to see any indications of UV problems like blindness or burns. On the other hand I have seem much more colorful and active animals since I have started using them and a much lower electricity bill.

Roman,

How about a link to these lights?
where someone could order the same make and model?

Also how much heat are yours throwing?


-B

[Philsuma]

Here's Roman's reply:

"There are multiple companies that manufacture them in both Xenon and Halogen varieties which work pretty much the same. Just look for 20 Watts size. They can be found at Home Depot or Lowes and usually run about $6 each in quantities of 3 and 5. Replacement bulbs can be acquired on Amazon for around $2 each including shipping".

As per heat, see the post above...115F up to 4 inches from the fixture. Yikes!!

[Armson]

I ordered these...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RT ... ge_o00_s00
Will let everyone know how well they work.

-B

[Philsuma]

Is there a lower wattage bulb that would work...perhaps a 10 or 12 watt??

[Philsuma]

Here's a 10 watt !!

http://www.lightology.com/index.php?mod ... HwodlR4A3Q

[Armson]

Check out the price for everything...... It's a tad high.


-B