Compact Fluorecent UV bulbs

froggsong · #1 (**permalink**) 12-24-2008, 07:14 AM

Has anyone noticed that the info on this page: UV Lighting for Reptiles: Compact Fluorescent Lamps regarding the safety of the compact UV bulbs has changed recently? It appears that ZooMed may have fixed the problem with their compact UV bulbs producing the harmful wavelength. Has anyone seen anything else about this? I don't have much time for research these days because of work.

beckdg · #2 (**permalink**) 12-24-2008, 02:45 PM

it basically says that zoo-med is fine, you have to be careful with new bulbs regardless (i think until after 15 hours of use), aluminum will reflect the uvb and multiply it up to 6X making it a possible danger, other reflective materials tested had virtually no effect on uvb, uvb should be supplemented with another light source (even in basking area), READ YOUR BOX AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS... which most of us already know, there is a significant reduction in uvb output over 3 months... about in half, mounting sideways to expose length of bulb increases productivity (more uvb), adding egg crate drops strength in half, cfl's can produce around 250 degrees near base... but not in a large enough area to heat a viv by themselves... the model reflector they used... the intensity was doubled from bare bulb to reflected and halved again to reproduce original bulbs intesity by adding front diffuser.

from what i am deducing here, a hood may be able to be made using aluminum as a reflector with a light diffuser and screen to keep pets and feeder bugs out, and this may balance out the uvb output at the suggested distance... makes sense to me... what do you think?

edit: they also recommended this meter for uvb.

seritchey · #3 (**permalink**) 12-24-2008, 02:47 PM

This could be good news to me. Could slap some egg crate under the part of the hood I'm getting that will have CFL's in it

froggsong · #4 (**permalink**) 12-29-2008, 01:59 PM

seritchy, unless your animal requires UV, you can just use the daylight CFLs that do not produce UV. Cheaper and safer, plus most areas have GREAT coupons available in the store for the purchase of these bulbs to encourage people to make the switch, plus, you can find coupons online that you can print from the manufacturer that are pretty good too. What will you be housing?

seritchey · #5 (**permalink**) 12-29-2008, 04:02 PM

Red eyed tree frogs. The daylight CFLs at walmart are about 26$ for 6, I'll look for a smaller package or a coupon or something though

froggsong · #6 (**permalink**) 12-29-2008, 04:54 PM

They should have them in packages of two (they also have a coupon here, I think it is from our power company, though I have seen manufacturer's coupons in the past). Let me see if I can find the site with the printable coupons for you...

Here it is!:
GE Consumer & Industrial Lighting: Coupons / Special Offers
You can print two coupons. You can only use one for each purchase, but you can use both coupons if you purchase two packs of bulbs (they should also come in single packs, check the end caps of the isles, that's where I saw the single packs a few days ago).

Hope that helps. You will come out much cheaper and much safer with these bulbs than with the pet store bulbs (which are around 10bucks a piece, last time I looked), even if you have to buy the larger pack (you might find yourself needing those for more herps in a couple of months, lol).