How much UVB in T5 55w PC Fluorescent?

[SueAndHerZoo]

Hi Guys. I have a Red Sea Max 130D that I used to house my captive bred seahorses in but for the past few years it's been sitting vacant. I never really liked it much as a fish tank so decided to turn it into a vivarium. It now contains a small waterfall feature, a bio active planting area, lots of live plants (both aquatic and land) and it's got the proper temperature and humidity levels for a reptile. I've been doing tons of research and really want a chameleon and was just about to pull the trigger on one, but what's holding me back is whether or not the lighting in the Red Sea Max has enough UVB for a reptile. This is the description of the lighting which really doesn't mean anything to me in terms of UVB: 10,000K / Actinic, which is 50% super daylight and 50% actinic blue.

I just ordered (and they're being delivered today) brand new replacement bulbs for the tank (built into the hood) but now I wonder if this type of light has the right type of UVB. I can't find that information anywhere - can anyone help, please? I may have just wasted money on replacement bulbs that I may not be using.
Sue

 

[oreo54]

Hi Guys. I have a Red Sea Max 130D that I used to house my captive bred seahorses in but for the past few years it's been sitting vacant. I never really liked it much as a fish tank so decided to turn it into a vivarium. It now contains a small waterfall feature, a bio active planting area, lots of live plants (both aquatic and land) and it's got the proper temperature and humidity levels for a reptile. I've been doing tons of research and really want a chameleon and was just about to pull the trigger on one, but what's holding me back is whether or not the lighting in the Red Sea Max has enough UVB for a reptile. This is the description of the lighting which really doesn't mean anything to me in terms of UVB: 10,000K / Actinic, which is 50% super daylight and 50% actinic blue.

I just ordered (and they're being delivered today) brand new replacement bulbs for the tank (built into the hood) but now I wonder if this type of light has the right type of UVB. I can't find that information anywhere - can anyone help, please? I may have just wasted money on replacement bulbs that I may not be using.
Sue

Doubt if there is any real amount of UV-B at all.
I assume these are the bulbs..

Red Sea Max Replacement 55 Watt 50/50 Compact Fluorescent Lamp TWO-PACK Package

TWO Replacement 55 Watt 50/50 Compact Fluorescent Lamps for Red Sea Max 130 & 130D Aquariums.

www.marineandreef.com

Do CFLs emit UV?​

All fluorescent lamps emit some UV. Typical fluorescent lamps, including CFLs, which consumers would encounter, emit very low levels of UV. In order to measure any UV radiation from these lamps, very sensitive measuring equipment must be used.

What is the wavelength range of the light radiation that is emitted by CFLs?​

Since CFLs are designed to provide general illumination, the majority of the light emitted by CFLs is localized to the visible region of the spectrum (approximately 400-700 nm in wavelength). In addition, typical CFLs emit a small amount of UVB (280-315 nm), UVA (315-400 nm) and infrared (> 700 nm) radiation.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Doubt if there is any real amount of UV-B at all.
I assume these are the bulbs..

Red Sea Max Replacement 55 Watt 50/50 Compact Fluorescent Lamp TWO-PACK Package

TWO Replacement 55 Watt 50/50 Compact Fluorescent Lamps for Red Sea Max 130 & 130D Aquariums.

www.marineandreef.com

Yup, those exactly. Ugh. So not all T5 HO lights emit some UVB? I have written to the manufacturer and will hopefully get a response in a day or two, but I was really hoping there was some UVB in these. Otherwise, I just wasted $60.
Sue

 

[oreo54]

Yup, those exactly. Ugh. So not all T5 HO lights emit some UVB? I have written to the manufacturer and will hopefully get a response in a day or two, but I was really hoping there was some UVB in these. Otherwise, I just wasted $60.
Sue

Providing uv gets sort of err "complicated".. Normal glass used in cf tubes naturally block any UV above A

Standard window glass, according to the International Ultraviolet Association, will allow UV-A to pass through while almost 100% of the UV-B and UV-C light is blocked. Therefore, some UV light will enter your home and potentially affect your skin. Some of these effects could include increased freckles and increased sensitivity to sunlight that could result in rashes such as photodermatitis.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Providing uv gets sort of err "complicated".. Normal glass used in cf tubes naturally block any UV above A

Good Lord..... I have opened up a complicated can of worms. (Hopefully the type that chameleons eat!) So the bulbs that are specifically made for reptiles that emit the proper amounts of UVB must use a different type of glass? Yup, definitely not a simple issue, or question.
Sue

 

[Malcontent]

The bulbs all emit UV but I believe are coated to filter out certain wavelengths. Bulbs that ultimately output UVB are specially designed:

ReptiSun® 5.0 UVB T5 HO – High Output Linear Lamp | Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

zoomed.com

I still have a UVB meter from my reptile keeping days. You could never know which manufacturers were honest about their products and how much UVB a bulb put out as it aged (it would still output plenty of visible light).

I later obtained the UVC measuring model for quantifying UV sterilizer performance. Might as well collect them all.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

The bulbs all emit UV but I believe are coated to filter out certain wavelengths. Bulbs that ultimately output UVB are specially designed:

ReptiSun® 5.0 UVB T5 HO – High Output Linear Lamp | Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

zoomed.com

I still have a UVB meter from my reptile keeping days. You could never know which manufacturers were honest about their products and how much UVB a bulb put out as it aged (it would still output plenty of visible light).

I later obtained the UVC measuring model for quantifying UV sterilizer performance. Might as well collect them all.

If I'm gonna do this I may as well do it right and invest in a meter. Thanks.
Sue