6% or 5% UV lights

[bluechameleon]

Hi
I'm ordering my UV tonight and dunno if I should change from a 5% to a 6% will the 1% make a difference? I'm getting a Arcadia from a place called bluelizardreptiles

 

[Psychobunny]

A Arcadia 6% HO will give you better penatration, depending on cage size, and density of foliage.

 

[nightanole]

Hi
I'm ordering my UV tonight and dunno if I should change from a 5% to a 6% will the 1% make a difference? I'm getting a Arcadia from a place called bluelizardreptiles

You are thinking wrong. a 5% is normaly a T8 18W 24in. A 6% is a T5 HO 24W 22inch.

They are 2 different lights and you cant interchange them in the same hood/fixture. A T8 10% is the same as a T5 HO 6% in terms of total uv light output.

IM sure i confused you. However you want either a T8 10%, or a T5 HO 6%. You do not want to get a T5 HO 12% unless you have a uv meter.

 

[NHenn]

I agree, I only recommend the Arcadia 6%. Unless your cage is fairly large and extremely planted the 12% will be too strong.

 

[bluechameleon]

You are thinking wrong. a 5% is normaly a T8 18W 24in. A 6% is a T5 HO 24W 22inch.

They are 2 different lights and you cant interchange them in the same hood/fixture. A T8 10% is the same as a T5 HO 6% in terms of total uv light output.

IM sure i confused you. However you want either a T8 10%, or a T5 HO 6%. You do not want to get a T5 HO 12% unless you have a uv meter.

Yer that has totally confused me

 

[bluechameleon]

There's this http://www.bluelizardreptiles.co.uk/reptilelighting/uvlights/830857000423
And this http://www.bluelizardreptiles.co.uk/reptilelighting/uvlights/844046008091
It says 18w on both and 24in only difference is it says 5% on one and 6% on the other? I'm so confused

 

[bluechameleon]

My cage is really big like about 4ft tall, should I get the 12%? I'm so confused right now

 

[pigglett79]

I believe the difference is as mentioned by nightanole. The 5% is a T8 bulb which has a larger circumference (width) than the T5 bulb, which is the 6%.

So the 5% is a T8 bulb is fatter and will only fit in to a T8 hood.

The 6% is a T5 bulb which is skinnier and will only fit in a T5 hood.

So, your purchase depends on which hood (housing the bulb goes in to) you have (which I assume you already have as you are only looking at bulbs).

But, if you dont have a hood yet, I would go with the T5 set up.

The T8 vs T5 is the bulb and housing type. They are not interchangable.

Does this help?

 

[NHenn]

With a 4ft cage no, I would not get a 12%. Get the 5 or the 6% depending on your fixture as described above.

 

[bluechameleon]

After re-reading I understand I think I must have a T8 hood seeing how I think I'm using a T8 bulb it's 24inch 5% Arcadia forest one so what I've read iits a T8, I might switch to a T5 seeing how apparently they are better, sorry I didn't understand at first, I have dyslexia I don't understand things easly :/ but I get it now!

 

[bluechameleon]

Ok, due you to the fact that the T5 fitting is £50 I can't afford that so, will a T8 6% do be ok?