Light your reptiles

[Lazy Boy]

Received my 24" quad today and I must say I couldn't be happier. This is a very high quality light. The fit and finish is perfect. The spectrum of light you receive with the quad sets the bar for any other brand. I have read from a couple people that this is a over priced light and could easily be duplicated much cheaper buying from Lowes or home depot and then buying bulbs. Not even close son. I have played with MANY fluorescence and high output lights growing and I have yet to see a light so perfect for its job. The 24" light fits my 24" 3L cage like a glove in the recess in the light. This isn't some cheap shop light or flimsy in any way. I was so happy with my purchase after I turned it on I had to call Todd immediately and tell him how happy I was. If you are looking for the best light for any reptile Todd @ light your reptiles is the man to talk to. Now for a few pics of the goods as I did have a little trouble finding pictures of the light before I purchased it.

 

[Juliaf3]

I have a 48 inch quad and a 36 inch double from LYR. Could not agree more with what you have said. My plants are growing like CRAZY now and my chameleons LOVE them. I'm a firm believer in 'you get what you pay for" I know in some cases this saying wouldn't work, however, it is the PERFECT saying for LYR light fixtures. I say if you have a hard time spending that much on lights, buckle down and do it. You will NOT regret it!

 

[Venutus1]

I am so happy you are pleased!

And it looks great on your new cage!
Thank you again Lazy Boy.
And it was great talking to you on the phone last night, you really did make my day!

That is a beautiful set up. I can't wait to see it planted!

And...
Ahh Yes, these are a good value!
I just wish more people understood what I am selling.

I think people don't realize why these are so nice.

These are custom made at the factory for LightYourReptiles with top-shelf ballasts to drive the UV bulb at its full capacity.
This is important because not all T5 fixtures have good ballasts that get the most "UV umph" out of a HO t5 UV bulb.
As a matter of fact, I have Solarmeter tested Ho t5 fixtures that get up to 20 - 30% LESS UV out of a UV bulb because they have cheapie ballast in them that do not drive the bulbs well.


One feature of the fixture itself is that they have a mirror polished aluminum interior for MAXIMUM UV reflection
So light and UV are not wasted.

Also, they have 3 separate cords--
so you can, (by using simple inexpensive 5.99 timers from wal mart), create a "dawn", "mid day sun" and "sunset" and "dusk" lighting for the animals if one wants to.

And I have selected and perfected the 4 bulbs in them based on my 36+ years experience and MUCH trial and error and research.
To provide the best lighting you can get. period.

They have an Arcadia Bulb to provide the best in UVB and UVA reptile lighting.

They have a special TRUE ARCADIA plant bulb...
One that has extra spikes where it is needed in the spectrum:
in the blue and red wavelengths that coincide with the absorptive properties of chlorophyll in plants based on scientific research.

And they also come with 2 6.5k full spectrum bulbs to balance the entire spectrum out. These bulbs have a high 94+ CRI, color rendering index.
NOT ALL 6.5 kelvin bulbs have the same CRI.
(most folks don't realize that.)

So what you end up with is light that looks FANTASTIC.
Light that Enhances the colors in animals and plants without looking FAKE...
and lighting that stimulates plant growth naturally.

All that while still providing the correct UV to prevent metabolic bone disease from the Awesome Arcadia UVB D3 bulb.
The Arcadia UV bulbs last easily a full year.
And Arcadia was the FIRST to do and perfect an HO t5 reptile bulb.

So thank you again Lazy Boy
I appreciate your business.

Cheers!
Most Sincerely,
Todd
Owner/ Operator LightYourReptiles.com
Developer/ Inventor of Jungle Dawn® LED

Received my 24" quad today and I must say I couldn't be happier. This is a very high quality light. The fit and finish is perfect. The spectrum of light you receive with the quad sets the bar for any other brand. I have read from a couple people that this is a over priced light and could easily be duplicated much cheaper buying from Lowes or home depot and then buying bulbs. Not even close son. I have played with MANY fluorescence and high output lights growing and I have yet to see a light so perfect for its job. The 24" light fits my 24" 3L cage like a glove in the recess in the light. This isn't some cheap shop light or flimsy in any way. I was so happy with my purchase after I turned it on I had to call Todd immediately and tell him how happy I was. If you are looking for the best light for any reptile Todd @ light your reptiles is the man to talk to. Now for a few pics of the goods as I did have a little trouble finding pictures of the light before I purchased it.

 

[Mike Fisher]

I have read from a couple people that this is a over priced light and could easily be duplicated much cheaper buying from Lowes or home depot and then buying bulbs.

They would be wrong. Lowes doesn't sell T5HO at all, HD has a very limited selection with the closest design for what we need is for plants and it is huge and has to be hung from chains. Very few of them come with reflectors either. Without a quality reflector, you'll be missing a good percentage of the light.

Anybody who thinks they can do a scratch build for less needs to research how much the aquarium guys pay to scratch build a fixture. The endcaps/ballasts/reflectors will cost more than the whole LYR fixture with bulbs.

 

[Rango3d]

lowes actually does sell t5ho fixtures. I know because I've bought them. The lowes in my area does anyways. I paid 15.95 for a 4 foot double bulb fixture.
The only thing is it doesn't have is a reflector. Easy fix, go to kragens or auto zone and buy the chrome mirror tape. That tape reflects like crazy.

 

[CarlC]

lowes actually does sell t5ho fixtures. I know because I've bought them. The lowes in my area does anyways. I paid 15.95 for a 4 foot double bulb fixture.
The only thing is it doesn't have is a reflector. Easy fix, go to kragens or auto zone and buy the chrome mirror tape. That tape reflects like crazy.

Are you sure its a T5HO? My lowes sells a double fixture also but it is not HO.

Carl

 

[Dave Bolamperti]

I replaced a 22"t5 in my double EnviroGrow with an Arcadia 12UVB ,my panther is popping , close to outdoor colors. I replaced an under 1 year zoomed. I sent a request to Todd what he recommends for my Jackson's cages. Time to upgrade I'm impressed . I want the real Light your reptile hoods. Time to get rid of all the domes ,doubles and singles .

 

[Rango3d]

they don't say HO but they are t5 fixtures.so what makes the HO, HO?

To me its the reflector. If a bulb is only rated for so much wattage thats all it could put out. At least thats how my friend who's an electrician simplified it to me.

 

[Mike Fisher]

lowes actually does sell t5ho fixtures. I know because I've bought them. The lowes in my area does anyways. I paid 15.95 for a 4 foot double bulb fixture.
The only thing is it doesn't have is a reflector. Easy fix, go to kragens or auto zone and buy the chrome mirror tape. That tape reflects like crazy.

You are correct! They now sell the T5HO bulbs, and a few fixtures that seem expensive for what they are. They didn't have these last time I checked:http://www.lowes.com/pd_551935-4607...elight&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=elight&facetInfo=

Are you sure the fixture you got is T5? I see T8's in that price range, but I've never seen T5 fixtures that cheap. Regardless, they all look like shop lights compared to LYR units. It's not all in the reflector, T5's are 28W @ 48" and T5HO's are 54W @ 48". The nominal light output of a four-foot 54W T5HO lamp is 5,000 lumens, compared to 2,900 lumens for a 28W T5 lamp.

 

[Rango3d]

they do look like shop lights. Thats the only draw back. But your also only paying half the price for everything.
I bought mine awhile ago, its possible the price has increased since then.
I also do like the lights from lyr but when you have lots of cages its out of the question to buy so many.

 

[Rango3d]

I also run a 6500K plant bulb with the reptile bulb. its extremely bright.

 

[Rango3d]

my fixtures are 45w. I just checked

 

[Mike Fisher]

Are you sure you don't mean 54W? It will be printed on the bulb.

 

[Rango3d]

Nope. 45w each slot.
That's what's on it. Unless theirs something I'm missing.

 

[CarlC]

A t5ho would be 54 watts.

Carl

 

[Venutus1]

A t5ho would be 54 watts.

Carl

Yes, this is correct.

There are t5 fixtures that are not HO.

T5 just refers top the diameter of the bulb.

There are NO (nominal out-put) T5 fixtures and HO (high out-put) T5 fixtures.

The NO fixtures are a waste.... since they are weak and only push out HALF the light and UV of a HO fixture.

(Example: Zila's T5 fixtures are just NO fixtures fitted with Chinese made bulbs.)

If someone is using a Lowes HO fixture, I am sure it can work well.
But Do not use more than one UV bulb in it,
unless you have a Solarmeter to test it to know what the UV out-put ends up being.
Multiplying UV bulbs increases UV.
Using two 6% bulbs will not yield the same UV striking the animal as one 6% bulb.
Using two 6% bulbs = approx. the same UV microwatts per square centimeter (uw/cm2) as using one 12% bulb.

Using two or more 12% bulbs creates a very HIGH UV levels.

So please be careful, otherwise one could end up frying some eyeballs.
Just a word of caution for anyone going down that road.


Cheers!
Todd

 

[Socratic Monologue]

If a bulb is only rated for so much wattage thats all it could put out. At least thats how my friend who's an electrician simplified it to me.

'Wattage' is a measure of electrical consumption; a lamp doesn't 'put out' wattage, it puts out light. Wattage is not a measure of light.

Flo lamps do have a rated wattage, but it is simple and safe and effective to drive lamps at a higher than rated wattage (and a higher than rated lumen output) -- it is called 'overdriving.' You can underdrive lamps, too, which is what many cheap ballasts do, and you get less light out of the lamp.

The only thing is it doesn't have is a reflector. Easy fix, go to kragens or auto zone and buy the chrome mirror tape. That tape reflects like crazy.

The tape might look reflective, but without some evidence there is no reason to believe that it reflects the full spectrum the lamp is emitting. So, it might not reflect any or much UV. Further, and more importantly, the best linear reflectors reflect the light around the lamp, not through it as a flat reflector does. Reflecting light through the lamp (a) wastes the light, and (b) raises the temperature of the lamp, making the lamp less efficient (i.e. raising the temp of a flo lamp lowers its lumen output).

Of course, the price of a less than ideal fixture might make the shortcomings of that fixture tolerable.

 

[Scoobthenoob]

Todd, hope you ship to the UK.

Nice to have a store owner who knows there stuff...

Makes a lot of difference, going to check your site right now, if you do not ship to the UK, I will send you a mail.

 

[Venutus1]

Nice to have a store owner who knows there stuff...

Makes a lot of difference, going to check your site right now, if you do not ship to the UK, I will send you a mail.

Thank you for the kind words.
But I do let people know I wasn't just born this "smart", LOL! ha ha
I have had MUCH trial and error!
I have kept reptiles (and all exotics, plants and marine & fresh water fish) since the mid 70's!
I used to own a full line pet store in the 80' called Northwoods Pets in Brewer Maine that specialized in Birds, Marine fish and Reptiles.
So, the moral of the story is that--
when you all get to be as old as dirt and have been at it for 35+ years... ALL of you will know lots of "stuff" too!

Anyway, yes, I can ship to the UK... but it is pretty darn expensive.
And the fixtures I have are all 110v, not the 220/240 like you need.
The good news is, (and you may already know this), you can get great Arcadia Bulbs in the UK.

Because that is where they are based.

If you want to e/m me at [email protected], and shoot me maybe even a pic of your set up, I would be happy to suggest some products you can find over there to get great lighting results too.

Cheers.
Todd

 

[fullmonti]

I'm working on a 30X24X48" tall enclosure that will have 4 24" T5 bulbs. I have the fixtures left over from a previous project. Do they all need to be UVB bulbs or only half of them?

Jim