Opinions on this fixture

[BenjiTheCham]

I found this T5HO fixture on amazon for EXTREMELY cheap. $34 actually, AND it comes with a bulb. I’m a bit skeptical because it’s so cheap, the next price upwards is $20 more. 64% 5 star reviews, but the 1 star reviews all say it stopped working or it came with a broken bulb. Is it possible for a fixture or bulb this cheap to not produce UVB right?

Sun Blaze HGC960320 T5 High Output Fluorescent 41-120 Volt-Indoor Grow Light for Hydroponic & Greenhouse Use-UL Listed, 4 ft. Fixture, 1 Lamp, 120V, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QXR5YO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_P587Eb59CN0BJ

I’m not too worried that it will come broken, Amazon is great with returns

 

[Lpsouth1978]

Personally, I wouldn't use it for a couple reasons. Price has nothing to do with my decision. The first big issue I see is that there is NO reflector. Most of the light produced will be completely wasted. A QUALITY reflector will redirect nearly all of the light into the enclosure, instead of the entire room. You would also need to purchase a 48" Reptisun 5.0 bulb or Arcadia 6% bulb. I certainly wouldn't use a UVB with unknown strength or output. Stick to quality, trusted bulbs, designed for use with reptiles.

 

[BenjiTheCham]

Personally, I wouldn't use it for a couple reasons. Price has nothing to do with my decision. The first big issue I see is that there is NO reflector. Most of the light produced will be completely wasted. A QUALITY reflector will redirect nearly all of the light into the enclosure, instead of the entire room. You would also need to purchase a 48" Reptisun 5.0 bulb or Arcadia 6% bulb. I certainly wouldn't use a UVB with unknown strength or output. Stick to quality, trusted bulbs, designed for use with reptiles.

Thanks, those are things I haven’t thought of

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

First thing that comes to mind is "You get what you pay for". Not always, but often enough not to ignore.

I agree; the bulb it comes with is not UVB, and there is no reflector (mentioned). Reflector (IME) usually adds ~$10 to the cost.

A couple months back, Sunblaster had a problem with their reflectors being installed backward (upside down). This didn't affect the 6500K plant light bulbs, but it did affect UVB, which was not reflected. I got stuck with one of the defective units. If considering a Sunblaster, I'd just check that they've corrected the problem.

 

[Beman]

Yeah no reflector, it is 4 foot long (not sure what size you need but I thought it was a lot smaller), and this one has to hang.

 

[Beman]

Hey so I just ordered these https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/t5-uvb-light-fixture.html and you can daisy chain them together if you want to have more then one. They come with the daylight bulb. Then you buy the UVB bulb. https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-6-uvb-t5-reptile-bulb.html

I should get mine this Thursday. I have heard really good things about them. I will be replacing all fixtures with these. Starting with running 3, 2 daylight and 1 UVB. see if that lights it up the way I want then I can add another if I need to.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

That appears to be the Sunblaster fixture I mentioned. Do you have (access to) a Solarmeter?
That's the easiest way to tell. If not, there's still a way to determine if it's one of the bad ones (don't have it handy; have to look it up).

 

[nightanole]

Hey so I just ordered these https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/t5-uvb-light-fixture.html and you can daisy chain them together if you want to have more then one. They come with the daylight bulb. Then you buy the UVB bulb. https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-6-uvb-t5-reptile-bulb.html

I should get mine this Thursday. I have heard really good things about them. I will be replacing all fixtures with these. Starting with running 3, 2 daylight and 1 UVB. see if that lights it up the way I want then I can add another if I need to.

A couple months back, Sunblaster had a problem with their reflectors being installed backward (upside down).

FYI odds are both models are made in the same factory, so both can have the error of the backwards reflector...

Im not worried about Beman since she has a meter to test.

 

[Beman]

FYI odds are both models are made in the same factory, so both can have the error of the backwards reflector...

Im not worried about Beman since she has a meter to test.

good to know.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

With a meter, testing is easy. With a UVB bulb in the fixture, take the reflector off, and get a UVI reading from 12" (or so) away.
Put the reflector back on and repeat. If the reading is close to the same (or there isn't a huge improvement) then the reflector is defective.

One alleged "fix" is to slide the reflective film out, flip it over, and slide it back in. Easier said than done. Quite a few people have reported that in attempting this, the film cracked, broke, or even shattered—leaving them with an essentially reflector-less fixture. (What I got).