Habitat - Indoor :: Which heat/uv basking light?

[ReD-BaRoN]

I've used Mega Rays for many years. It's been a long time since I've looked into what's out there. Are these still the best ones to get, or are there others I should be looking at?

[Kansasslider]

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=37422

[ReD-BaRoN]

I recently read that there are some halogen based lights which might be more energy efficient. Anyone have experience with those?

[steve]

Halogens are great for basking (I use them), but you will still need a separate UVB bulb. With a MVB you just need the one bulb.

[Kansasslider]

Steve, that's not apparently the case with megaray at least according to its developer. He has yet to respond to my question about it being green. Actually he removed the picture we posted to his fb page!! Makes you wonder why?

ReD, were any of your megaray bulbs green in color? As for your question, there is no new bulb on the market.

[steve]

It seems Bob is still notoriously bad at customer service.

Too bad because the mvb should still be enough, it's disappointing if you have to move to higher wattage bulbs just to get the appropriate heat.

[ReD-BaRoN]

Steve, that's not apparently the case with megaray at least according to its developer. He has yet to respond to my question about it being green. Actually he removed the picture we posted to his fb page!! Makes you wonder why?

ReD, were any of your megaray bulbs green in color? As for your question, there is no new bulb on the market.

No, none of my Mega Rays had a green color to them.

[Kansasslider]

On Bobs fb page he has pictures of him holding a uv meter and the light from the megaray is clearly green in color. I'm more and more confused about this! I wish he would just answer my question and stop telling me its a professional uv bulb. That does not answer my question.

Edit: Steve, I also asked if I should buy a stronger megaray so I could get the heat of the basking area up to where I need it and he said "No" That I should use a heat bulb to accomplish that. I still can't help but wonder why my bulb and his in his pictures are green but no one else's are? I'm talking about the center of the beam being green not all the light comming from it. Not that there is really a whole lot of light thats visible other than the green color.

I should move this to my original post if I knew how. Sorry didn't mean to hijack this thread.

[steve]

No worries

[ytse411]

To follow up on this topic, I need advice too!

150 gal tank - top is three sections w3 hoods. Over 2 sections, the lighting fixutre has bit the dust and is no longer made (was using a twin tube fixture for 2 Repti-Sun 5.0 36" bulbs). Over her basking site (3rd section) is are two generic small bulbs.

I replaced the 36" fixture with a single tube thingy but can only find one to fit 24" bulb, so right now it's just a regular florescent bulb.

My plan is to replace the 3rd section with a wood frame/screen, and get a deep dome light with an MVB (megaray, based on what I've read) and plop it on top. My issue is that her basking site is 8" from top of the tank. If I got a 100w mvb bulb, and given that the screen will diffuse some of the heat (based on one of the online pet stores which had video reviews of the mvb lights).

Will that be ok, or still too hot? If so, I could buy the light stand for the lamp to be higher.

Thanks!

[steve]

I would use a metal wire shelf as your screen, then hang the bulb from a hook over the ceiling. That way you can easily adjust the distance and keep the bulb off the shelf (fewer vibrations) and it can hang straight down.

[ytse411]

Thanks! I will have to see if I could suspend it from the ceiling in my apartment...and now I see that the light stands are only 36" tall. Ugh!

[steve]

There are stands that use adhesive strips and stick to the glass of the tank. You'll need to replace the adhesive if you reposition the location of the lamp. I'm not sure if it has a max weight limit, but it is something to consider.

[slider_keeper]

I feel the Mega-Ray is still the best bulb on the market for North American customers. Our friends in Euro have other choices like the Arcadia bulbs but I haven't seen them offered on our shores.

[ytse411]

I was able to have a wood and metal screen built. Bought the deep dome light fixture and MegaRay bulb online. The light fixture is kind of crappy? The ceramic part was loose as well as the wires; had to finagle it quite a bit to make a it work. Can't seem to find them in stores anywhere to try for another that might be put together better so I can return the online one!