Megaray 70watt Metal Halide Setup Review

[jaf2212]

Over the last few weeks I have been building 2 new vivs 4x2x2, one off which has been fitted with the new Megaray MH bulbs. I wanted a way to provide uv without having a uv tube hanging in the middle of the viv, I was also worried that a MV bulb would produce far too much heat in a small viv.

I have run the bulb for a few days now, with an empty viv and noticed a big difference in the light out put from these bulbs over any uv bulbs prevously used. I have not been able to monitor the temps all day due to work and other stuff. I have tested the viv without a basking rock and at 14inches I'm getting a basking temp between 100-110F, hoping this will increase to 105-120F once I've added the rocks

The kit was very easy to wire up and fit, it was all fitted with plugs ready to plug straight in. I have removed these.





As you can see, I have wired both vivs together so they will be easier to control. I have installed a second bulb next to the MH one for early morning/evening lighting and will only be running the MH light for 7 hours a day.




The normal basking bulb will be on for around 12 hours a day, which will let the beardie have a period without high levels of uv, similar to the desert.

The light produced from one of the MH Bulbs against a standard B&Q 60w bulb is 10 times better




I am hoping to see an improvement in my Beardie over the next few weeks, I will be introducing Houdini in to the new viv in the morning and will take a picture every week to monitor the colour. I hoping to see a change in the feeding habits as he has became very lazy over the last few weeks and will not hunt.




I will post an update on here and keep everyone upto speed on how good these bulbs are , as I'm expecting alot from the MH bulb, so I'm hoping to see a big change in Houdini.

These are not a cheap bulb and retail at £110.00 each from Darren@megaray.co.uk, but when you price up uv tubes and fittings, within 18 months these bulbs will have made a saving

If any one is looking at getting a MV, I would suggest speaking to Darren about the MH first.

[Rencey]

am i right in thinking that with the bulb in its holder your 24"gap is down to around 14-18" if so please take some reading of how intense te light is there and how much radiation there is as i recently saw a beardie blinded with catteracts under a 60w megaray.
just being cautious my friend

[Rencey]

Originally Posted by jaf2212

This would be the same with MV bulbs which everyone rates, which is why i'm looking at the MH bulbs esp as the tubes only seem to produce around 20-30uw/cm2.

Surely only a few hours under the MH at 280uw/cm2 is better than using the tubes, just need someone to confirm

i had a similar discusion with a friend of te lady who runs uv guide and the outcome was esentially not to look at things this way but to look at it as exposing the beardie to 10x its normal sunlight talking nuclear power here my friend lol cancer city

[jaf2212]

Originally Posted by Rencey

am i right in thinking that with the bulb in its holder your 24"gap is down to around 14-18" if so please take some reading of how intense te light is there and how much radiation there is as i recently saw a beardie blinded with catteracts under a 60w megaray.
just being cautious my friend

I know these bulbs are being used by other people with no problems and are different to the 60W eb MV bulbs.

Originally Posted by Rencey

i had a similar discusion with a friend of te lady who runs uv guide and the outcome was esentially not to look at things this way but to look at it as exposing the beardie to 10x its normal sunlight talking nuclear power here my friend lol cancer city

At the right distances these produce the same uw/cm2 as the desert which is not 10x more than a beardie would be use to. I have spoken to Frances from the uv guide in lenght about these Metal Halide bulbs, so not sure where you got your information from

[Rencey]

me being a male chicken then i am just a tad panicy about these things afterseeing this beardie soz son

[jaf2212]

Originally Posted by Rencey

me being a male chicken then i am just a tad panicy about these things afterseeing this beardie soz son

I just find it confussing on how people can slate a product which was tested for a year before its release and has only just been released. The normal reason for the problems with the MV bulbs is people not following the manufactors guidelines and putting the bulb to close.

[Rencey]

sorted

[Bosscat]

Looking good Jamie, worth the wait... keep us updated on how you & Houdini are getting on with it

[kimbosreptileworld]

Originally Posted by Rencey

i had a similar discusion with a friend of te lady who runs uv guide and the outcome was esentially not to look at things this way but to look at it as exposing the beardie to 10x its normal sunlight talking nuclear power here my friend lol cancer city

LOL - spoke to a freind of a friend !!

Please contact me privately with your concerns over this bulb - we have had proto-type models out for a year now and some of the top reptile people in the world have been using them and reporting good results.

Now - yes they are powerful bulbs - and no you would'nt see 50,000 lux at 6am in the morning which is why we recommend they only be used for 6 - 8 hours a day. the 6 - 8 hours needs to be covered with other forms of heat and light. My halides come on after my other lights, and go off before the other lights !

Its all about creating the right habitat for your animal - i am using them on my animals, they have large enough enclosures, and a choice of basking sites which they use extensivly both UVB sites and non UVB sites. The Metal Halide is not suitable for small poorly designed habitats - much thought needs to go into the design - but i would gladly talk to anyone who is interetsed in setting up an halide bulb for their animals.

Darren

[kimbosreptileworld]

Originally Posted by Rencey

am i right in thinking that with the bulb in its holder your 24"gap is down to around 14-18" if so please take some reading of how intense te light is there and how much radiation there is as i recently saw a beardie blinded with catteracts under a 60w megaray.
just being cautious my friend

Can you also mail me details of this animal or how i can contact the owner i would like to research this further ?

we take situations like this VERY seriously....

darren