Mega Ray... how much heat?

[Chrisal1973]

If you are interested, I recently put a EB 60W Megaray in my BD's viv and the effect has been, frankly, amazing. It is situated next to a 75W spot for heat and additional light (controlled by a dimming stat) and light and I also run 2 x Reptiglo 2.0 full spectrum fluorescent tubes with reflectors across the length of the ceiling (viv is a 4ft x 2.5ft x2.5ft) to help the BD's view of the world (the other wavelengths aid his colour vision, etc. supposedly and make things appear more natural to him).

He was always a healthy, active and hungry bu*gger but now it's off the scale. He basks longer, runs around more and his appepite has shot up. He also has better colour and it has developed in regions it wasn;t showing before.

I'd thoroughly recommend a Megaray bulb, whether a SB or EB (last longer supposedly on average the EB).

For Mahender's ig, Seraphine - I'd definitely recommend speaking to Santa about a Megaray. Your Ig would positively thrive (even more than now - if possible!)

[Chrisal1973]

Originally Posted by xautomaticflowersx

Shweet. Thanks for the help... now to save up/raid the piggy bank!

Also, one other question. The lamp on the page I linked previously has quite a small picture and I don't really know what I'm looking at. Is it £88 for the bulb *and* the means to power it? Or is it just the bulb? If it's just the bulb then can you power a MH bulb from just a normal fixture that you'd plug just any old bulb into?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure I understand the basic mechanics of setting it up. Also the cost of it, to see if it's something I can actually do in the long term.

If you buy a 60W EB Megaray from Darren at Kimbo's, you get the external ballast and the Megaray bulb. I plug my external ballast into a timer and then the other socket takes the plug for the light fixture that the Megaray is plugged into. If it is a SB Megaray then you plug the bulb into the light fixture directly.

[xautomaticflowersx]

Thanks for the information Chrisal! And it's great to hear how well your beardie has responded to the Mega Ray. Whilst a desert iguana isn't really a colourful lizard (other than the pink blushing they get on their bellies during breeding season and the slight maroon tinge to some of their darker markings) I'm hoping that it will boost his natural behaviours and give him a better quality of life in general.

[Chrisal1973]

Originally Posted by xautomaticflowersx

Thanks for the information Chrisal! And it's great to hear how well your beardie has responded to the Mega Ray. Whilst a desert iguana isn't really a colourful lizard (other than the pink blushing they get on their bellies during breeding season and the slight maroon tinge to some of their darker markings) I'm hoping that it will boost his natural behaviours and give him a better quality of life in general.

Cheers, automaticflowers!! Believe me, you'll notice the differnece. as will your desert ig. The rep will not look back and you'll be glad you went for it.

[xautomaticflowersx]

Please excuse the double post, but I just thought of another question. You said that when you bought the EB 60w they sent the ballast with it... if you just wanted the bulb as a replacement, would it cost less than the stated price do you think? Or would you have to buy the whole thing all over again, ballast included?
Cheers!

[Chrisal1973]

Originally Posted by xautomaticflowersx

Please excuse the double post, but I just thought of another question. You said that when you bought the EB 60w they sent the ballast with it... if you just wanted the bulb as a replacement, would it cost less than the stated price do you think? Or would you have to buy the whole thing all over again, ballast included?
Cheers!

No worries! Once you have bought the ballast/bulb set and that bulb dies (rare) or decays enough that you consider it needs replacing (use a solar meter to check the UVB output as according to ReptileUV, the manufacturers, they can go for 18months+ before needing replacing though they recommend an annual change), you just need to speak to Darren at Kimbo and say you want to purchase a new 60W EB bulb by itself. He can send a replacement to use with the existing ballast.

[mahender]

hi all, does anyone know if i could use a mega ray on a temp controlled system?

coz the SB ones have heat aswell i could use this in his basking spot.
it is set to 32 degrees but obviuosly will be going on and off when regulating temp.


this would also be benificail for me as he will get optimum rays whilst he is warming in the morning then he can mooch around the viv and he will get uvb mixed from his 4 ft tube nd the mega ray should he choos e to go back to his hot spot again.
i have the feeling that it wont be recommended.

it will also be on a timer too. for his circadian cycle.

so.. on 7-7 each day then also tem[p controlled power on and off throughout the day.

thanks...

[Chrisal1973]

Originally Posted by mahender

hi all, does anyone know if i could use a mega ray on a temp controlled system?

coz the SB ones have heat aswell i could use this in his basking spot.
it is set to 32 degrees but obviuosly will be going on and off when regulating temp.


this would also be benificail for me as he will get optimum rays whilst he is warming in the morning then he can mooch around the viv and he will get uvb mixed from his 4 ft tube nd the mega ray should he choos e to go back to his hot spot again.
i have the feeling that it wont be recommended.

it will also be on a timer too. for his circadian cycle.

so.. on 7-7 each day then also tem[p controlled power on and off throughout the day.

thanks...

I may be wrong, Mahender, but I don't think you can with an SB Megaray or other MVB. The current will lower not just the ballasted filament but the UVB arc too and this damages the bulb so it blows. I know from experience you can't do it with the EB version and I beleieve all MVB need a certain amount of directed current to function.

Why not go with a EB 60W version plugged into a timer and keep your temp controlled spot alongside. The 60W EB doesn't chuck out heat really but the temp_controlled spot would adjust to compensate for any increase once the Megaray was on. It is recommened to run this next to a basking spot but some peole put it elsewhere - as long as Seraphine can choose where he wants and can move away from the Megaray and the UVB then he'd be fine.

Hope this helps!

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by Chrisal1973

If you are interested, I recently put a EB 60W Megaray in my BD's viv and the effect has been, frankly, amazing. It is situated next to a 75W spot for heat and additional light (controlled by a dimming stat) and light and I also run 2 x Reptiglo 2.0 full spectrum fluorescent tubes with reflectors across the length of the ceiling (viv is a 4ft x 2.5ft x2.5ft) to help the BD's view of the world (the other wavelengths aid his colour vision, etc. supposedly and make things appear more natural to him).

He was always a healthy, active and hungry bu*gger but now it's off the scale. He basks longer, runs around more and his appepite has shot up. He also has better colour and it has developed in regions it wasn;t showing before.

I'd thoroughly recommend a Megaray bulb, whether a SB or EB (last longer supposedly on average the EB).

For Mahender's ig, Seraphine - I'd definitely recommend speaking to Santa about a Megaray. Your Ig would positively thrive (even more than now - if possible!)

Hey Chrisal,

This setup looks spot on, this is exactly how I'm going to set up the lighting in my viv build. Just one thing, do you find the cool end much darker than the hot end, even with the 2x uva tubes? I was thinking of adding Halogens or something to booste the light.

Do you have any pics

Jay

[Chrisal1973]

Originally Posted by jabba1967

Hey Chrisal,

This setup looks spot on, this is exactly how I'm going to set up the lighting in my viv build. Just one thing, do you find the cool end much darker than the hot end, even with the 2x uva tubes? I was thinking of adding Halogens or something to booste the light.

Do you have any pics

Jay

Hi Jay! No, the cool side is still nice and bright but I also have reflectors with the fluorescent tubes so this helps. At the warm side where the spot light for basking and the Megaray are, it is a bit brighter and under the Megaray the light is a cold blue/green (due to the gaps in the spectrum that the Megaray doesn't put out). The BD goes all over and is well illuminated everywhere really but it is slightly brighter in the warm end but not much.

If you fancied additional lighting in your cool end then why not?

Pictures - great idea! I'll find to do that.