Looking for 13W to 15W 10% UVB CFBs

[lizardwhisperer]

Anyone using MaxiReptiles' Exo Terra Repti Glo 10.0 (Desert) 13 Watt Compacts ?

Are they good and reliable and long lasting ?

I ask as I recently recieved a batch of 10.0% UVB CFBs from another seller that I am far from pleased with (very unreliable CFBs with hopelessly poor performance) and I'm looking at sourcing my 10.0% UVB CFBs elsewhere in future (even if I need to pay a bit more).

I've tried the ones that come in green boxes, and found them a bit hit and miss wrt reliability, some even dying as soon as switched on.

Seems that being cheaper also means poorer quality so a false economy if you have to replace them very much sooner than expected or they die immediately.

Shouldn't UV CFBs last about 6 months before they need replacement ?

 

[Rogue5861]

CFL's are shocking for reliable levels of UVB and should be burnt in for a few hours before being using in a reptile vivarium.

Any particular reason you are not using tubes?


Rick

 

[animal805]

A bit hard to hang tubes in plastic tubs he keeps his sub adult dragons in.

 

[Amazing Amazon]

We only use Exo Terra or Zoomed in compacts and have never had an issues. Have tried most of the others and they have been cheap rubbish! Sold thousands and only ever had a couple back that have blown before the 6 month replacement period. UVB levels hold well for 6 months and then start to diminish (same as good quality tubes do).

 

[Rogue5861]

A bit hard to hang tubes in plastic tubs he keeps his sub adult dragons in.

Not so sure about that.

Could even run single tubes over multiple tubs so you can save on cash and running costs.


Rick

 

[lizardwhisperer]

We only use Exo Terra or Zoomed in compacts and have never had an issues. Have tried most of the others and they have been cheap rubbish! Sold thousands and only ever had a couple back that have blown before the 6 month replacement period. UVB levels hold well for 6 months and then start to diminish (same as good quality tubes do).

, I bought some of your 13W 10% UVB CFBs yesterday to try out as I had another one of the elcheapos from a local supplier die after only 1 day's use and have now run out as another of the same brand elcheapo died (the replacement carked it after only 1 hour !!). Wont be buying those again and waiting on the seller's response to my complaint.

 

[Rogue5861]

Interesting tub setup.

BTW I only use CFB's because I don't want to spend hundreds of $ converting to T5 or T8 , buying special battons and starter circuitry to use the tubes , they are convenient and easy to install , essentially just hang the ceramic e27 socket and reflector and screw in the CFB and it's done. If I chose to go to T5 or T8 tubes , I could fit them into my enclosures easily lengthwise.

No worries. For tub setups tubes work great. One 4ft tube over 3-4 tubs makes it very cost effective.

I don't trust the life span on CFL's at all due to there thin coil and a lot wasted surface area (they are like a t2 sized tube). Really need to set them sideways in a reflector (like the Exoterra hoods) to project UVB at a decent distance, that an the fact there UVB outputs have been recorded at extreme levels that can cause eye damage for both humans and the reptiles.


Rick

 

[lizardwhisperer]

Heard from the seller, will be refunding my 15W CFB purchases, apparently a few others had similar problems, suspects the shipment was damaged between china and his place.

I wound up with 4 dead from 6 of the 15W bulbs, after another died at lunchtime today. Removed the last 2 from service and now have all the lizards all under new 13W "Desert" CFBs .

 

[lizardwhisperer]

Just an update - still no refund waiting on them to respond to Paypal. I AM NOT IMPRESSED.