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Mercury Vapor bulbs? Best brand?

Tavia

Tavia

Elemental Exotics
Like the title says, looking for recommendations on the best mercury vapor bulbs.
Thanks!
 
I used to use MV bulbs for my marine reef aquarium; two of them. I think they were Phillips bulbs. I called it "Noon on the Reef". They were BRIGHT. If you're thinking of using them for a viv, be aware that 1) they are BRIGHT, 2) they get HOT, and 3) they give off a LOT of UV light.
 
I was absolutely pleased with the results from Active UV Heat bulbs, but T-Rex Products bought them (or something to that extent) and then invested in all that foam cage décor that flopped. While the regional manager (Tom White??) was awesome to deal with, the bulbs themselves became difficult to locate. So far I've only tried ZooMed's PowerSuns and my beardies and ackies seem pleased.
 
while it's on my mind ...

Supposedly exo-terra's Solar Glows are weak in UV output, enough that a few beardie forums actually recommend against them. I seem to recall something about them frosting the front glass of the bulb, which resulted in tanked UV output; particularly UVB.
 
I don't care for the Solar Glos; I used them when Kallie my bearded dragon was young and she started squinting a lot. Now I just use the strip ReptiSUN UVB and heat bulb for her. I've used a Power Sun for Tyrion before, but I ended up switching back to multiple heat bulbs/strip ReptiSUN UVB for him. He likes multiple basking spots. I know a lot of folks love the MVBs, but I was just never sold on them.
 
There is only one option for the BEST MVB, and that is Mega Ray. http://www.reptileuv.com/

Nothing else is close. They are expensive, and shipping makes them even more, but I am answering the question of the thread title here. As for commercial bulbs, Google Tim Criswell's "House of Reptiles;" a few years back, Tim and I were both testing everything on the market. He had way more time, money and energy to put into it. I sold my meter to a customer who promised to give results way more scientifically than I could, but that guy has dropped off the face of the Earth.
 
I haven't tried the Mega Rays, but I might with Kallie. I love my ReptiSun strip bulbs, but one bulb would make my life easier. How do these compare to the ReptiSun tube fluorescents? I know the compacts and coils are terrible.
 
To me, compacts and coils are the same thing - CFLs. Nothing wrong with them for cool, low-wattage lighting, but they might make your herp go blind if you are hoping they will provide UVB radiation. As MVB's go, if there is a herp worth me caring for, I will keep it under Repti-Suns.
 
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