As bright as the sun - UVB metal halide lamps

Modern UVB metal halide lamps are primarily used because of the ultraviolet light that is important for vitamin D3 synthesis. They provide the necessary UVB radiation and heat to form the important vitamin D3 in the skin. These lamps are also excellent at that, but they also have another advantage: They also produce very bright visible light. No other illuminant can achieve illuminance levels of around 100,000 lux in the terrarium. This is the value on a nice, cloudless summer day at noon.

Illuminance (measured in lux) describes the luminous flux that hits an illuminated object. Simply put, the illuminance (colloquially "brightness") is measured at a distance of, for example, 40 cm below the lamp. 100,000 lux and more can only be achieved in the terrarium with a stronger (150 watt) metal halide lamp. With a good 70 watt lamp you get 70,000 lux at a distance of 30 cm. Other technologies (eg: compact lamps but also LEDs) cannot compete with these high values.

Here are a few examples of measured illuminance levels:

  • 100,000 lux and more: Very nice sunny day, sun at its zenith
  • 20,000 lux: overcast summer day
  • 10,000 lux: shade in summer
  • 3,000 lux: shade overcast summer day (e.g. on the balcony or under a covered terrace)
  • 500 lux: office
  • 200 lux: living room

As cold-blooded animals, reptiles are dependent on high UV and light levels - this applies all the more to tropical or steppe/desert species. Mediterranean species are also used to higher radiation intensities than in Central Europe. Therefore, a high level of brightness in the visible spectrum is very important in the terrarium. The animals look for their basking spots in the open air based on brightness and warmth. Therefore, good - i.e. sufficiently bright - basic lighting is important for the well-being of the reptiles.

The latest generation of UVB metal vapor lamps offer these high lux values ​​in the visible range and at the same time provide UVB radiation (vitamin D3 synthesis) and heat. So everything you need for a perfect place in the sun.