Metal Halide lights are the ultimate lighting system for terrariums housing diurnal animals.
Metal Halide bulb produces extremely bright full spectrum light which has all wavelengths of natural daylight including UVA and infrared radiation (but no UVB) and it is the most effective replacement of sunlight in artificial conditions. Although similar full spectrum daylight can be also created with special incandescent lamps (Neodym bulbs) and Mercury vapor lamps (often called Solar Lamps), Metal Halide lamps are the most cost effective method for creating full spectrum light considering lighting intensity and power consumption.
Metal Halide is the best artificial lighting arrangement for diurnal reptiles from deserts and other extremely sunny areas. Bright full spectrum daylight is important for general well-being of animals living and basking in direct sunshine and in terrariums it ensures activity and vivid colors of diurnal species.
Metal Halide light can be used to illuminate reptiles, amphibians, birds and other animals requiring effective full-spectrum daylight. It can be also used with aquariums, miniature greenhouses etc. plant growing applications or it can be used to light houseplants or as a part of general illumination.
This is a compact frameless Metal Halide light system which has ballast unit, cables and ceramic base for E27 metal halide bulbs of the specified power. Light unit is assembled and ready-to-use.
NOTE! Metal halide ballasts are specified to certain W-power bulbs, only the correct power MH bulbs can be used in this light unit. Although all Metal Halide bulbs and other light bulbs with E27 base can be fitted to the E27 socket, this ballast unit must be used only with the specified power (W) Metal Halide bulbs.
NOTE! The ballast unit must cool down as effectively as possible; it should not be placed inside a closed structure or container.
Metal Halide bulb is NOT supplied with the light unit.
Technical specifications:
- Type: E27 Metal Halide Light Unit
- Power: 70W
- Size: 140*100mm
- Weight: 1,2kg
- Standard: 230V, 50Hz, Europlug
6-Pack = 6 pieces package deal.
Metal Halide vs. LED in Terrariums:
Although LED has better lighting efficiency (power consumption) than Metal Halide light when only bright lighting is required, white LED light is monochromatic and does not contain different wavelengths of visible light, UVA wavelenghts and infrared radiation all of which are important when natural sunlight is being imitated.
In aquarium lights and plant grow lights only 3-5 different wavelengths are needed, hence LED unit producing only those wavelengths is more cost effective by power consumption than a full-spectrum Metal Halide unit, which will also produce wavelenghts that are not important to plant photosynthesis. As LED neither radiates any heat which is often problematic in aquarium applications, LED lights are usually the most optimal solution for aquariums and grow lights.
However, the more different wavelengths there are in the LED unit, the smaller will be the relative power consumption advantage when compared to the Full Spectrum Metal Halide light.
If a LED light was custom built to replicate full-spectrum daylight with a wide selection of diods producing different wavelenghts (assuming that suitable diods were even available), the lighting unit would be large, expensive to make and its power consumption efficiency would have dropped dramatically, making Metal Halide light better by its spectrum, lighting efficiency, small size, purchase price and power consumption. Therefore, when intense full spectrum daylight is required, Metal Halide is the best alternative available.