Lighting help!

If you are new to the hobby and have some "newbie" questions - feel free to post them here! :0)
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Twinmom0804
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Lighting help!

Post by Twinmom0804 » Sat Aug 23, 2014 12:31 am

I have tried reading through a LOT of past posts on here about lighting before I ask, but I am not finding the right answer for me. I need to move my cage to a spot where it will not get much natural lighting. I have the round lights that you typically use for heating reptile tanks. Will those work if I position them above the cage and will I be able to find the right type of full spectrum bulb for them? The bulbs look like typical light bulbs. Not long fluorescent bulbs. Thanks!
Proud parent to:
5 Societies.......Java, Mocha, Bandit, Flutter and Marshmallow.
1 Aussiedoodle........Riley
2 Sons........Nicholas and Nathan

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Jason in TX
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Re: Lighting help!

Post by Jason in TX » Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:00 pm

Absolutely, those will work fine. For a standard type flight cage in a room with no ambient light I would use two if possible. I have had great luck with the bulbs from these guys.

http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/fu ... 30_ctg.htm

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Harley2013
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Re: Lighting help!

Post by Harley2013 » Sat Aug 23, 2014 7:08 pm

I decided on the GE 48" T8 5000k, 2600 lumins.. Hope that's okay.
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Harley (Red-factor canary)~ RIP my songbird ~5/4/14
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lovepoodle
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Re: Lighting help!

Post by lovepoodle » Sun Aug 24, 2014 1:25 am

They must have CRI 96 ? Then should be ok !! I use 15w t8 5000k CRI 96. For bird, 5500k, CRI 98 is the best, but hard to find..
MAMI

Lady Gouldians
Parrot Finches (RF,SG,Pied SG&RF,BF) Societies,
Red Bellied Parrot,Violet Indian Ringneck Parakeet,Rose Breast Cockatoo,Princess of Wales parakeet,Turquoisine & Scarlet chested parakeets,Cat,
Poodle LATTE & MOCHA

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Harley2013
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Re: Lighting help!

Post by Harley2013 » Sun Aug 24, 2014 8:52 am

These bulbs I bought do not indicate CRI. How would I determine this with the bulbs I bought? I bought these bulbs at Lowes and they are the T8 ( 1") bulbs. I have having a difficult time finding any with the CRI where it should be.
Tammie (ME!);D

Harley (Red-factor canary)~ RIP my songbird ~5/4/14
Franklin & Olive ( budgie)
Lou (19 year old son)
Tanner (24 year old son)
Love of my life Lou Jr.

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Harley2013
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Re: Lighting help!

Post by Harley2013 » Sun Aug 24, 2014 9:24 am

I googled, the bulbs I purchased for a CRI, it " says" 85. But I also googled the T8 bulbs at Lowes and Home Depot both and cannot see that they have any higher CRI than this. Or the Kelvin is out of sight! There is no happy medium. Right now, I am looking for an easy way out until I start work and start acquiring those pay checks. I am a teacher, so no pay in summer months, but hoping this will get me by for a bit. If anyone can tell me of a T8 bulb at lowes or. Home Depot that is better than what I have, please...... I stared, and stared, at the bulbs along with everyone else yesterday. I don't know why they have to make it so difficult finding lightbulbs for any occasion these days. There must have been 20 people right along with me staring at the lightbulbs as well, for what ever their purpose was. Hahaha!
Tammie (ME!);D

Harley (Red-factor canary)~ RIP my songbird ~5/4/14
Franklin & Olive ( budgie)
Lou (19 year old son)
Tanner (24 year old son)
Love of my life Lou Jr.

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lovepoodle
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Re: Lighting help!

Post by lovepoodle » Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:11 am

I don't think they have that kind of bulbs bird need....check on line( I forgot which site I got for mine....). Or Zoomed "Tropical sun" is good too. Sell at petsmart, Petco...
MAMI

Lady Gouldians
Parrot Finches (RF,SG,Pied SG&RF,BF) Societies,
Red Bellied Parrot,Violet Indian Ringneck Parakeet,Rose Breast Cockatoo,Princess of Wales parakeet,Turquoisine & Scarlet chested parakeets,Cat,
Poodle LATTE & MOCHA

debbie276
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Re: Lighting help!

Post by debbie276 » Sun Aug 24, 2014 12:04 pm

I would concentrate on the 5000k but not more then 5700k and not worry about anything else. Chances are slim that your birds would get the needed Vitamin D from the bulbs anyway so supplement with hard boiled eggs or a calcium supplement that has both calcium and vitamin D.

Here's a link to nutrient sources
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/nutrients_and_sources.php

Lighting articles
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

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