What are you using for lighting?

[Lloyd]

Hi! I am in the process of building a large indoor aviary (8' x 15') in a room that has only two smaller sized windows (3'x2 1/2'), so I will likely have two 4 foot long, double flourescent fixtures lighting it (four x 4' tubes).

I know I should be looking for full spectrum lights but I'm having a hard time sifting through all the "full spectrum" babble put out by manufacturers making various claims about their so-called "full spectrum" lamps. Some are fairly cheap, some are expensive. I've read that price is not necessarily a good indicator because laboratory testing indicates that some more expensive lamps do not show much difference in spectrum from much cheaper lamps. Still, I'm assuming you only get what you pay for, so the better lamps should generally be more expensive (I hope).

Other factors that I'm wading through are brightness (Kelvin), CRI (should be 90+), UVA and UVB output (how much UV required?), and finally tube type -T5,T8,T10,T12 (my fixtures are T8).

Anyway, I've found a number of lamps from various sources ranging from the fairly cheap (Home Depot - Philips Natural Sunshine "Simulates Natural Full Spectrum Light" - $8 each) to rather expensive (Hagen - "Glo" series of lights for aquariums and terrariums - $35 to $45+ each).

I'd be interested to see what others here are using for lighting and how satisfied you are with your choice. If you can, please be specific about what lighting you are using.

Thanks,

[mickp]

I dont know anything about using artificial lighting, as I have no need for it.
maybe another option to installing full spectrum lights would be a couple of sky lights

[B CAMP]

I have been using the t12 type fixture with the bulb that I get from walmart they seem to be just as good.
when I first started looking online to find what I needed for the fullspectrom lights its is so confusing because I found A lot of info that said it wasn't neccessary some say it is so I really didn't know what to do but anyway thats what I am using but I don't think you need to spend 35 to 45 per bulb I think you have to replace the bulbs every year because they loose something or are not as effective ?

[Sally]

I use 4' two-tube shop light fixtures, using the T12 bulbs, and I get the cheapest daylight tubes I can find. If they have a CRI rating (not all show one), if it is at least 90, that should do.

I do have some 4' Ott lights, listed for using on plants, just because I got a good deal on them when a store went out of business. I got them to use in one of those plant grow benches, but now they go for my birds. I put one Ott light and one cheap daylight tube in each double shop light fixture. (I had called the Ott company, and they said the plant grow lights I had would work for birds, however, they never did say what the CRI rating is, and they don't give it on these bulbs.)

[kylehca]

I just recently got into finches and love it. I was wondering if anyone has seen or has advice on the zoomed Avian Sun Deluxe floor lamp and light?
I want the best for my finches and any thoughts would be appreciated.

[atarasi]

I just recently got into finches and love it. I was wondering if anyone has seen or has advice on the zoomed Avian Sun Deluxe floor lamp and light?
I want the best for my finches and any thoughts would be appreciated.

I've seen these lamps. Are you looking to just light up one cage, or the entire room? You can go a hardware store and get an "under the counter" fluorscent light fixure for $10, (although I have no clue where you live) and a full spectrum bulb for $8. You didn't mention how many cages you have, but if you have just one cage, the floor lamp would work, but I can't justify spending $50 for lighting.

[jamezyboo21]

My finches are kept outside when its warm out so they get natural sunlight. when there inside they still get sunlight through the sliding glass doors and at night i turn on the night light heat lamps

[kylehca]

I just bought the exo-terra compact flourescent double light fixture, and bought two lights: the exo-terra rept-glo 5.0 and exo-terra repti-glo 2.0 both are 26 watts. I think this is going to be an awesome fixture and provide an energy efficient way to provide full spectrum lighting for my finches in the Great Canadian North. As an aside, I am definitely planning on purchasing the HQ double flight cage in the near future in order to have a mixed indoor aviary.

[Lloyd]

I also ended up buying a couple of exo-terra repti-glo 2.0 flourescent lights (2') to light the cage my finches are in at this time. I gave up trying to decipher the claims made by manufacturers and went ahead and got what I hope are quality full spectrum lamps. I also bought one of the exo-terra fixtures that has a built in timer and an auto-dimming feature to simulate sunrise and sunset. At least that's what it was supposed to do. Unfortunately, the timer didn't function properly (lights never went off) and the dimming feature didn't function very well either. So I returned it and tried another...same problem. I ended up getting a regular exo-terra fixture and plugged it into an outlet timer.

So are the birds getting enough full spectrum? I can only hope so.

[atarasi]

Just curious Lloyd, how much did you spend on your 2' light assembly with bulbs?

[Lloyd]

Too much.
~$22(CDN) for each 2' exo-terra 2.0 light.
~$65 for the light unit (bought on sale for $50).

Originally paid $85 for the light "cycle" unit (the one that didn't work). Of course, these amounts do not include taxes.

Exo-terra products can be viewed online at http://www.exo-terra.com.

I have to admit to feeling somewhat like a sucker coughing up $100+ bucks just for lighting, but it's not the first time I've had to put my trust in what I'm being told (sold), due to my own limited knowlege. I just try not to let it happen too often.

Anyway...the lights are working fine. I also bought a exo-terra night light which simulates the moonlight. Also on a timer. Works very well.

[B CAMP]

Well don't beat yourself up we all do the samething if not lights something else,but when you need new bulbs check out wallmart first

[Lloyd]

Does wal-mart sell Full Spectrum bulbs? I don't remember seeing them last time I was there. Hmmm...

Just to clarify...I don't regret spending the money on the lighting...it's just that I got the same feeling I get when I get work done on my car, or visit the dentist...that uneasy feeling of being taken when you have to cough up cash based on what others tell you is necessary. Wish I where a mechanic, dentist and lighting specialist all in one.

Lloyd

[atarasi]

Not sure if Walmart sells full spectrum lighting. I buy mine at Home Depot or Lowe's. I usually look for the orange label that says "Sunshine" on it. I'm sure there are many other brands. If you buy a carton of them, it's a lot cheaper!

[Lloyd]

Ok. A while back I bought some 4' flourescent Philips "Natural Sunshine" lights from Home Depot for the aviary I'm making. Whether these are as good as the Exo-Terra lights...I have my doubts...but like I said earlier, it's difficult to know for sure if your not very knowledgable about lighting.