This review dives into the Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED strip light, focusing on its installation and effectiveness in upgrading a Cuban knight anole's terrarium. The existing setup, a custom-built arboreal enclosure, suffered from inadequate lighting, hindering the growth of the resident plants. This upgrade aims to improve both the anole's environment and the health of its flora by supplementing existing UV lighting with the Arcadia Jungle Dawn's specialized plant-focused spectrum. The review details the straightforward installation process, highlighting the ease of use and compact design of the LED strip. Its integration with pre-existing Arcadia equipment is also showcased.Beyond the primary focus on the Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED, the review also briefly updates viewers on a parallel project: the construction of a bioactive terrarium for a ball python. This secondary project offers a glimpse into the reviewer's broader work in terrarium creation and highlights some of the common challenges encountered during such endeavors. The ultimate goal is to provide a comprehensive look at both the successful implementation of the Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED and the ongoing progress on other reptile habitat projects.
Pros And Cons
- Small and sleek unit
- Can be daisy chained with other Arcadia lights
- Provides visual light to improve plant growth and animal well-being
Read more: Top 5 Turtle Terrariums: Reptile Habitats Reviewed
Terrarium Setup and Castro's Home
This video focuses on upgrading a Cuban knight anole's (Castro) terrarium. The existing enclosure, a three-by-three-by-one-and-a-half-foot arboreal terrarium, is a custom-built structure. It features various plants, but the lighting is currently inadequate, lacking specialized plant lighting.
The current setup uses only UV lighting for Castro, resulting in some plants not thriving. The goal is to improve plant health and enhance Castro's environment with the addition of the Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED strip.
Unboxing and Initial Impressions of the Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED
The Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED strip arrives in a sleek box. It's described as a compact unit, measuring approximately 30 centimeters and boasting 15 watts. The package includes mounting brackets suitable for wooden enclosures and a daisy-chain cable for connecting multiple units.
The reviewer mentions skipping the instruction booklet, focusing instead on the installation. The brackets are designed to securely attach the light to the enclosure ceiling, while the included power cable allows for easy plugging or daisy-chaining to other Arcadia units.
Installation and Initial Observations
The installation process involves screwing the brackets to the terrarium's ceiling and then sliding the light unit into place. Because the existing terrarium houses a T5 Arcadia unit, the reviewer utilizes the daisy-chain feature to avoid running a separate power cord.
The installed Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED appears to provide adequate brightness, without being overly glaring. It is connected to the T5 lighting for power via daisy chaining, simplifying the setup.
Update on Other Projects: The Ball Python Enclosure
The video includes an update on a separate project: the construction of a bioactive enclosure for a ball python. There have been delays due to issues with a previously ordered terrarium trim.
The original trim arrived damaged, and a replacement was sent, only to be the wrong size. After numerous delays, a new trim finally arrived and a new terrarium is ordered.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED is successfully installed and appears to be a worthwhile upgrade for the Cuban knight anole's terrarium. The reviewer plans to monitor the plants' growth and potentially adjust the substrate.
Overall, the Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED is praised for its ease of installation and brightness. Future videos will focus on additional terrarium projects, including the ball python enclosure and other hardscape setups.