UV Lighting

Sharkbait1 · 08/10/2008, 11:16 AM

I know that there is some UV blocking properties in the glass/acrylic we use to shield MH. I have tried searching but either come up with serilizers or nothing as you can't do a two letter search for UV.
But here's my question.. might be a newb one but I'm still askin'.

Why do we block the UV? I just got some UV lights for my computer and thought hey lets see what they look like over the tank. We all know how things glow under just the atinics the UV is even cooler!

So why not use these as night time viewing lights as they really don't put much light out but things in the tank really pop.

I know there's some reason behind not using it I'm sure as I can't be the only computer geek with a fish tank that's tried this. But I can't find the answer.
So if someone could point me in the right direction it would be a big help.

pjf · 08/10/2008, 06:08 PM

If you go to Sanjayâ€™s Reef Lighting Pages (http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/) you will find that double-ended metal halide lamps generate UVA (<400nm), UVB (<315nm) and UVC (<280nm) in dangerous amounts. Aquarists who continue to operate their lamps with broken UV glass shields have killed their tank inhabitants with relatively brief exposures.

Iâ€™m not sure if anyone has reported an issue with the use of black light (~400nm). I have a blacklight LED from www.photonlight.com that generates fluorescence in a dark tank. Many aquarists use actinic (violet) T5 or VHO lamps to generate â€œpop.â€

Sharkbait1 · 08/10/2008, 07:14 PM

Thanks pfj.
I have actinics on the tank now and the UV bulbs were just a "let's see what this looks like" thing.
Thanks for the link. But now thinking about it for a day; Guess it would be like running your whole tank through a UV Sterilizer. Which would be bad, explaining why:
a. people don't do it
b. Tanks without UV shields are doomed.

inachu · 08/10/2008, 08:32 PM

It would be like introducing the ozone hole above the north pole into your fish tank. Microwave your fish to death.

08/10/2008, 11:16 AM	#1
Sharkbait1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ventura County Posts: 138	UV Lighting I know that there is some UV blocking properties in the glass/acrylic we use to shield MH. I have tried searching but either come up with serilizers or nothing as you can't do a two letter search for UV. But here's my question.. might be a newb one but I'm still askin'. Why do we block the UV? I just got some UV lights for my computer and thought hey lets see what they look like over the tank. We all know how things glow under just the atinics the UV is even cooler! So why not use these as night time viewing lights as they really don't put much light out but things in the tank really pop. I know there's some reason behind not using it I'm sure as I can't be the only computer geek with a fish tank that's tried this. But I can't find the answer. So if someone could point me in the right direction it would be a big help. __________________ Don't believe in anything you can't break If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's in English thank a veteran. Current Tank Info: BC 29 modded with 150MH and 2x32W Atinic. Stock return replaced w/ MJ1200 added Koralia 1 and Nano for more flow. Stock Filter cartrige modded. Chamber 1 LR Ruble Chamber 2 Saphire 29r Skimmer. Chamber 3 Purigen filter sock.

08/10/2008, 07:14 PM	#3
Sharkbait1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ventura County Posts: 138	Thanks pfj. I have actinics on the tank now and the UV bulbs were just a "let's see what this looks like" thing. Thanks for the link. But now thinking about it for a day; Guess it would be like running your whole tank through a UV Sterilizer. Which would be bad, explaining why: a. people don't do it b. Tanks without UV shields are doomed. __________________ Don't believe in anything you can't break If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's in English thank a veteran. Current Tank Info: BC 29 modded with 150MH and 2x32W Atinic. Stock return replaced w/ MJ1200 added Koralia 1 and Nano for more flow. Stock Filter cartrige modded. Chamber 1 LR Ruble Chamber 2 Saphire 29r Skimmer. Chamber 3 Purigen filter sock.

08/10/2008, 06:08 PM	#2
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	If you go to Sanjayâ€™s Reef Lighting Pages (http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/) you will find that double-ended metal halide lamps generate UVA (<400nm), UVB (<315nm) and UVC (<280nm) in dangerous amounts. Aquarists who continue to operate their lamps with broken UV glass shields have killed their tank inhabitants with relatively brief exposures. Iâ€™m not sure if anyone has reported an issue with the use of black light (~400nm). I have a blacklight LED from www.photonlight.com that generates fluorescence in a dark tank. Many aquarists use actinic (violet) T5 or VHO lamps to generate â€œpop.â€

08/10/2008, 08:32 PM	#4
inachu Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland, metro area Posts: 1,219	It would be like introducing the ozone hole above the north pole into your fish tank. Microwave your fish to death.