mh lights okay for eyes to look at?

nemofish2217 · 02/05/2011, 11:16 AM

I've got a 135 cube that I am going to be setting up, and my originally intention was to use mh pendants over it. However, I have a six month old and I am concerned about her staring up into the lights since from her level she would be able to see them fairly easily. Now, I know not to look at the lights for too long, but I'm not sure she would. Can mh cause damage by looking at them for too long? Should I just go with T5s? Any articles or ideas? Thanks,

phaedrus1 · 02/05/2011, 11:22 AM

Looking at a DE MH which is not shielded, meaning has UV limiting glass over it, which any good fixture will have, is definitely dangerous. If shielded properly I wouldn't think it is any more of an issue than staring at any other intense light source.

username in use · 02/05/2011, 11:29 AM

how about a canopy to remove any chance that your daughter will stare at a high powered light source?

Porcupinepuffer · 02/05/2011, 11:30 AM

Yes. DE MH needs to have the proper glass the shield out the UV rays. The SE ones are ok... If this all checks out, the sun will do far more damage then these lights.

nemofish2217 · 02/05/2011, 11:34 AM

If I went DE, then it would definitely have a glass shield over it, for one because of the splash factor and for two, because of the UV issue. I'm assuming that any glass that comes with DE fixtures is designed to filter out the UV radiation?

I really don't want a canopy... never been a huge fan... my current tank has T5s and that is what I could do on this one. This is going to be FO, so that is why it doesn't really matter to me how powerful the lights are... I just want good color for the fish, but I like the shimmer from the halides...

But, make no mistake about it, my daughter's safety is concern #1...

phaedrus1 · 02/05/2011, 11:36 AM

As long as the fixture is from a reputable manufacturer it should have the right glass.

username in use · 02/05/2011, 12:09 PM

Led's would give you the shimmer and you could focus the light more on the tank and it wouldn't be an issue for someone short looking up. You could actually mount them low enough that she probably couldn't even see the fixture. They don't need to be powerful if its a fish only so you don't need a really expensive setup.

nemofish2217 · 02/05/2011, 12:53 PM

sounds like a cool idea... the main reason I hadn't really considered LEDs was because of the cost... do you have any links/ slash suggestions of fixtures that aren't quite as elaborate or expensive as some of the ones I've seen? Thanks

username in use · 02/05/2011, 01:38 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/Marinelan...FILDFX-vi.html

remember, if there are no corals you don't need really intense lights. Even if you got LED's that were twice the cost of metal halides up front, consider your long term cost of electricity and bulb replacement.

aleonn · 02/05/2011, 01:47 PM

Looking up at any intense light--whether there's UV or not--for a prolonged amount of time is unsafe. A 6 month old may be mesmerized by bright lights and tend to stare. A canopy would be best, or something to block light from leaking from the side of the fixture would be ideal. JMO though.

nemofish2217 · 02/05/2011, 02:09 PM

Do you know of anywhere I could find some pics of that Marineland in action to get idea of brightness/color?

02/05/2011, 11:29 AM	#3
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	how about a canopy to remove any chance that your daughter will stare at a high powered light source? __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

02/05/2011, 11:30 AM	#4
Porcupinepuffer Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 299	Yes. DE MH needs to have the proper glass the shield out the UV rays. The SE ones are ok... If this all checks out, the sun will do far more damage then these lights. __________________ 120g AGA~145lbs Haitian LR~DA RK2 Controler~2x 14k 250 DE MH's~2x Ovrflows~96W Actnics~Mag 12 Rturn~Modified BKing 180 Skimer~Phsban Ractr~GEO Kalk Ractr~Powerheads:MP40w/Seio 820/modified Psweep 270 Current Tank Info: 120 AGA

02/05/2011, 12:09 PM	#7
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Led's would give you the shimmer and you could focus the light more on the tank and it wouldn't be an issue for someone short looking up. You could actually mount them low enough that she probably couldn't even see the fixture. They don't need to be powerful if its a fish only so you don't need a really expensive setup. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

02/05/2011, 01:38 PM	#9
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	http://www.marinedepot.com/Marinelan...FILDFX-vi.html remember, if there are no corals you don't need really intense lights. Even if you got LED's that were twice the cost of metal halides up front, consider your long term cost of electricity and bulb replacement. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

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02/05/2011, 11:16 AM	#1
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	mh lights okay for eyes to look at? I've got a 135 cube that I am going to be setting up, and my originally intention was to use mh pendants over it. However, I have a six month old and I am concerned about her staring up into the lights since from her level she would be able to see them fairly easily. Now, I know not to look at the lights for too long, but I'm not sure she would. Can mh cause damage by looking at them for too long? Should I just go with T5s? Any articles or ideas? Thanks,

02/05/2011, 11:22 AM	#2
phaedrus1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New York Posts: 58	Looking at a DE MH which is not shielded, meaning has UV limiting glass over it, which any good fixture will have, is definitely dangerous. If shielded properly I wouldn't think it is any more of an issue than staring at any other intense light source.

02/05/2011, 11:34 AM	#5
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	If I went DE, then it would definitely have a glass shield over it, for one because of the splash factor and for two, because of the UV issue. I'm assuming that any glass that comes with DE fixtures is designed to filter out the UV radiation? I really don't want a canopy... never been a huge fan... my current tank has T5s and that is what I could do on this one. This is going to be FO, so that is why it doesn't really matter to me how powerful the lights are... I just want good color for the fish, but I like the shimmer from the halides... But, make no mistake about it, my daughter's safety is concern #1...

02/05/2011, 11:36 AM	#6
phaedrus1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New York Posts: 58	As long as the fixture is from a reputable manufacturer it should have the right glass.

02/05/2011, 12:53 PM	#8
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	sounds like a cool idea... the main reason I hadn't really considered LEDs was because of the cost... do you have any links/ slash suggestions of fixtures that aren't quite as elaborate or expensive as some of the ones I've seen? Thanks

02/05/2011, 01:47 PM	#10
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Looking up at any intense light--whether there's UV or not--for a prolonged amount of time is unsafe. A 6 month old may be mesmerized by bright lights and tend to stare. A canopy would be best, or something to block light from leaking from the side of the fixture would be ideal. JMO though.

02/05/2011, 02:09 PM	#11
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	Do you know of anywhere I could find some pics of that Marineland in action to get idea of brightness/color?