Is it bad to have MH light shine on me 5 hrs a day?

EmasCterE · 05/01/2006, 04:41 PM

Hi guys,

I'm currently trying to set up a 12G Aquapod on my desk at work. I've purchased the JBJ Viper 70W for my lighting needs because I love the look of MH and I figure that this would help keep the tank temps low. Today I started wondering though: is the overspray of the metal halides bad for me? Since metal halides are trying to imitate the sun, I'm wondering if I will get sunburnt with this thing on my desk. Or if it's bad for my vision in the long run. I've set this thing up on my desk right now with no water and the light definitely sprays all over the place.

If it is bad for me, I will relocate it off my desk to a shelf nearby. I'd prefer it on my desk though.

Comments are welcome.

xtrstangx · 05/01/2006, 04:43 PM

Shouldn't be a problem.. I wouldn't stare straight into them, even though they aren't nearly as bright as the sun.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 05/01/2006, 04:44 PM

ummm, only if you are staring down the bulb.

EmasCterE · 05/01/2006, 04:46 PM

Thanks guys. I have metal halides on my tank at home but those suckers are covered up. Figured I ask just in case. Ya never know.....

EmasCterE · 05/01/2006, 10:32 PM

Anyone else care to comment?

xdusty6920 · 05/01/2006, 11:00 PM

im not for sure but the fact that ive been sunburnt by mh's before tells me they shouldnt be taken too lightly.

UrbanSage · 05/01/2006, 11:41 PM

I would think it can be unhealthy for you.
Sticking your arm under a HQI bulb will make the skin crawl

My Site

EmasCterE · 05/02/2006, 12:03 AM

I've burnt my tricep on a hot MH bulb before so I know it can be dangerous. I still have the scar to prove it.

Keep em coming. I'll most likely be sitting in front of my tank for 6-7 hrs a day working on my computer. I'm going to play with the viper a bit more tomorrow. Maybe if I lower the bulb a bit and lean it towards the back.... while wearing sunshades and long sleeves....

PatrickJ · 05/02/2006, 12:14 AM

Possible UV-A and B radiation, could be harmful to your eyes. I worked at a LFS and I tanned under these guys from working under them...my girlfriend though I was tanning in a tanning bed.

Remeber, some corals get burnt by UV radiation by metal halides in our own tanks, and those corals come from the wild in an enviroment where UV is abundent already.

melev · 05/02/2006, 03:40 AM

Go look at your eyes closely in the mirror. Check them very carefully. If you develop coralline over the pupils that cloud your vision, you may have a problem.

Good question, actually. Some lights come with small deflectors to direct the light downward and avoid the overspread.

Azurel · 05/02/2006, 07:27 AM

SE bulbs are fine because the glas bulb part is supposed to be a UV protective glass shield. The DE bulbs have to have a UV glass protective shield because they are just the lighting filiment with out an outer bulb. So if you have a SE your fine, if you have a DE with out a UV protective glass sheild you can do damage to your eyes and skin.

Cutiewitbooty · 05/02/2006, 07:38 AM

yeah i have the DE Mh over my tank and there is a UV glass sheild. If there wasn't it would probally end up killing off my tank. It should be safe as long as you have the glass or if you hav the SE bulb you don't have to worry about it.

raskal311 · 05/02/2006, 08:48 AM

Most of those glass shield are only tempered glass and will only filter out so much UV.

RichConley · 05/02/2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Azurel
SE bulbs are fine because the glas bulb part is supposed to be a UV protective glass shield. The DE bulbs have to have a UV glass protective shield because they are just the lighting filiment with out an outer bulb. So if you have a SE your fine, if you have a DE with out a UV protective glass sheild you can do damage to your eyes and skin.

MH bulbs dont have a filament. They have an arc tube, which is like a fluoro bulb almost.

As to SE vs DE, I'd almost think DE is safer. I have a hard time believing that the paper thin outer envelope on an SE bulb blocks more UV than the 3/32-1/8" UV shield thats typically used to block DE bulbs.

Also, some of the DE bulbs are now being made with their outer envelope made of UV glass. (DEs have 2 layers too, the outer layer is just MUCH closer to the arc tube)

EmasCterE · 05/02/2006, 11:37 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. This seems to be a question where I'm getting a mixed bag of responses. The consensus seems to be that having the tank on the desk will not pose any health risks if the UV glass is doing it's job. Why then is that member who worked at a fish store getting tanned?

How about the eyes? I know that if I look at my MH bulb at home, I'm blinded for a short amount of time afterwards.

Azurel · 05/02/2006, 12:21 PM

I have an open top on my tank with no canopy so the MH and VHO shine through out the living room, I have had it this way for 4-5 years and have had no issues with my eyes or skin.

Cutiewitbooty · 05/02/2006, 12:44 PM

yeah my set up is an open top and my MH/PC fixture floods light into my livingroom. I haven't noticed any tanning

melev · 05/02/2006, 12:48 PM

I would think Sanjay Joshi would know the answer to this. I'll see if I can locate him for this thread. He's the lighting expert for our hobby.

PatrickJ · 05/02/2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EmasCterE
Why then is that member who worked at a fish store getting tanned?

People who do a lot of arc welding get tanned too, if they have no protection on there skin. Granted arc welding has much more UV radiation than a metal halide. Metal halides are not really designed to be safe. That's why you can stare at them all day.

I once saw this really cool expirement, where a Balck shirt was left outside in direct sunlight for 3 weeks. It was grey white when they got it back.

Tanning beds in a since use the same bulbs as our tanks. VHO. Yes, you can tan under your 10,000K's, as funny as that sounds.

To be tanned by a metal halide, you have to be under them often, in my example, a busy fish store, retrieving corals for 8 hours a day.

Most computer monitors put out UV radiation, unless you have a LCD monitor, which puts out less than one microwatt of UVA-B.

IMO, you should construct a fully enclosed hood, to protect yourself.

Azurel · 05/02/2006, 02:08 PM

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/radhlth/urburns.html

Here is some good info....The SE bulb the outer glass does filter out the UV at least that is it's purpose......At least that what it states here....I still haven't found anything concrete though.....

View Poll Results: IS it bad to have Metal Halides shine on me for long periods of time?
Yes	9	31.03%
No	7	24.14%
I dunno but I'd also like to find out!	13	44.83%
Voters: 29. You may not vote on this poll

05/01/2006, 04:41 PM	#1
EmasCterE Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 408	Is it bad to have MH light shine on me 5 hrs a day? Hi guys, I'm currently trying to set up a 12G Aquapod on my desk at work. I've purchased the JBJ Viper 70W for my lighting needs because I love the look of MH and I figure that this would help keep the tank temps low. Today I started wondering though: is the overspray of the metal halides bad for me? Since metal halides are trying to imitate the sun, I'm wondering if I will get sunburnt with this thing on my desk. Or if it's bad for my vision in the long run. I've set this thing up on my desk right now with no water and the light definitely sprays all over the place. If it is bad for me, I will relocate it off my desk to a shelf nearby. I'd prefer it on my desk though. Comments are welcome.

05/01/2006, 04:44 PM	#3
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	ummm, only if you are staring down the bulb. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

05/01/2006, 11:41 PM	#7
UrbanSage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tea, SD Posts: 1,657	I would think it can be unhealthy for you. Sticking your arm under a HQI bulb will make the skin crawl My Site __________________ You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Current Tank Info: 270 gallon reef.

05/02/2006, 12:14 AM	#9
PatrickJ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Luling, La Posts: 587	Possible UV-A and B radiation, could be harmful to your eyes. I worked at a LFS and I tanned under these guys from working under them...my girlfriend though I was tanning in a tanning bed. Remeber, some corals get burnt by UV radiation by metal halides in our own tanks, and those corals come from the wild in an enviroment where UV is abundent already. __________________ I skim wet, therefore I am. Current Tank Info: 120 Monster Last edited by PatrickJ; 05/02/2006 at 12:26 AM.

05/01/2006, 04:43 PM	#2
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	Shouldn't be a problem.. I wouldn't stare straight into them, even though they aren't nearly as bright as the sun.

05/01/2006, 04:46 PM	#4
EmasCterE Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 408	Thanks guys. I have metal halides on my tank at home but those suckers are covered up. Figured I ask just in case. Ya never know.....

05/01/2006, 10:32 PM	#5
EmasCterE Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 408	Anyone else care to comment?

05/01/2006, 11:00 PM	#6
xdusty6920 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 2,261	im not for sure but the fact that ive been sunburnt by mh's before tells me they shouldnt be taken too lightly.

05/02/2006, 12:03 AM	#8
EmasCterE Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 408	I've burnt my tricep on a hot MH bulb before so I know it can be dangerous. I still have the scar to prove it. Keep em coming. I'll most likely be sitting in front of my tank for 6-7 hrs a day working on my computer. I'm going to play with the viper a bit more tomorrow. Maybe if I lower the bulb a bit and lean it towards the back.... while wearing sunshades and long sleeves....

05/02/2006, 03:40 AM	#10
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Go look at your eyes closely in the mirror. Check them very carefully. If you develop coralline over the pupils that cloud your vision, you may have a problem. Good question, actually. Some lights come with small deflectors to direct the light downward and avoid the overspread.

05/02/2006, 07:27 AM	#11
Azurel Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Kalamazoo,MI Posts: 2,854	SE bulbs are fine because the glas bulb part is supposed to be a UV protective glass shield. The DE bulbs have to have a UV glass protective shield because they are just the lighting filiment with out an outer bulb. So if you have a SE your fine, if you have a DE with out a UV protective glass sheild you can do damage to your eyes and skin. __________________ Official soldier of the Zoa patrol/ The Zoa Patrol does not exist in public or privet....

05/02/2006, 07:38 AM	#12
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	yeah i have the DE Mh over my tank and there is a UV glass sheild. If there wasn't it would probally end up killing off my tank. It should be safe as long as you have the glass or if you hav the SE bulb you don't have to worry about it. __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~

05/02/2006, 08:48 AM	#13
raskal311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Orange County Posts: 5,274	Most of those glass shield are only tempered glass and will only filter out so much UV.

05/02/2006, 11:37 AM	#15
EmasCterE Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 408	Thanks for the replies guys. This seems to be a question where I'm getting a mixed bag of responses. The consensus seems to be that having the tank on the desk will not pose any health risks if the UV glass is doing it's job. Why then is that member who worked at a fish store getting tanned? How about the eyes? I know that if I look at my MH bulb at home, I'm blinded for a short amount of time afterwards.

05/02/2006, 12:21 PM	#16
Azurel Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Kalamazoo,MI Posts: 2,854	I have an open top on my tank with no canopy so the MH and VHO shine through out the living room, I have had it this way for 4-5 years and have had no issues with my eyes or skin. __________________ Official soldier of the Zoa patrol/ The Zoa Patrol does not exist in public or privet....

05/02/2006, 12:44 PM	#17
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	yeah my set up is an open top and my MH/PC fixture floods light into my livingroom. I haven't noticed any tanning __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~

05/02/2006, 12:48 PM	#18
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I would think Sanjay Joshi would know the answer to this. I'll see if I can locate him for this thread. He's the lighting expert for our hobby.

05/02/2006, 02:08 PM	#20
Azurel Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Kalamazoo,MI Posts: 2,854	http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/radhlth/urburns.html Here is some good info....The SE bulb the outer glass does filter out the UV at least that is it's purpose......At least that what it states here....I still haven't found anything concrete though..... __________________ Official soldier of the Zoa patrol/ The Zoa Patrol does not exist in public or privet....