Is it OK to use a blacklight in a saltwater aquarium

[007]

Is it OK to use a blacklight in a saltwater aquariums :flamer:

[Isis]

I have never heard of anyone ever having ill effects, then again I am not I have really know anyone to use one. Don't think there should be a problem, but you could always test the idea first on a smaller tank...

[Isis]

I know they aren't the same, but blue LEDs are pretty poplur for "night light" and simulating the moonlight. They were being sold at MACNA last year for cheaper then what you will find at the store..

[Isis]

The one at MACNA had only one outlet, but I guess there are always crappy products out there too.

[Chris]

I have a set from the store, but they're really crappy. It has four outlets and at any given time only two of them are on. You can wiggle them and the other two will come on then three will turn off :roll: I got tired of messing with it so I unplugged it and exiled it to the pile of mush behind my tank.

I think I had one of those when I was smaller... Milton Bradley just doesn't make their games like they used to huh? :confused: :lol2:

[Isis]

I don't think it will have the intended effect, of course you could always try to train your fish into telling you what design they would like to fall asleep to. That is if they had eyelids.

[Chris]

On a serious note.... blacklights emit UV radiation and this is bad. Longterm effects can lead to a shortened lifespan of your fish by way of organ failure and such. Any biology major should be able to confirm that considering the same logic is what leads to skin cancer in us human folk. 8)

But... I haven't seen any analysis about how much UV smaller blacklights produce other than knowing they're in the UV-A range, while UV-B is worse for you healthwise, and UV-C is used for sterilizers in our tanks... so who knows.

Short term... i'd say have your fun and play with it. Long term i'd say don't make plans to keep a blacklight in your tank.

Just my opinion. 8)

[007]

Thanks for the advice I think I'll stay on the safe and avoid the blacklights :flamer: