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	Intermittant blacklight use bad for fish?
daddySEAL Enthusiast Posts: 221 Kudos: 68 Votes: 3 Registered: 04-Mar-2008	Edited by daddySEAL My new 6 foot tank has a hood capable of using multiple flourescent lights. If I used one of the spaces for a blacklight to be used intermittently, would it be harmful to the fish? (there will be no live plants in this tank) Could I use it along with the regular flourescent bulb at the same time to accent to colors of fish (temporarily)?
Posted 05-Aug-2008 17:52
longhairedgit Fish Guru Lord of the Beasts Posts: 2502 Kudos: 1778 Votes: 29 Registered: 21-Aug-2005	Edited by longhairedgit The intensity of blacklights is too hard for most reptiles let alone fish, you'd cause them eye problems, and degredation of the slime layer and dorsal surfaces, blanching, loss of osmosis etc. If you want try that sort of thing a balanced reptile bulb like those used for reptiles would be better,but still not a great idea. Uv induced tunours could be a possibility. Some fish take UV better than others, but IMHO its better not take the risk, I tried such things in my youth, a few times it even reversed the odd nutritional related deficiency, but since I have better mastered my trade I realise its much easier and safer to fix such issues nentirely nutritionally. While rainbowfish etc were fine with very short exposures, many other fish were not, developing cancer prematurely, though granted not that prematurely, but the death rate via cancer still increased. Theres a lot of evolutional difference in fish tolerances in this regard, most fish ritually habituaute to avoiding direct sunlight anyway, it gives away their position to predators from above and most water a few feet deep shields them from the worst effects of the light intensity, in aquaria that are less than 3 feet deep its not a good idea. Their natural exxposure tolerances would not be a mirror of even an hours daily exposure to a UV strip. Stick with non uv emitting tubes. Blacklights do not replicate the overall light emission of the sun anyway, they are a concentrated and far more harmful version with a very narrow light frequency. Its more like a desert sun than a tropical sun, and the damage much more intense. Even desert reptiles cant take it for long. A fishs UV blockers in the fats under the skin and scales wont be up to dealing with that in 99% of species. Pure UV blacklights dont really have a use in aquaculture or herpetology beyond aiding reptiles with MBD, and they are not the same as regular maintenance balanced reptile bulbs, and should be used for probably less than one hour a day even when actually needed in emergencies. Seen many reptiles in shocking skin and eye condition when kept under UVB blacklights for too long. Just choose a bluer light colour of bulb, they are available, try marine moonlights or similar. Just too powerful im afraid. Bit like a granny on a sunbed for too long, gonna get skin cancer, fact of life.
Posted 06-Aug-2008 00:23
poisonwaffle Mega Fish Posts: 1397 Kudos: 591 Registered: 11-Feb-2003	I had a blacklight on a tank with some Glo-Fish (and other danios, and some corydoras) for a few weeks... I only used the blacklight for max of 1/2 hour a day whilst showing off the glo-fish to friends and whatnot, but I took the blacklight off when the fish were noticeably less healthy after a few weeks. They lost a lot of color, were a little less active, were hiding a lot more often, etc. I'd stay away from blacklights on your tanks
Posted 06-Aug-2008 02:59
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	BLACK LIGHT If this is what you are referring to I certainly would not be using it in my tank at all. *Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info* Look here for my Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 06-Aug-2008 05:25
daddySEAL Enthusiast Posts: 221 Kudos: 68 Votes: 3 Registered: 04-Mar-2008	Edited by daddySEAL OK keithgh, It just sounded like an interesting idea. But nothing is worth hurting my fish, just to accentuate their colors. thanks, dS
Posted 15-Aug-2008 22:17


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