blacklight?

[PHISH]

hey all,
just out of curiousity, has anyone ever tried putting a blacklight bulb on their tank to help illuminate? I wonder if it would help make any irredescent scales or colors on fish stand out....if you have tried this feel free to respond, I'd like to hear about it or if it would have any adverse effects before I try it. thanks

steve

[OrionGirl]

Some shops I've been to had black lights on their marine stuff, but quite a few marine critters flouresce. Not sure if the same could be said for FW. The gravels, a few fish, and maybe some plants will likely flouresce, but the black light won't help any thing (ie, plants). I wouldn't plan on running the black light all the time, maybe occassionally for your viewing, or some nights when you will be able to watch (some cats and such might come out in the black light, similar to a red light).

[SimonWoodstock]

I read the moonlight post and did a search and found this one. Any suggestions of a light that would look nice in a freshwater. Of course, not for a full time light and something that will not raise the temp or drive the fish crazy.

I was thinking black or red like was mentioned. Also maybe a blue or green. Do fluorescent bulbs come in all those colors? Any experiences with any of these?

[blitzen25bm]

ive never seen colored flourscent except the black and the ones that glow bluish. you can put the colored saran wrap over the tank if you want it to light up in colors.

[tomm10]

ive never seen colored flourscent except the black and the ones that glow bluish. you can put the colored saran wrap over the tank if you want it to light up in colors.

On that note, I think you can actually get gels for fluorescent lights. You'd probably have to go somewhere that specialized in commercial lighting (not Home Depot or a lamp shop) but they are thin plastic tubes in different colors. Usually they're used to correct for the green hues that fluorescents show but you could probably find them for any color you want.

The benefit would be you could just put it over one bulb on an independent switch.