Using a UV Light for Lighting a Frontosa Tank

[nagukush]

Hi Friends,

One of my Friend here in India has the following lights for his frontosa tank -
The light fixture is one T8 6500K and one T12 UV tube.

Just wanted to request you friends to kindly guide me on the above lights -

1. T8 6500K - is this the Normal White Colored Light ?
2. T12 UV Tube - Is it safe to expose the Fish to Direct UV Light or is this something else?

Actually his fronts (burundis) look so beautiful in this lighting - they're so blue - Kindly have a look at this pic of his fronts -



So can I use a UV light too ? Kindly guide me on this friends...
Thanks and Regards
Kush

 

[jpappy789]

I believe 6500K has a more yellowish appearance than white which is normally around 10000K.

 

[nagukush]

So is UV Light safe in a Frontosa Tank ?

 

[jpappy789]

I would think so as it's been used with other tanks...but I'm not sure.

 

[nagukush]

But I've read that Fish should never be exposed to a UV Light directly as it can permanently Blind them or even kill them. Kindly advice.

 

[DrNo]

Big no if it is a full spectrum UV bulb. Every bulb puts off some amount of UV radiation; the full spectrum lamps however can cause skin disorders, blindness and other health conditions.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Yup. UV radiation is known for damaging cells by braking the cells chromosomes and causing the cell to malfunction if and when it is able reproduce. Why here is AZ we lead the nation in skin cancer as people just walk around without T-shirts or sun block. UV bulbs up close withing an inch are very effective in damaging single cell organisms and why it is used in water treatment plants to sterilize water for drinking. So at a distance of 12-24 inches from the bulb your fish are probubly OK for the long term give or take a few tears of their lives and eye sight. Id be more concerned about the retina cells damage to your eyes which you wouldn't notice until its too late, once their damaged its permanent. So if you notice that your eyes are always dilated and have trouble seeing in the dark, I would defiantly stop using the exposed UV bulb.

 

[Ajordan]

is there a chance that the UV in this scenario is actually what is commonly called a 'black light'? Isn't there a pretty significant difference between black lights and full UV bulbs used for sterilization?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_light

Any thoughts on a black light?

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Black lights are UV-A the longer wavelength of the UV spectrum which does not penetrate cell walls. It is UV-B & C the shorter end of the spectrum is what penetrates the cell walls and causes the chromosome and DNA damage, UVC causing the most damage and what you want in a sterilizer and what you don't want to use in your summer of love poster room. UVA is for posters and OK for fish too I suppose.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

The bulbs listed above by the author are T8 common GE daylight bulbs and T12 colored bulbs (purple) but are not UVC germicide bulbs which are unshielded and clear.

http://www.servicelighting.com/library/light_bulbs_fluorescent_t8_lighting.cfm

http://www.1000bulbs.com/4-ft.-T12-Colored-Tube-Guards/

http://www.pond-doctor.co.uk/bradshaws_ponds_pumps_0125.htm