Black lights?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19831
Printed Date: December 01 2025 at 8:41pm
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Topic: Black lights?
Posted By: bbauman
Subject: Black lights?
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 11:41am
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Has anyone tried black lights on their aquarium? I'm just curious how certain corals or fish would look. I'd love to hear thoughts/opinions as well as anyone that has actually tried it. Thanks! ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Replies:
Posted By: sukie
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 11:51am
I think you should try it! Add it to your moonlights system.  Tell us how it goes!! ------------- http://sukie.mt-wudan.com/ - My Blog |
Posted By: Debbles
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 11:55am
Ditto!!!  ------------- Yes Mikey...I still have fins!!! |
sukie wrote:Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 12:06pm
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I've heard they can make the corals flouresce. We were running 3-25watt blue bulbs on our tank (120 gallon) as moonlights, my son replaced them with low wattage incandescent black lights and there was not enough light for even moonlighting. It may work but would take more wattage to tell.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 12:15pm
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I don't know if I have a fixture at home to try anymore, but I had a nice little flourescent fixture at one point years ago that I used in my room. I'll have to see if I have one. So no one has ever tried this before other than mike? ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 12:20pm
| This sounds like a question for Adam Blundell .... |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 12:37pm
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...Thanks Shane
The black light will make some of your corals fluoresce. However, blue light will make more corals fluoresce than the black light will. What would be cool is to not have blue light, just black light, which would certainly make your tank look different.
However... it is pretty tough to get enough blacklack to stimulate the coral tissue. Most commercial black lights are great for making posters and plastic glow, but they don't have the umph (is that a word) to make corals glow. You would be better to add more blue lights, or even try some different types of blue lights (closer to light blue or closer to purple).
Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 12:46pm
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So a more proper use would be a nano? ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 1:16pm
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Yes, but I think if you put up a pc actinic bulb you'll be more pleased than with a black light.
I've put the black light over my corals, but I haven't been that impressed with it.
Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: August 10 2007 at 4:25pm
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Thanks Adam. ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Jhamb
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 9:17pm
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I used to have a 36 watt blacklight flourecent and it was actually kinda cool. The corals that stood out were the tips af my galaxia, GSP, Open brain, octopus coral, and my torch coral. I thouth that it looked really cool but I just held it up to the tank. ------------- Jeremy 40B INW USAF |