Actinic Lighting for FW tank ok? Current 36" dual satellite

[sushiray]

I just received my Current lighting system - it has 2 double bulbs - daylight 6700K/10,000K & evening 420/460K, beautiful lighting! they are bright during the day & 2nd set of lights a bluer glow for evenings.

So my Q? is:

Is it ok to use the evening 420/460K lights on all day? I heard that this is not good for their eyes.

thx


p.s. got a great deal on model #1015 for $79 brand new refurbished.

 

[sostoudt]

black lights are supposed to be bad for the eyes. never heard that about actinics but theres two schools of thought. the blacklights put out uv light and thats why there bad, while actinic put out light still in the blue spectrum, but not so far that its quite uv.
the other school of thought is that blacklights are bad because the lights blue it bad and also makes the uv exposure to the retina worse. most animals eyes dont recognize blue light as well as the red spectrum, so the light may be very bright but your eyes are dilated like night vision.

people have been using actinics for years on reefs with no ill effects to my knowledge. ive also talked with the people at glo-fish which recommend viewing with a black light, they say the claim that black lights damages the fishes eyes is unsubstantiated.


i would atleast think actinic is safe for a couple hours a day, thats with only them on, actinics are safe when other light is on(as that would be similar to the sunlight).

 

[sushiray]

black lights are supposed to be bad for the eyes. never heard that about actinics but theres two schools of thought. the blacklights put out uv light and thats why there bad, while actinic put out light still in the blue spectrum, but not so far that its quite uv.
the other school of thought is that blacklights are bad because the lights blue it bad and also makes the uv exposure to the retina worse. most animals eyes dont recognize blue light as well as the red spectrum, so the light may be very bright but your eyes are dilated like night vision.

people have been using actinics for years on reefs with no ill effects to my knowledge. ive also talked with the people at glo-fish which recommend viewing with a black light, they say the claim that black lights damages the fishes eyes is unsubstantiated.


i would atleast think actinic is safe for a couple hours a day, thats with only them on, actinics are safe when other light is on(as that would be similar to the sunlight).

thks. I am using the white lights for day viewing & the blue actinic lights for night viewing with them off when not viewing. So the actinics are ok if I use them for a few hrs. but if I leave them on thru the nite I should still be ok, right?

the lights are made to be 24hr. but are mainly geared for marine life corral live rock but may be used for FW.

at night I just sit & stare with the actinics on, it's so soothing & peaceful. I have discus & their colors look nice.

 

[sostoudt]

thks. I am using the white lights for day viewing & the blue actinic lights for night viewing with them off when not viewing. So the actinics are ok if I use them for a few hrs. but if I leave them on thru the nite I should still be ok, right?

the lights are made to be 24hr. but are mainly geared for marine life corral live rock but may be used for FW.

at night I just sit & stare with the actinics on, it's so soothing & peaceful. I have discus & their colors look nice.

actually actinics arent made to be 24 hr lighting, as they are too bright and the fish wont recognize the change between night and day, atleast not for the first few days eventually they will adapt and find some period to rest.

but even the glofish company dont recommend actinic for all night time viewing as fish need a dark period to regulate circadian rhythm(they just say fish need sleep but this is what they are actually refering too). animals just arent as alert or normal if there circadian rhythm is messed up.

moonlights are made for all night viewing, they are only 1 or 2 watts(depending on tank size) anything brighter then that is just to bright. Ive tried to use a 9 watt t5 on a 90 gallon it was way to bright fish were up, even tried covering it with opaque tape but still to bright.

 

[sushiray]

actually actinics arent made to be 24 hr lighting, as they are too bright and the fish wont recognize the change between night and day, atleast not for the first few days eventually they will adapt and find some period to rest.

but even the glofish company dont recommend actinic for all night time viewing as fish need a dark period to regulate circadian rhythm(they just say fish need sleep but this is what they are actually refering too). animals just arent as alert or normal if there circadian rhythm is messed up.

moonlights are made for all night viewing, they are only 1 or 2 watts(depending on tank size) anything brighter then that is just to bright. Ive tried to use a 9 watt t5 on a 90 gallon it was way to bright fish were up, even tried covering it with opaque tape but still to bright.

thks! I don't plan on leaving them on all day & all nite, just in case 1nite I forget or I fall asleep watching & forget. but will be turning them on only for viewing (since I don't have any plants anyway). the blue lites are a nice buy you're right, a bit brite to be on all nite. they needs their rest time & so must I go to sleep! good nite.