Will direct UV light harm corals??

[borinz]

Hi all,

Yesterday went sim lim n bought a CPU Light for night viewing of my tank.

It comes with alot of colours and i bought 1 which is UV colour.

Just to check if i shine directly into my tank will it harm my corals?

[ClOwNy_LoVeR]

bro i think it is not advisable because it kills everything good bacteria bad bacteria also kill.i think can kill some corals.other bro correct me if i am wrong thanks.

[borinz]

well. i'm not sure too.... but i think its just the colour called 'UV'. But if really harmful will sim lim square still sell them? Or its not to human but to corals?

[ClOwNy_LoVeR]

it is not harmful to human but maybe to some corals but i think it isn't advisable my 2cents

[borinz]

hmmm so u mean the colour of the tube will harm corals? any more bros here knows??

[ClOwNy_LoVeR]

not sure confirm with other bro ok.... haha

[borinz]

haha ok thanks bro..

[bubble_gum]

doesnt corals produce those luminous colors because the protect themselves from uv, no?

[borinz]

doesnt corals produce those luminous colors because the protect themselves from uv, no?

bro this i am not sure also... but wat i wish to find out was whether the light i bought(which is meant for CPU) and it stated 'UV' colour, will harm corals anot??

is the light same as those used for UV filter??

[mansiz]

UV rays are very harmful to human eyes and there are several cases that causes human eyes to become blind. If it is really UV tube, there will be a label stating keep out of human eyes when operating. Definately not suitable to put it barely, if not who will get a UV sterilizer for $100 ++ right? Btw I don't understand why you want to use UV light to shine on your corals? For photosynthesis? You will bleach them bro. If you wish to sterilise your tank water with UV ray, you need to get a UV steriliser, if not it won't be effective.

[Angel]

bro i think it is not advisable because it kills everything good bacteria bad bacteria also kill.i think can kill some corals.other bro correct me if i am wrong thanks.

Are you sure UV is doing what you had commented?

[tayl0r]

i dont think its the real UV light(of the same spectrum) , juz something that looks alike.

tryin to replicate actinic light ?

[borinz]

erm... i wan to use it for night viewing purpose. i buy this colour because i saw it was very dim n wun shock the corals when i switch it on. As for y i choose 'UV' colour because the corals colour will glow haha.. but there is not sign saying 'keep out of human eyes'. Anyway the light is called Cold Cathode Lamp.

[mansiz]

If you want to get a dim light, you can get a blue T8 tube. They are dim also. And looks nice too. But don't keep changing the timing of your lighting hours, your corals/live stock will not do well.

[borinz]

ok... but i jus wish to know if the kind of light i using now which is 'UV' colour, didn't state tat its a UV light. will it harm the corals?

[ClOwNy_LoVeR]

Are you sure UV is doing what you had commented?

ya UV light kills everything in its way

[Angel]

ya UV light kills everything in its way

Whoa! If it kills everything in its way then why do manufacturers sell them to the industry irrespective of marine or tropical fish keeping or even for pond.

Can enlighten me as I think I am missing something here?

[ClOwNy_LoVeR]

UV actually kills cells even on us.but only a bit.that's why a UV turbo twist thing is to kill bad bacteria but you will end up killing all kinds of bacteria.it has its goods and bads

cheers

[hongqixian]

Hi borinz,

the UV light you bought is only a decorative CPU light, and it should be either a very weak UV lamp or just a color that the manufacturer calls UV.

Ultraviolet light sterilizes by damaging the DNA of cells. However, a sufficiently high intensity found within the UV sterilizer is required to actually do enough killing.

Pls la, normal sunlight already contains quite a lot of UV and it's nonsense to say that it kills everything in its way. Yes it can kill, but you need strong enough UV.

So go ahead and shine away and enjoy your tank's nightlife . If that little UV really hurts (assuming that it is really a UV light and not some decorative neon color) then reflected sunlight on your tank would be killing your corals left and right already.

[borinz]

Hi borinz,

the UV light you bought is only a decorative CPU light, and it should be either a very weak UV lamp or just a color that the manufacturer calls UV.

Ultraviolet light sterilizes by damaging the DNA of cells. However, a sufficiently high intensity found within the UV sterilizer is required to actually do enough killing.

Pls la, normal sunlight already contains quite a lot of UV and it's nonsense to say that it kills everything in its way. Yes it can kill, but you need strong enough UV.

So go ahead and shine away and enjoy your tank's nightlife . If that little UV really hurts (assuming that it is really a UV light and not some decorative neon color) then reflected sunlight on your tank would be killing your corals left and right already.

Thank bro!!

hmmm think u really have a point there... haha am going to start shining it tonight!! thanks!!

[hongqixian]

You're very welcome