Anyone try using a blacklight
- Thread starter John27
- Start date
pjf
Premium Member
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Super Actinic
You may want to first see what your tank looks like with one of these inexpensive LED lights: http://www.photonlight.com/UV-Ultra...ED-Lights-p/uv-ultraviolet-led-blacklight.htm
I have the purple 405nm wavelength LED. At night, some of my corals and anemones glow green under this light. Unfortunately, visible light tends to wash out much of the effects of blacklight. Since my tank already has enough green coloration, a blacklight is not a priority for me.
Under visible light, one of my anemones is white with beautiful purple tips. Under blacklight, it is a ghoulish green. I prefer to see this anemone under visible light.
To be fair, I have heard of great results with the UVL Super Actinic T5 and VHO lamps. These lamps have a 420nm main peak and a smaller 405nm peak. They also have a slight 365nm peak so use a hood. Since I live in the Rocky Mountains at 7500 feet elevation, I feel I already have enough UV exposure. Let me know how the UVL Super Actinic works out.
UVL Super Actinic
You may want to first see what your tank looks like with one of these inexpensive LED lights: http://www.photonlight.com/UV-Ultra...ED-Lights-p/uv-ultraviolet-led-blacklight.htm
I have the purple 405nm wavelength LED. At night, some of my corals and anemones glow green under this light. Unfortunately, visible light tends to wash out much of the effects of blacklight. Since my tank already has enough green coloration, a blacklight is not a priority for me.
Under visible light, one of my anemones is white with beautiful purple tips. Under blacklight, it is a ghoulish green. I prefer to see this anemone under visible light.
To be fair, I have heard of great results with the UVL Super Actinic T5 and VHO lamps. These lamps have a 420nm main peak and a smaller 405nm peak. They also have a slight 365nm peak so use a hood. Since I live in the Rocky Mountains at 7500 feet elevation, I feel I already have enough UV exposure. Let me know how the UVL Super Actinic works out.
Last edited:
pjf
Premium Member
4-Part Series
4-Part Series
Beginning in September 2006, Dana Riddle wrote a series of 4 articles on coral fluorescence (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/9/aafeature). The articles contain color photographs of corals fluorescing under blue or UVA light. You might read these articles to see how you can reproduce the same effects.
My only caution is that I do not believe that the corals pictured in the articles were subjected to continuous UVA exposure. Perhaps they were exposed to UVA light only during photography. The 4th article warns that UVA can induce photoinhibition of corals.
4-Part Series
Beginning in September 2006, Dana Riddle wrote a series of 4 articles on coral fluorescence (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/9/aafeature). The articles contain color photographs of corals fluorescing under blue or UVA light. You might read these articles to see how you can reproduce the same effects.
My only caution is that I do not believe that the corals pictured in the articles were subjected to continuous UVA exposure. Perhaps they were exposed to UVA light only during photography. The 4th article warns that UVA can induce photoinhibition of corals.
