Is a blacklight the same as actinic?

[jimrawr]

Are actinics and blacklights the same? Would the have the same effect visually on coral?

 

[bertoni]

Black light is UV. I personally wouldn't use it on a reef tank, but it might not be that damaging if it's low wattage. Actinic light is just blue spectrum, visible light.

 

[jimrawr]

Is there an actinic bulb that is fitted like a normal bulb? My SunPod doesnt have actinic but I would like to have them, and I am thinking of just clamping on one of those desk lamps to the side of my tank with an actinic bulb..

not sure if they make bulbs like that though

 

[bertoni]

I'm not sure what you mean by a normal bulb. Do you mean one with a base like an incandescent bulb? I've haven't seen an actinic like that.

 

[jimrawr]

Well I mean like a normal light bulb not made for fish tanks. The desk lamp I have is like that, so it can take a compact flourescent.. do they make CF actinics?

 

[jimrawr]

This is what I mean.. the bulb must connect like this

 

[bertoni]

I've never seen an actinic like that, but some manufacturer might make one.

 

[reefshadow]

Yes, Coralife makes a compact fluorescent with a regular socket base. I think they come in 10 and 20 watt; 10k, actinic or 50/50. The ballast is built into the base.

 

[reefshadow]

Btw, I've also put a couple of blacklights over the tank after lights out just to see what it looks like. WOW, It makes some corals fluoresce, looks like a 60's blacklight poster. Interestingly some of the corals I would have expected to glow the most didn't and others that don't really have great colour otherwise looked awesome! Not sure what long term effects wou be though.

 

[TekCat]

what kind of blacklight did you use? what wattage?

 

[reefshadow]

They were just typical 40 watt 4 footers. You can pick them up at walmart, I've even seen them at Lowes, like 20 bucks each or something. They come in the type of fixture where you can't really change the bulb, I think they are meant to be disposable.

It's really cool to see what they do, don't know if it's safe long term though. Green, pink and orange seems to fluoresce the most (like neon!!!), it was weird how some you would expect to glow didn't.

 

[reefshadow]

Oh, yeah, I don't really think that even if they are safe they would be good to supplement other lights. The effect seemed to rely on the room being dark, but would be cool for an hour or two after lights off (if safe).

 

[TekCat]

reefshadow, for how long did you use them? any adverse effects on corals?

 

[reefshadow]

I used them for about a half hour, lol. We just had them laying around and so I decided to check out the tank underneath them on a whim. Nothing seemed to mind, but that's not very long