Using reptile bulbs to supplment UV?

[PinkPunisher]

Has anyone ever done this? I'm curious if anyone has considered using reptile UVB bulbs to add UV to their tank without costing a fortune. I'm not sure what range of UV lighting is safe for corals/fish and if these would surpass that. I know adding 'true' UV to LEDS helps with colours of corals and that it exists in MH lighting where we see a lot of great colours.

For more information here are two reptile UV bulb light spectrums to look at and compare with. I would have preffered if the bulbs used had of both been ZooMed as they're a higher quality bulb than the Exo-Terras but the ZooMed 10.0 spectral graph was from a bulb after 10 months of use. I've included the link as well for a larger picture of the graph.

ZooMed ReptiSun 5.0

http://www.testudo.cc/Media/Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0.pdf

Exo-Terra Repti Glo 8.0

http://www.testudo.cc/Media/R.C.Hagen Repti Glo 8.pdf

Now I know the ZooMed bulb is T5, though I'm uncertain of Exo-Terra has switched from T8 yet. Would love to hear peoples opinions on the topic and get a interesting thread going here!

 

[sirreal63]

I think you have made some bad assumptions, when people say UV in LEDs, they really mean Violet, not UV.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Corals & their zooxanthellae do use some spectrum below 400nm, but I don't think it gets very far below 400nm before it completely stops being used. A bulb that is pushing 300nm through 400nm range probably isn't very useful for corals and may in fact do far more harm than good. IMHO.