UV dangerous?

[jasutton]

I have 4 t12's: 2-superactinic and 2 natural white. Is the UV being emitted dangerous to me and my livestock? I dont have a glass or acrylic covering as i am not worried about splash

should i be worried?

thanks
Jamie

[Ninong]

should i be worried?

thanks
Jamie

No, not in this instance.



P.S. -- When you say you have T12's, are you talking about VHO or NO? It doesn't make any difference as far as UV is concerned, just wondering if you have normal output or very high output.

[jasutton]

each are 75W

[Poseidon]

I didn't think No or VHO bulbs produced much if any UV. Especially the UV A or B which is what we have to worry about.

[WillieM96]

I can't tell you an exact answer but for glasses to be approved as sunglasses, they have to block light up to 400 nm. If there is light below that 400 nm limit, I'd try to limit my exposure. Don't want to get cataracts too soon in life.

[Ninong]

I didn't think No or VHO bulbs produced much if any UV. Especially the UV A or B which is what we have to worry about.

Just the opposite!

UV-C is extremely harmful, even deadly.

UV-B is harmful, especially too much of it.

UV-A is relatively harmless and a certain amount of UV-A is beneficial.

The above applies to us and the inhabitants in our tanks.

P.S. -- Even fluorescent lamps emit some UV but no UV-C and very little, if any, UV-B. The real danger is using double-ended metal halide lamps without a tempered UV-absorbing glass shield. These lamps do emit a small amount of UV-C, some UV-B and a lot of UV-A. A simple 3/16" thick glass shield is all you need. Running these lamps without a glass shield can and will kill many of your tank's inhabitants, including fish, within less than two hours!!!

[Ninong]

Read this article for a better understanding of UV radiation.

[Poseidon]

Thanks for the correction George, I knew it was one way or the other. I should have checked, since I was not 100% sure.

[jasutton]

thanks guys. Very informative. It appears i need not worry

thanks again

jamie

[smidoid]

The real giveaway is when your shrimps start to perch on the highest rocks, pull out an iPod, sit in a deck chair and put on designer shades. LOL!