Uv Bulb?

[Futralistic]

Hello everyone!!! I have a 55 gallon tropical community tank with some live plants. I have a 40 watt daylight bulb in the hood now. I was wondering if I added a 40 watt UV bulb (a SUPER ACTINIC bulb to be exact) will it harm my fish, plants, or anything else? When I got the tank it was a marine tank and in the hood were two UV bulbs, the SUPER ACTINIC (mentioned above) and a ACTINIC WHITE. I really like the extra color the bulb adds and my tank needs the extra wattage. Thanks!!

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Thats not the bulb of a UV sterilizer is it? That will blind you for ever and your fish too.

 

[Futralistic]

I really don't know, but I would think not since they were in the aquarium hood, although I don't know the previous owners. If these bulbs are something no one has heard Ill take it as a no, don't put them in the hood. Ill just put another daylight bulb in the hood just to be safe. Thanks again.

 

[Lateral Line]

Actinic lamps have, IMHO, no place in a freshwater tank. They are designed to simulate the light at a depth where a lot of corals and inverts dwell. The light output is mostly in parts of the spectrum that are useless to green plants, although some algae are promoted by them.

If you want more Watts for your plants, choose a lamp with a colour of between 4700K and 6500K, outside of that range, you are not providing the light that the plants photosynthetic pigments can use.

 

[Futralistic]

Thanks so much for the help!!!!!