Light safety for kids

[Dbrenes]

Hi,

I am new to the hobby and I am setting up a 54 gallon aquarium. My plan is to make it a mixed reef. I got two hydra hd 26 lights. The aquarium is going to be in the family room and I am concerned of the long term risk for my kids vision (7 year old, and 4 year). The aquarium location is quite close to the sofa where they spend a lot of time hanging out and watching tv. Given the kids heights (3’4” and 3’10”), they are more exposed to look at the light directly from below. That adds to the risk for their natural curiosity. While I don’t expect them to be staring constantly at the lights directly, I am concerned about the long term risk of exposure to the intense blue and uv light.

I’d appreciate any advice and thoughts about this
- Is this a real concern for those particular lights?
- What strategies can I use to eliminate or highly reduce this risk?
- Should I consider moving the aquarium to another room (I haven’t fill it out yet). Unfortunately the only other place I can put it is the den/utility room. Not desirable, but my children safety comes first.

Thank you

Diego

 

[CNDReef]

This is what I did because of the same concern. Not the most eye pleasing but it serves its purpose well

 

[Dbrenes]

Thanks, what material did you use?

This is what I did because of the same concern. Not the most eye pleasing but it serves its purpose well

 

[Billdogg]

If you have any DIY skills, consider making a canopy to shield the lights . If you don't, but are near Columbus, Ohio, PM me and maybe we can figure something out along those lines!

 

[Dbrenes]

If you have any DIY skills, consider making a canopy to shield the lights . If you don't, but are near Columbus, Ohio, PM me and maybe we can figure something out along those lines!

Not near Columbus, I am in Miami, but thank you. I’ll try to build a canopy.

 

[rocsec1]

LED's can be punishingly bright if they are looked directly into as I have be reminded once or twice while doing tank maintenance. With my first tank I had two proton's over a 75 gallon in the TV room. They weren't bad, but the Radion G4's over my current tank are a different matter all together. I don't think I could use them if they weren't in a canopy because my tank has a 40 in stand and the tank is a 2ft high 120. So the lights would be at the perfect angle to blind while I am sitting on the couch. Canopy's are useful things for hiding wires and so on.

 

[Billdogg]

LED's can be punishingly bright if they are looked directly into as I have be reminded once or twice while doing tank maintenance. With my first tank I had two proton's over a 75 gallon in the TV room. They weren't bad, but the Radion G4's over my current tank are a different matter all together. I don't think I could use them if they weren't in a canopy because my tank has a 40 in stand and the tank is a 2ft high 120. So the lights would be at the perfect angle to blind while I am sitting on the couch. Canopy's are useful things for hiding wires and so on.

My tank is very similar to yours - a standard 120 on a tallish stand. It was worst when I came up the basement steps. Blinding would be a good term. I built the canopy when it was a pair of AI Sol Blues, and now that I've upgraded to a pair of XR30wG4 pro's I'm doubly glad I went ahead with it. Well worth the effort IMO.