UV damage in sump

[jiggysmb]

I placed a UV light directly in my eshopps sump for a week. The eshopps site says they are UV resistant and I read acrylic has a 3% degradation to UV over a decade of sun exposure, so I thought it would be ok. Today I noticed hundreds of small cracks in the acrylic that must be from the UV light because there is no damage in the circular area which was where the suction cup was for the UV light. Is this just cosmetic or has the acrylic become brittle?

 

[shakacuz]

are you able to see this from behind as well? i would assume it has become brittle until you can view it from a different angle.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I placed a UV light directly in my eshopps sump for a week. The eshopps site says they are UV resistant and I read acrylic has a 3% degradation to UV over a decade of sun exposure, so I thought it would be ok. Today I noticed hundreds of small cracks in the acrylic that must be from the UV light because there is no damage in the circular area which was where the suction cup was for the UV light. Is this just cosmetic or has the acrylic become brittle?

What do you mean when you say you put a UV light direct in the sump?
Do you have a link to the light you used?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Why would you place a raw UV light anywhere? Yes it likely damages the acrylic. How many watts is it?

 

[jiggysmb]

It was 5 watt for 5 days. I see many post recommending just dropping them in the sump.

 

[Not_Erick]

What do you mean when you say you put a UV light direct in the sump?
Do you have a link to the light you used?

Maybe it was one of those 5e uv from Amazon that says to put directly in the water

 

[edd59]

the uv lights we use are incapsulated so you cant see the light. uv light can cause damage to alot of things including your eyes.

 

[jiggysmb]

the uv lights we use are incapsulated so you cant see the light. uv light can cause damage to alot of things including your eyes.

The uv light is sold for reef tanks. It has suction cups and shows in the instructions to attach it to a side in your sump.

 

[gbroadbridge]

It was 5 watt for 5 days. I see many post recommending just dropping them in the sump.

Okay, I've never heard of them.
Sounds dangerous and probably not legal here.

It looks like either heat or UV damage.

 

[Jamie814]

The uv light is sold for reef tanks. It has suction cups and shows in the instructions to attach it to a side in your sump.

YEP, there's several direct from China on amazon with no shell to protect the user....they are dangerous when used in the open like that.

 

[FUNGI]

They can/will cause DNA damage to Humans.....

 

[FUNGI]

pROBABLY ONE OF THESE LIGHT Si ASSUME...

 

[FUNGI]

Probably one of these lights..no shield

 

[Doctorgori]

Chinese health, environmental and safety regulations are usually a tad softer than western standards

edit add; I actually bought one of those just to see if it worked

 

[BeanAnimal]

Probably one of these lights..no shield

Cancer on a stick… nice

 

[Tired]

Ah, yeah, that's not safe. Think of it like those little gallon tanks sold for bettas- you can use it that way, but that doesn't make it a good idea.

 

[KrisReef]

The damage to the acrylic looks similar to what can happen if you over heat acrylic trying to buff out a scratch or pushing a dull drill or saw when making a cut /hole.
I have a skimmer that is crazed like that. The skimmer body is much thinner material (I would presume) but it has held water for many years inspite of the crazing damage and looking uglier than sin. I think it crazed from using vinegar to clean it? The microcracks will spread with time across the entire sump. IF it bothers you now, I would replace it, but again I think it will hold water fine.

 

[Jamie814]

Ah, yeah, that's not safe.

Probably a little safer than the suicide or widowmaker extension cords with 2 male ends that were being sold by chinese sellers on amazon for back feeding generators. Very much illegal to sell in the U.S. (and deadly)

 

[FUNGI]

Cancer on a stick…

yup

 

[FUNGI]

Probably a little safer than the suicide or widowmaker extension cords with 2 male ends that were being sold by chinese sellers on amazon for back feeding generators. Very much illegal to sell in the U.S. (and deadly)

You mine like these?