Dangers of MH lighting to eyes?
 

Hello,

I finally setup the MH kit I purchased about a year ago. There is a lot of light bleeding out of the top of it and i am wondering how dangerous this is to human eyes? I remember reading something about this some time ago but i cant find any info. Its a 150W 14k Phoenix bulb on an Aromat electronic Ballast.

Thanks,
Ken

150W so a double-ended lamp? (There's also a 150W single-ended style lamp).

The double-ended (or "DE") lamps don't have the outer glass globe, which acts as a UV sheild. This is why DE lamps need a cover glass on the pendent whereas single-lamps don't.

Soooo ... long story short, you don't want to make a habit of looking at that light if it's bleeding out the top. I'd consider something like some aluminium-tape (looks like duct tape, and is for furnace vents, but it's like aluminium foil with a sticky backing), and tape up the holes where it's bleeding out.

You should try to stop the light spill. It detracts from the light that's going into your aquarium, and it isn't good for your eyes. Essentially it is a full spectrum bulb, and it "comparable" to natural sunlight. Sun isn't good for your eyes.