I wasn't in the reefing world back then, but I have seen old publications and have heard other people talk about being sold blacklights from their LFS because they were "more powerful" or "replicated the sun". I can't remember which guest speaker off hand, but even someone from the most recent MACNA panel published on BRS brought it up in their lecture, so it definitely was a thing. I know that there were message boards and chat rooms in the late 90's where serious reef keepers discussed the science behind everything and a lot of them are here now, so I'm not discrediting them. All I'm saying is that reef keeping in the 90s were wild times and a lot of people just went to their LFS and bought whatever they sold them. Do you remember people using "throw away" fish like damsels to cycle their tank? That was a practice as well, which thankfully does not exist anymore.Thanks - having been involved with the hobby/industry since before internet forums were a thing, I disagree that blacklights were ever strongly pushed by stores or "Reefing guides" - they were certainly not "required". 'Actinic' lights sure, blacklights not so much.
Edit: It was not a MACNA panel, but Mr Saltwater's lecture at Aquashella. Here's the link. 2:45 is when he mentions it.
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