Acrylic and Metal Halide

[Chloe1]

Hi,

I am looking at getting an acrylic sump/refugium to connect into my system and grow out some corals prior to putting them in the main tank.
I want to give them good light and was wondering if the heat from a MH would affect the acrylic? It will be a 150W HQI pendant and it would be suspended above the sump by about 6" putting it 12" above the water surface. The acrylic will be 3/8 thick and I'll probably put some egg-crate over the sump as a safety factor. I'll also be running 2-4 T5 Actinics as well to suppliment the light. The sump is 12x24 and will have about 1000 gph flow.

Thanks!

 

[scubasteve247]

i think it will be just fine.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12084232#post12084232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scubasteve247
i think it will be just fine.

I 2nd that comment. The only thing about acrylic and MH is 1. if is closer than 6-8" and UV tends to somehow change the collor of acrylics, but thats after many years. I would say GREEN LIGHT

 

[Chloe1]

Thanks for the info.
The reason that I am concerned is because I heard that someone put MH on a huge acrylic tank and it ended up leaking due to the heat from the lights.
Anyone hear of this?

 

[scubasteve247]

no, but like 0 Agios said if its to close the heat and uv can effect the structural integrity of the acrylic.

MH fixtures get so hot if left on wood they can cause it to ignite. so same goes with acrylic if to close it could cause it to melt. but it would have to be very close, as in touching or inches away.

they set up you explained seems very practical and safe