glass for 150 hqi

[sushimi]

Need your input. On my 42 bow front I use a 150 hqi mh and I've always been told to have glass between the bulb and water to block UV. I dont want the glass top on my tank anymore so if I remove it will there be any ill effects.?

Thanks...

 

[Shooter7]

What kind of fixture do you have, no way to just put glass between the bulb and the water on the fixture itself rather than covering the whole tank? That's what I have with my 150w mh, just a small piece of glass on the reflector itself.

How long have you been in VG? I grew up there...

 

[sushimi]

As far as brand I have no idea I bought it yrs ago from SF back when Tim still worked there. It's gold and black aluminum and originally came with standard fluorescent actinics. I removed the glass from the fixture in order to retro fit some t5 actinic fixtures in it. I do have a piece of glass I could place in the middle of tank front to back. Just didn't want to if its not necessary since it cuts down on the shimmer.
I've been in VG for 3 yrs now and lived in Thomasboro for 12 yrs prior. I grew up and went to school in champaign. I'll try to post a pic of light fixture when I get home. I also as of yesterday raised the light to 7" off water from 3". It's looks way better and shimmer is amazing now.

 

[sushimi]

Pics of light fixture.

 

[logan 12]

You are supposed to use tempered glass, but the cost is high. I just used regular glass but it can not take the heat so usually cracks do to temps.

 

[sushimi]

Yea ive already cracked one piece of standard glass before when the light was only a couple inches from the glass.

 

[sushimi]

Just cut a small piece to fit directly under the bulb.

 

[sushimi]

Pic

 

[tommer725]

I think youll be fine without glass, but thats imo

 

[logan 12]

Pic

That should work.

 

[eshook]

sushimi,

I happen to have a piece of glass from a 150 hqi enclosure, but I no longer have the enclosure. I'm not sure if it would fit your enclosure, but it is yours if you want it. I also have some sand, an RO/DI, and a few other things if you are interested. I am moving next Friday and want to reduce my pile of stuff.

 

[_shorty_]

Are there UV concerns? I'd never heard that, but I have limited experience. I always just assumed the glass was there to protect the bulb.

I believe standard glass won't block UV-A, only UV-B rays. Tempered glass MAY differ, though. I don't know.

 

[eshook]

shorty,

Correct hqi emits some unwanted UV that can degrade coral. I'm not sure to the degree, but it is generally viewed negatively. This piece of glass comes from a hqi enclosure and I am confident has UV protection built in (but of course cannot guarantee it). If you throw me a couple of bucks you can have the reflector and a few more bucks and I'll throw in some small PC lights for extra effect in your tank.

I'm in Urbana if you are interested.

 

[sushimi]

I still have the original tempered piece of glass that came with the light fixture. Maybe I'll try to zip tie it under the fixture again. The regular piece of glass in the pic above is already covered in salt powder after one day. So it's blocking light penetration already.
Man I wish I was back to working full time again, as I plan to buy LED lighting then all this wont even matter.... but in the mean time ugh....

 

[sushimi]

sushimi,

I happen to have a piece of glass from a 150 hqi enclosure, but I no longer have the enclosure. I'm not sure if it would fit your enclosure, but it is yours if you want it. I also have some sand, an RO/DI, and a few other things if you are interested. I am moving next Friday and want to reduce my pile of stuff.

Pm sent.

 

[rick rottet]

waaay back when i had the greenhouse, i did an experiment with Dana Riddle as a guide. He is generally regarded as one of the worlds foremost experts on lighting spectrums for corals. Even a thin piece of acrylic will block any UV that gets emitted from your bulb. you would probably have to suspend it from the fixture to avoid heat damage to the acrylic, which is why those fixtures usually come with tempered glass since that can stand up to the heat.
even my old CF fixtures would crack the glass tops of my old 40 breeder if i didnt have them raised up off the top of the tank a half inch or so to allow some air movement.

 

[sushimi]

I ended up reinstalling the original piece of tempered glass. 1 wk with no glass my shrooms started to shrivel up to a wierd shape. 3 days after glass in place they returned to normal. Thanks for the input and help.