HQI Shopping. (Dumb) Question

[bdunla1]

Okay. I know this is probably a dumb question, but I have to ask before I make my purchase (or at lease narrow down my prospects). When looking at buying a HQI pendant/hood, do I just assume that the "glass cover" described in the description will filter out the needed UV when running HQI lamps? Some say "UV Lens"; while some simply say "Glass Lens". ??? I thought it was common to only run HQI with a UV filtering splash guard - why would they sell set-ups that didn't?

I have gone back and forth, trying to decide if I want to get a good balast and pendant while leaving out the T5's or PC, or buy a decent full hood with T5's or PC... My tank is only a 60g cube (24x24x24).

Picking lights makes my head spin...:rollface:

 

[luther1200]

I would think that a fixture or pendant designed to house HQI lamps would have the UV glass.

 

[bdunla1]

Thats what I would think too. Just paranoid, I guess.

 

[Henry Bowman]

DE lamps all have glass covers on the reflectors (or should) since there is no UV protection built into the bulb unit. Mogul bulbs (single ended) have a bulb "covering" around the actual lamp envelope that has UV protection.

AND... I think you will be happier in the long run with an HQI lamp and T5 supplements. They are more expensive but worth it ..

 

[angelo99]

currentusa has an ebay account and they have mh/t5 deals all the time. I love my 250w with 4 t5's. It allows you to use the t5's for dawn to dusk, which is great for viewing after work. I use a 10k mh bulb for growth, on while I'm at work.