thanks to faois

[mlivvy]

the halide bulb on my 37 gal melted my center brace a few months ago. I went to lowes and had a piece of 1/4" acrylic cut and replaced the brace. 2 days later that melted too!
I was stressed out and knew I either had to get a new tank or go with a different light setup. I wanted to use the canopy that came for that tank which is only about 6" from the brace.
I called a few lfs but their solutions was either replace the tank or get a new light, until I called faois and spoke to john. He suggested a thick piece of acrylic. I didn't know where to even look so I asked him if he could help me out. A few days later I went to the store to pick up a piece of acrylic he got me and it was cut to size! Ontop of that he didn't even charge me for it. Great store + excellent customer service = faois wins.

the brace melting menace-

thick acrylic brace in place with nylon screws-

Brace has been on for a few months now with 0 problems. Doesn't heat up enough to melt.

oh and btw.. I built the light on my own with parts from faois. I searched everywhere else and they had everything I needed in stock.

 

[Surferlopez]

I was noticing that you have a HQI MH with no glass shield...I beleive that is really dangerous...too much uv rays or something like that...not sure if anyone else has heard that, but I beleive you are not supposed to run HQI bulbs without that glass shield...talk to john, see what he says.
Danny

 

[mlivvy]

the bulb itself is uv shielded. the plexi right below helps also.

 

[ReefArtist]

Hey MLIVVY, thanks for all the photos. I have to agree that FAOIS is the best. What a simple solution and is exactly what I've been concerned about with my lights and support bar. I have a 65G and I'd rather put two bars, one on each side of the MH - no worries after that. Thanks for the information.

 

[mflamb]

Now that's what I call CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

 

[ichthyman]

Can't believe I missed this. My internet skills must be slipping.
Glad it worked for you.

Also that acrylic is not a good shield of UV. I would install some UV absorbing glass.

 

[MikeBrke]

Excessive UV exposure damages DNA structure. That means in the fish/corals and YOU! You defitnely want to get that covered with the UV absorbing glass.

Also, many times it takes time for the symptoms to apear. So if you have excessive exposure now, you might have health effects 10 years for now. It just depends.

 

[mlivvy]

the bulb itself says.. "uv shielded" but i'm assuming then that's not enough I should cover it also.

 

[ichthyman]

Usually, DE lamps are not constructed with UV absorbing glass. Who is the manufacturer of your bulb?

 

[ichthyman]

Ooops. Damn refresh button.

 

[mlivvy]

It's one of those ebay bulbs. Actually it was a 175 watt ballast/bulb kit. I wanted to switch the bulb to a better quality bulb but now I can't find a 175watt HQI bulb.

I'll take a pic of it and post it in a few min.

 

[mlivvy]

took the bulb out to take a pic but all the markings are faded off.