UV shielding glass!

[LBCBJ]

I really need help. I've been looking for hours and cannot find anything. I'm building a DIY light fixutre with a 150w HQI metal halide and need some type of thin UV shielding material. I do not want to debate whether I need UV shielding or not. I would just like to know what type of material I can use and where I can find it (i.e Lowes, online, etc.) Thanks

 

[mr pink floyd]

tempered glass will block MOST uv NOT ALL MOST

the bulbs haev quartz i nthem now that help stop some, plus using tempered glass helps too!

 

[LBCBJ]

anyone else?

 

[LBCBJ]

bump

 

[DarthBaiter]

I got mine from my buddy who owns a framing shop. A good frame shop will have glass and acrylic for fine art work.

 

[nemo g]

all types of glass block uv to a certain degree. the most important part of the uv spectrum is UV-A and UV-B. most glass will do far better with UV-B than UV-A.

ask anyone that keeps reptiles and theyll never keep their light fixtures over glass. as reptiles need the UV light, and glass kills it.

i believe "low-e" glass is at the top of the list for blocking UV light, especially UV-A (the depper penetrating skin wrinkler). it also rejects 70 percent of solar heat. which may be a bad thing for reefing purposes, as the light's heat will be reflected and retained in the fixture or canopy. so cooling either should not be overlooked.

be interesting to know how starfire acts with UV.

good luck.

 

[thaiman]

As nemo g pointed out, all types of glass block uv to a certain degree....A while back I had a longnose hawk jump into the metalhalide fixture and splash water on the uv shield which shattered it. In less that 8 hours my corals were sunburned, my tang died and I called a local glass shop to buy a replacement piece of glass with uv protection. The glass shop was very helpful in getting the right type of glass for the uv protection.

I would not hesitate to call a glass shop and get some advice from them again as well as buy the galss from them.

 

[LBCBJ]

Will acryilic work?

 

[nemo g]

it might, but it is more apt to warp, bend, MELT. so i wouldnt go that route.

besides, the glass will maintain its clarity after multiple cleaning. after just a month im starting to develop a bit of hazing from wiping the plexi clean off the acrylic shield on one of my fixtures.

 

[LBCBJ]

What type of glass can I use? I live in small town which has a glass shop, but they really didn't know how to answer my question.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Regular old tempered glass will work. Your critters do need a little UV. If I remember this right regular glass knocks out a lot of UV A and all of B&C which are the nasty ones. Just make sure you have tempered glass whatever you do.

 

[LBCBJ]

Well, I just went to my local glass shop and the guy said that tempered wouldnt block UV, so he gave me "low-e" glass that Nemo-G suggested, although it does reject alot of heat, that may actually be a good thing on my nano bc I really don't want to buy a chiller.

Does anyone know anything about this low-e glass?

 

[GTR]

I think most if not all DE fixtures come with standard tempered glass so I'll assume it does block UV. Low E glass is almost clear instead of the green shade of normal glass.

SteveU

 

[vishboy]

What is the price difference of low-e and tempered glass?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The low e will block about 30% of the PAR and all the ultraviolet too. Not sure if that is a good thing or not. Time will tell.

 

[nemo g]

try a google search:

heres a few links:

http://www.wilbermanufacturing.com/loweglass.htm

http://www.consumer-guides.info/energy/low_e_windows.html

http://www.socalgas.com/construction/builders/Builders Resource Guide/Window Energy Concepts.htm

do some research and you should be able to have all you questions answered.

if not, check the yellow pages and try to find a big glass co. theyll have a tech savy guy that will be able to help.

you are definitely going to lose some light, but with a nano it shouldnt be a problem. keep in mind, the heat has to go somewhere. so keep an eye on the fixture and make sure it isnt getting to hot, as it may need some extra cooling mods.

good luck,

nG

 

[mr pink floyd]

yea, UV b gives yo usun burns and cancer, im not sure wit UV-a does

 

[nemo g]

pink, check this out:

uv-a is deeper penetrating and more difficult to block. recently, more research has been done, and it looks like uv-a mutates skin cells just like uv-a but much deeper into the body.

take a look at this:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/enviro/EnviroRepublish_1072063.htm

stinks huh