Plexiglass over MH lights

Doo · #1 01-26-2010, 04:08 PM

Thinking of putting a 1/8" (3mm) sheet of Plexiglass over my fixture so that water/ moisture does not get into my fixture or possibly splash on the MH bulbs and crack them?

Anyone else doing this and if so does it eliminate that much of the light going into the tank?

Is there something else that might work better?

Thanks

BlueWorldAquatic · #2 01-26-2010, 04:19 PM

be weary of the heat the MH radiates. I'd be a little concerned.

Ken

ScubaSteve · #3 01-26-2010, 04:35 PM

You'd be better of with a sheet of quartz glass covering the bulbs. It would be affected less by heat and would not impede your light at all (atleast in the spectrum ranges we are concerned with for coral health).

fencer · #4 01-26-2010, 05:21 PM

My old Hamilton ( 2 x 175MH and 2 x 40) had plexiglass on it but the hood had a good vent fan on it. I really depends on the size of the hood because you need space for air flow. There was no problem with the plexiglass

mark · #5 01-26-2010, 05:43 PM

glass on my 250W gets hot enough to burn flesh, I'd been concerned with plastic melting/burning

Doo · #6 01-26-2010, 10:32 PM

A Hamilton is what I have and I have been using 5 mm glass but I think that it is a hint thick

pelle31 · #7 01-27-2010, 02:26 AM

I had my 250 on a 33 awhile back. The tank had a plastic brace,and it melted all out of shape.
So when I had a day off I reshaped it using the heat from the 250. I'd be careful.