J
jostafew
Guest
Hey everyone, my appoligies if I'm in the wrong category but I couldn't get into the lighting thread for some reason. I've built a DIY MH & T5 light fixture that turned out great but I have a question about the glass used to shield the DE MH bulb that I can't seem to find a solid answer to ANYWHERE on the web, so I figure this would be the place if anywhere to settle this once and for all!
Right now it's got a 3/32" thick pane of tempered glass (generic green glass with no special films or coatings) acting as a splash shield and UV shield for the otherwise unprotected MH bulb. My question has to do with the UV shielding properties of plain glass and whether or not it is necessary to use additional UV protective treatments to that glass for the health of a reef aquarium.
I see that in all of Sanjay's bulb reviews for DE MH bulbs they list a reading with and without shielding, so obviously this is a factor, but is it simply shielding to prevent splashing on the bulb or is it NECESSARY for UV protection, and if so what treatment should happen to the glass to block the damaging UV spectrum but allow the rest of the desired spectrum through?
Many thanks in advance!
Right now it's got a 3/32" thick pane of tempered glass (generic green glass with no special films or coatings) acting as a splash shield and UV shield for the otherwise unprotected MH bulb. My question has to do with the UV shielding properties of plain glass and whether or not it is necessary to use additional UV protective treatments to that glass for the health of a reef aquarium.
I see that in all of Sanjay's bulb reviews for DE MH bulbs they list a reading with and without shielding, so obviously this is a factor, but is it simply shielding to prevent splashing on the bulb or is it NECESSARY for UV protection, and if so what treatment should happen to the glass to block the damaging UV spectrum but allow the rest of the desired spectrum through?
Many thanks in advance!
