glass under lights neccessary?

[hossfly]

I'm adding one (1) Iwaski 250 watt mh to my existing 2vho lights. It will be approx 6-8 inches over the water. the glass over the tank has the brown plastic strip, connecting the two peices of the glass cover and I am conserned it will block too much light . Is the glass really neccessary? it seems like the light will be more productive if not blocked at all. I will be gradually increasing the time the light is on starting with probably an hour to avoid burning the corals. I have a 72 gal bow front. I read of someone on here forgetting to turn their fan on and the heat breaking the plastic support across the top and the tank popping the seams with out that needed strap. Is this a danger if there is no glass to sheild it from direct lighting?

 

[Digiman]

I don't use a glass cover on mine. Although, I don't use MH lighting either, not sure what effects there would be on the bulbs. I use PC lighting and I just wipe them down with a paper towel everyother day or so. The bulbs are about 6" above the water line, so they only get a little bit of a spray from the current. The main problem I have with the glass being off is that there is a higher amount of evaperation now. Instead of the glass collecting condensation and the water dripping back in, so I do more frequent top-offs now.

-- Digiman

 

[hossfly]

thanks but I'm wondering if the heat from the mh lights will be enough to weaken the brace and are the lamp rays harmful to the livestock if not filtered by the glass cover. any others?

 

[Anonymous]

My 175W halides are 3" off the water surface. I put an acrylic lense between the halides and the water to prevent splash on the halides.

It has not weakened the center support and the acrylic doesn't have any UV rating so I don't think the lamps harm the corals, though I'm no expert in this field.

HTH

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

no the glass is not necessary. i have a bowfront as well, its been running w/halides for almost 5 years w/no degradation of the center brace. i do however have two halides on each side of the brace. i wouldn't place any directly above it. i really doubt that the glass cover would prevent damage of this kind anyway.

 

[johns120]

At Lowes I purchased the thickest, toughest sheet of acrylic which they cut to size. This lays on top of aquarium to protect my MH/retro kit about 2 inches above the acrylic. If I were to use glass, it would shatter from th eheat.

 

[reefland]

I wouldn't use the glass. The only draw back is that you'll have to clean the bulbs and inspect the sockets for excess rust frequently.