MH Explodes

[djswift]

Tonight I reached into my tank to move a coral that fell over and a drip of water hit my 250w MH and the bulb exploded. A piece cut my nose and above my eye. I luckly didn't hurt my eye. The bulb still runs can it still be used? Thanks Josh

 

[Will C1]

how can it still run if it exploded?

 

[djswift]

I don't know the glass on the outside blew up but everythng in the middle is ok will it be ok?

 

[Marcosreef]

No, it's no good. The UV will damage you eyes.

Marco

 

[djswift]

If I don't look at it can I use it till my new bulb comes? a couple of days mayby? Or will it hurt my fish and corals?

 

[Will C1]

probably not if something touches this it would certainly catch on fire..or if by chance something fell on it and into the tank presto an instant electric chair for your tank. i would change it immeidatly i dont know how its still working with no glass usually they wont work unless their in a vacume or in a certain type of gass.

 

[Emperator]

standard (non-DE) mh bulbs will run if the external glass bulb is broken. the outer bulb is just an UV shield. all the gas should be contained within the small bulb connnected to the wires. at least this is the case on the MH i have (AB 10K).

i would not use the bulb personally, the likelyhood of burning the fish, corals and your retina's with the UV is not worth it.

 

[slojmn1]

My MH outer sheeth broke one day while I was at work so the bulb itself kept burning bright, no telling how long it sat there over the tank in this condition. Everything on that side of the tank was burned. Luckily the bulb caught on itself and hung there so it was not completely burning everything all day, there was still some UV shield. All corals made a quick recovery, even an open brain that looked absolutely fried...it was an awful sight to come home to. Don't use it...it belongs in the garbage.

 

[LFS42]

agreed, don't use it.
I believe the outer shield is what regulates the spectrum