Do I need to filter UV with single ended MH lamps?

C

Curtis

I purchased a MH retro kit that did not include any kind of sheilding for the bulbs.

One is brand new and included some "instructions". The instructions indicate that the bulb has a coating to filter out the UV rays.

Do you guys trust any bulb to actually filter out the UV? Or do you always use glass? Will plexiglass work or will that just melt under the heat.

Thanks
Kurt
 
Depends...

Are the bulbs double ended, or single ended? The single ended (Screw in similiar to a "regular" light bulb) have some UV shielding in the outer glass envelope...

It's the double ended bulbs that REQUIRE a UV shield...
 
SE bulbs usually do a good job of filtering out the UV- at least those sold for aquarium use. Some of the commercial fixture SE MH bulbs have to be shielded.
 
Mogul, or single ended, have UV shields as part of thbulb. It's the double ended bulbs that are not shielded. Depending on the type of fish you're keeping, the only concern I have with the retro I'm building is water splashing on the bulbs and then finding the bulb cracked/broken. The three Luminarc reflectors I'm using do have tracks to slid a covering on the end of the reflector. If you should have a concern with water splashing and decide to use a shield, I would think that acrylic would lessen your light penetration. Tempered glass would be a better alternative, with Starphire glass (low lead) the optimum. There's a discussion I started regarding the availability of Starphire glass in the DFW area under "OPEN FORUM," that lists the price for this type of glass. It's not cheap.

Good luck.
 
Thanks all.

They are domestic SE bulbs run by magnetic ballasts. I think I get it now. :)

I found a nice little description that you guys just confirmed. So I'm satisfied that I don't need to figure out how to put a shield on my hack job.

For anyone else that may be interested, here is the link I found: http://www.californiareefs.com/tanktechlighting.htm#S-6

:)

Curtis
 
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