Is the cover for the light required?

[richardhmc]

I have a MH/ power compact combination light and I was wondering if the splash guard, or the glass strips covering the lights are required? Because evaporated salt tends to build up in there and I think it just prevents light from going through. Opinions?

 

[NYReef]

Yes, salt water is very combustable, bulbs can explode, the glass on some MH bulbs are UV blockers.

 

[prattreef]

If the MH are double ended then you need the glass shield to block UV if they are single ended (mogul) then you don't but where do you think all that splash back is going to end up if you remove the shields?

 

[richardhmc]

Good point. Looks like I'll just have to keep cleaning the shields

 

[bimmer01]

Yes, def have the shields protecting the MH. I have a friend that left the shields off his MH lights for 1 day and it burned most of his SPS.

 

[ryangrieder]

unless its a screw in mh bulb then i think its ok, but de mh leave it on. i asked the same thing not too long ago...

 

[jaa1456]

Just FYI all glass has a UV rating.

 

[xvinny631x]

I had no idea de bulbs needed to be covered... Ive had mine uncovered over a yr now! No damage that i can see to my corals but then again i dont know how they would look if the lights were covered..

 

[ryangrieder]

if they were glass shields, then they were glass for a reason. not only because acrylic could melt from mh, but the uv rays can burn sps and also burn the retna or whatever in your eye. safty first!

 

[richardhmc]

I was able to get the glass off for the metal halide, but I can't get off the plastic strips for the compact fluorescents. I feel like they are going to break. I tried pulling as possible and it still wouldn't slide out. lol idk how to get these damn things off. it was a pain to get them in too

 

[richardhmc]

Goddamnit I cracked the corner of one of the slides. I don't think I can clean my lights. They are stuck.

http://www.proaquariumsupply.com/img/cu_outer_orbit_1.jpg

This is what I have.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Theyre called splash guards for very good reason. To safeguard the connections from salt creep but also your MH bulbs would explode when a 79 degree drop of water hits the god knows how hot glass bulb. Would act the same way as leaving an empty coffee pot on the burner for a long time and then running cold water into it from the tap, just much more violent.

 

[richardhmc]

Yeah I decided to leave them on but my problem now is that I can't get the splash guards for the compact flourescents off!

 

[richardhmc]

Well I got them off.... after unscrewing every nut, taking apart the entire fixture, and hammering out the slides just so that they each have parts broken off.

I got it all cleaned, and back together. Can't tell a difference though =\