MH newbie I need tips come on in!!!

[Spiderguardnano]

What's up guys so I just picked up my first halide system and I'm loving it

It's a 250w DB fixture

So I was reading that your not allowed to touch the halide bulb with your hands as it will cause it to blow up?

Do I need to clean the bulbs and if I do with what?

 

[Trex]

SE

or DE bulbs?

DEs should not be touched. In addition, DE bulbs need a glass shield b/t them and anything else, or you will fry your corals. Do NOT look at a DE bulb without a glass shield in place.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Yes, the oils in your hand can cause the glass to break. You have to understand that the plasma envelope operates between 1000-3000°C, so small impurities can cause failure in the outer bulb.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

If you touched the bulbs with your bare hands, try cleaning them with alcohol before installing them. Make sure they are clean and allow plenty of time for the alcohol to evaporate before running them.

 

[Spiderguardnano]

It's double ended

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I always handled by bulbs with gloves or a clean, soft towel, and I never had any issues.

 

[Trex]

It's double ended

Then you should use gloves when dealing with them, and make sure the UV glass shield is in place before turning them on.

 

[Spiderguardnano]

Ok awesome

 

[Spiderguardnano]

Do I really need a glass shield for the fixture?

 

[Spiderguardnano]

This is much setup

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Does the fixture already have a secondary glass shield? If so, that should be adequate.

 

[Spiderguardnano]

No shield at all

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Yeah, then you should install some sort of secondary shield.

 

[Spiderguardnano]

What are the reasons to do so?

What should I use?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

The shield reduces the output of UV radiation. However, as far as I understand it, UV only penetrates the top 1mm or so of water, so I never fully understood the recommendation. However, most manufacturers recommend the use of a shield. Any quartz glass should do as long as it is either kept away from the lamp to reduce operating temperatures or is rated for that specific application.

 

[Trex]

Personally, I would turn off that fixture until you have the glass shield. Have seen too many threads ( with pictures ) about the damage done to corals when used an DE without a shield.

 

[Khh27]

Personally, I would turn off that fixture until you have the glass shield. Have seen too many threads ( with pictures ) about the damage done to corals when used an DE without a shield.

+1
why not get a 2$ peice of glass to protect 1k+ worth of investment

 

[Spiderguardnano]

Wow I had no idea this is crazy

So what do you guys suggest I use what type of glass and how thick?

Tempered or non tempered?

 

[Spiderguardnano]

Guys?

 

[Spiderguardnano]

This is my fixture and will be using a Phoenix 14k