T5 light shield or... not?

[CoralBandit]

Does anyone know for sure if T5's specifically those near UV i.e. ATI Blue+ would need to have a shield. I am considering removing my plastic cover to get a little more juice. But I wouldnt want to cause any harm via UV exposure. I wouldnt imagine it would b/c the shield is plastic and I think you need glass to stop it anyways, but I dont really know so if anyone has a clue that would be great.

I do know people that dont use them i.e. retrofits, but I still want to see what people have to say. If you dont use covers for T5's how long has your reef been exposed and are the bulbs near UV spectrum. Thanks for any input :)

 

[JR's Reef]

You can run them without but I dont because of salt splash after it gets on bulbs and reflector it heat drys and no way of getting them complety clean again. So in the end you will lose more light

 

[CoralBandit]

Cool thanks, mine are really high up so I dont get splash on them (they're just supplemental)