Coralville, IA Posts/Points: 1271/1557
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| 03/11/2010 08:49 PM |
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I just learned that I need to have a UV shield over each of my MH bulbs to prevent my fish going blind and such. My only problem is, where do I get such a thing? My reflectors are 6 3/8" x 8 3/8". Also, once I get these shields, how do I install them? My reflectors don't have any sort of lip for me to slide the shields into. Originally, my MH kit must have come from a fixture of some sort that had shields in the plastic but I didn't get them when I bought the ballasts and such.
So,
1) Where do I get UV shields?
2) How do I install them?
Thanks!!
Kylie |
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| GIRS Secretary |
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Riverside Posts/Points: 1368/1710
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| 03/11/2010 08:58 PM |
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Its just glass treated with UV protection, the problem is, you'll need to get it tempured..... might have to go to the manufacturer to get a replacement. I think you can get some bought/cut to your specs at any decent framing shop (Hobby Lobby, Michaels etc), but I doubt they can tempur it for you, but doesn't hurt to ask. You'll have to somehow make something that the glass can rest on. Can you put a couple screws in from the outside of your hood so the glass could rest on that? make sure there's plenty of wiggle room, so when the glass expands from the heat, it won't break. |
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| The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. |
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Coralville, IA Posts/Points: 1271/1557
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| 03/11/2010 09:03 PM |
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Ok.. I'll ask them about the tempuring. I'm not sure I understand what you are suggesting about installing the glass though. From which direction are these screws coming? How long are they exactly? Remember, I have a 40g breeder canopy so that's quite a bit of space... |
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| GIRS Secretary |
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Hillsboro IA Posts/Points: 2929/3293
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| 03/11/2010 09:03 PM |
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The shields are just normal glass ( unless i'm misstaken ) so you just need two pieces of 1/4 glass and some brackets to hold them in place. The brackets shouldn't be to hard to make.
-Bill |
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Coralville, IA Posts/Points: 1271/1557
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| 03/11/2010 09:11 PM |
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So michaels does not tempur glass but all their frame glass is UV protected... anybody know where I can have glass tempured? |
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| GIRS Secretary |
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Urbandale,Ia Posts/Points: 345/441
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| 03/11/2010 09:40 PM |
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if there double ended bulbs you need shields. single ended you dont
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Riverside Posts/Points: 1368/1710
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| 03/11/2010 09:40 PM |
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Just an idea, but you could run some screws from the outside of your hood inwards. So you could put one in each corner and maybe another couple midway the long way for support..........the glass would sit on top of the screws and you could pull it in and out etc.. You could get plastic screws in the plumbing section of Menards etc. to avoid rust. Maybe someone else will have more ideas for you  |
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| The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. |
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Riverside Posts/Points: 1368/1710
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| 03/11/2010 09:44 PM |
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What brand are the reflectors? Might just be easier to find out if you can get replacements from there......I had a glass shield break a few months ago and the company sells replacements. I was glad it was tempured or I might have had some fish fatalities. When the glass is tempured, like your windshield in your car is, it will break into a million smaller, squarish pieces, vs. sharp daggars, or at least that's what's suppose to happen when it breaks. Its considered safer to break than non-tempured glass. |
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| The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. |
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Coralville, IA Posts/Points: 1271/1557
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| 03/11/2010 09:59 PM |
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Double ended bulbs so I'll need the shields
As for the screws idea, the MH will be too far from the edges to do it that way but maybe if i went from the top and the screws had wide enough heads to make a ledge...
The reflectors are from the inside of a Coralife fixture so they dont even have replacement shields. I sent an email so a local glass company to see if they could tempure some UV glass from michaels |
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| GIRS Secretary |
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Beacon/Oskaloosa, IA Posts/Points: 1375/1615
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| 03/11/2010 10:42 PM |
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you can't just temper glass, glass is made tempered. and i thought i read somewhere that all the UV glass for halide bulbs are just plain glass but not sure. |
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| I think I need a bigger house....... |
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Riverside Posts/Points: 1368/1710
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| 03/11/2010 11:24 PM |
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Posted By snowman82 on 03/11/2010 10:42 PM
you can't just temper glass, glass is made tempered. and i thought i read somewhere that all the UV glass for halide bulbs are just plain glass but not sure.
After a tank has been drilled through the bottom to be made "reef ready" the glass is treated with a high temperature in such a way that it becomes tempured. So yes, glass can be made tempured after it has been made. |
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| The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. |
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Beacon/Oskaloosa, IA Posts/Points: 1375/1615
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| 03/11/2010 11:26 PM |
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well what i meant by that is i dont think you can just do it at a store. sorry, didn't mean for it to come out like that haha. it would still need to be ordered. |
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| I think I need a bigger house....... |
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Riverside Posts/Points: 1368/1710
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| 03/11/2010 11:36 PM |
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Well, hope she can find someone to do it......maybe a place that makes aquariums or something like that? You could just get different lights, lol! Boy, if you do get your glass, never ever break it! |
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| The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. |
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Hillsboro IA Posts/Points: 2929/3293
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| 03/12/2010 12:44 AM |
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I'm sure you could contact coralife or current and buy the glass. then just make a simple square bracket that the glass can rest on. Four screws one in each corner and presto your done. |
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Coralville, IA Posts/Points: 1271/1557
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| 03/12/2010 09:53 AM |
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I'm almost tempted to buy new reflectors that have a UV shield with them, but I can't seem to find any that don't already have a socket built in that I would have to buy new equipment for. I have ballasts, sockets, and power cord but now just need reflector and UV... any suggestions? |
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| GIRS Secretary |
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Fort Dodge,Ia Posts/Points: 117/137
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| 03/12/2010 06:34 PM |
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Are your reflectors out of a coralife aqua lite pro? |
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| Do the DEW !!!! |
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Coralville, IA Posts/Points: 1271/1557
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| 03/12/2010 09:39 PM |
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I think so, yes |
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| GIRS Secretary |
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Coralville, IA Posts/Points: 1271/1557
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| 03/12/2010 09:59 PM |
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So, I'm not having any luck finding UV protected AND tempered glass. Worse case scenario, would non-tempered UV glass work? I could try to make a bracket that went along each of the edges for extra support if it happens to crack to try and prevent any glass falling... |
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| GIRS Secretary |
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Fort Dodge,Ia Posts/Points: 117/137
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| 03/13/2010 12:22 AM |
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i actually have 2 spare glass shields sitting on shelf in basement. When i bought my light I thought i might break one so i called coralife and asked if i could buy a spare set and the guy said he would just send me a set. I couldnt believe it a week later and they showed up FREE. This was about a year ago , So try given coralife a call. And if they cant help u out get ahold of me and i can. |
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| Do the DEW !!!! |
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Fort Dodge,Ia Posts/Points: 117/137
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| 03/13/2010 12:22 AM |
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http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx4/kost43077/samdadandfish124.jpg |
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| Do the DEW !!!! |
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