Running Corallife lights without splash guard?

[lynnebrook]

Is anyone running Corallife PC lights with the leg attachements, but without the splash guard underneath, also without the glass canopy below? I want to limit the amount of filtered light, but don't want to zap and blow the bulbs. Any thoughts? Thanks all.

 

[reefnut]

I'm running a JBJ which is about the same w/o any guards. No problems, I do have to wipe down (clean) the bulbs every once in a while.

 

[55galgill]

i hope some more people chime in on this post i have the coral life 260watt 48" setup and im wondering about the same thing.what are the advantages? more depth penetration and I"m assuming cooler lights too. i wonder tho if the risk of a fire hazard is worth the extra penetration?....and the answer is only if i can keep sps with it ..then it is!!!

:happy:

 

[mudplayerx]

A little off topic, but make sure you don't use metal halides without splash/uv guards. It will cook everything in the tank like a microwave, and if water splashes on the bulb, you've got yourself a grenade.

 

[paulcoates]

I am running the Coralife 260W with legs. No problems and I have had mine for about 2 months now.
Is a splash guard simply a piece of thinkplastic that guards the bulbs themselves? If so, then I guess I am, but I thought that was standard on the Coralife? II guess you have to take it off to change the bulbs...but why wouldnt someone put it back on?

 

[55galgill]

Originally posted by paulcoates .
Is a splash guard simply a piece of thinkplastic that guards the bulbs themselves? If so, then I guess I am, but I thought that was standard on the Coralife? II guess you have to take it off to change the bulbs...but why wouldnt someone put it back on? [/B]
paulcotes thats another border that light has to fight to get to your corals. by removing it you allow i suppose light to penetrate deep into the tank because its unresricted. but then theres the drawback of fire.......

 

[lynnebrook]

Paul - I'm just looking for any opportunity to have less of an obstruction between the lights and the water. That thin piece of plastic, and it is very thin, tends to get salted up and likely reduces the amount of light hitting the water. However, if it poses a huge fire hazard or likelihood of blowing the bulbs, then I guess I keep the bulb protection on. Any other thoughts on the risk/reward here? Thanks.

 

[55galgill]

i wish there was a way to mesure the par with the shield on and the sheild off . but im betting its not worth the risk...just clean the sheild everyother day or so... youll be able sleep better at night

 

[benter]

would the fire hurt the fish???

 

[bergamer]

i have the coralife 4 65w watt 48" setup
and before I bought it, I did a lot of research and recall reading soemwhere that you MUST keep the shield on

 

[larrynews]

i think you "must "for the protection of the bulbs but i have a jbj and have just taken the gaurd off my was just plexglass...i also have 2 x96w bulbs that have no thing over thema dn they do great...hth

 

[ebsochin]

I had the same setup on my 75 before I sold it all. I used the plexigalss covering and no glass cover on the tank. It produced enough light for a maxima clam and other soft corals. Just make sure to clean any salt build up every once in a while. As far as you having to use it, I would say it could go either way. If you have fish, the chances of splashes occuring are great. You wouldn't want to fry any of the bulbs. Just my $.02

 

[murph145]

interesting i was wandering too since i have the retro fit kit under my canopy and i have a piece of plexi glass over the top of my tank to keep splash back
i often wondered too if i could take the plexi glass off and have no guard between .... so far i havent gotten the motivation to do it.....
makes sence though that the glass/plexi will block out some of the light... how much though is the question

 

[ebsochin]

makes sence though that the glass/plexi will block out some of the light... how much though is the question
If you keep it clean it shouldn't block very much.

 

[mudplayerx]

I don't know if this is because my lights are MH, but there is no difference in illumination from when my glass canopy is on or off, so I doubt the UV/splash guard blocks much if any at all.