UV SHIELD

[Ricky]

Hey guys.. I have a few questions about a UV shield...

first of all.. is it really necessary??..

and second: what makes a uv shield a uv shield?... can any glass or plexyglass be a shield?

 

[Phyl]

OMG it is SOOOOOO necessary. It is a UV filter (picture the filter for your camera or what they do to the sunglasses). It protects the corals from the VERY harmful and VERY damaging UV rays. Without this special shield (no not just glass/plexi) you will burn your corals. If you've cracked or broken it turn off those lights until you've replaced it.

We had a bulb crack on us and we didn't realize it until we were wondering what happened to cause the corals to started burning. The effects were noticable in about 3 running hours.

 

[Ricky]

wow.. ok..

now.. is it only necessary with DE bulbs?

 

[mikem]

now.. is it only necessary with DE bulbs?

SE's have the UV shield built in.

 

[Phyl]

And if that shield cracks... look out!