reefman Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 I had mentioned in a previous post that I might be gutting my Outer Orbit light fixture to mount the bulbs and ballast into a canopy I want to start using. I disassembled a good portion of the fixture yesterday, just to see if I thought this was feasible, and it looks like it is. I have two questions I'm trying to work through before actually doing it. Do I really need a glass plate to cover the bulb and inside of the reflector of the HQI's and dual compacts? The height of the canopy on the inside from top of tank to inside of canopy is 9 inches. If I do, does anyone have any ideas on how to mount the glass or plastic diffusers? The fixture also has 6 moon lights that are mounted directly in the roof of the fixture housing. Will re-mounting those along the inside edge work, or do I need to figure out a way to hang/mount those from the top of the canopy ceiling. If so, any ideas? Thanks in advance for any ideas and opinions. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobogato Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 if the metal halide bulb is double ended (DE) - i am assuming it is because you said HQI - then you have to have the glass shield in place. SE bulbs are made of a thicker glass, so they shield the corals from too much UV by themselves, but DE bulbs are made of thinner glass and must be used with a glass shield to prevent UV damage to fish and corals. you do not have to use a glass shield with the PC bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefman Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 Thanks Ace. Yes, they are double ended. Looks like I will be heading to Lowe's today to try to find something to mount the glass shields with. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Thanks Ace. Yes, they are double ended. Looks like I will be heading to Lowe's today to try to find something to mount the glass shields with.Stephen Bad idea. The glass MUST be tempered. The heat will cause the glass to stretch and warp. We all know glass can't really stretch so your glass will shatter into the tank. I paid $52 for 2 replacement pieces 12x6 for my tank from Binswanger. I had 1/4" plate that I had tried. Did not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefman Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 I will use the same piece of glass that is currently in the fixture, I will just re-mount it in the canopy. There shouldn't be any problem with doing that, should there? Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 Nope, sounds good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headless_donkey Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 I am glad to hear you went for it. You should post pictures when you are finished. I mounted the moonlights directly to the top of our canopy. It worked great. I see no reason to hang them unless you really want to. Our unshielded PC lights collect salt like crazy and the reflectors have tiny rust spots. If you are covering the HQI then you might as well cover the PC. IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefman Posted November 25, 2006 Author Share Posted November 25, 2006 I haven't quiet gone for it yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to mount the glass over the HQI bulbs. I spent an hour in Lowe's yesterday looking for things that I might could use. Any ideas would be welcome. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMFett Posted November 26, 2006 Share Posted November 26, 2006 Post up a pic for more suggestions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefman Posted November 26, 2006 Author Share Posted November 26, 2006 GMFett, Do you mean a pic of the HQI piece that will be fitted into the canopy? BTW, beautiful coral. Is that a Blasto? Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted November 26, 2006 Share Posted November 26, 2006 Hahahahahahaa. Love the avatar. LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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