Plexiglass versus Glass

[TinaPerry]

OK here is an interesting one......I have heard that with Plexiglass or Glass that you can not use Metal Halide lights.........Which one is it? I am getting ready to purchase a 60Gal Plexiglass but want it just for reef.......

Oh and another question What is the stages of lighting systems.......in your opinion... For example:

Flouresent
Compact
Medal Halide
Incodesent Bulbs
Coralife
Power Compact
others ?

You guys are a great source or light.........LOL.........Oh I mean info....Thanks

 

[loohunter]

you can use halides on either with no problem

 

[roscoe]

thats a new one... You can use metal halides on any of them.

 

[Sparks]

a metal halide bulb turned on and sitting on actual plexiglass may cause it to melt the tank a bit. I'm not sure someone would do such a thing knowingly.

 

[lizardarm]

I know that plexiglass tends to get milky looking with exposure to UV radiation; that might be an issue if your halides aren't properly shielded.
As longs as the halide lamps aren't touching/too close to it, there's no problem with using either glass or plexiglass.
As for your second question, I'm not really sure what you are asking...but I've always liked the metal halide/power compact flourescent combination. Don't know that there's necessarily better and worse, only different options that are more or less appropriate for different aquarium setups.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

I've also heard of CF (compact floursecents) lights causing problems on both glass and acrylic... when they're sitting directly on the top! MH or CF will cause breakage if it's in direct contact with either the glass or acrylic. Rule is... use the standoff feet provided for CF, and keep the MH whatever distance away is recommended.

 

[DonW]

Heat in general damages acrylic. Most everyone uses metal halides with acrylic tanks. This will shorten the overall life of the tank so just dont expect it to last forever.

Don

 

[Jobiwan]

There is no problem as long as the MH is not over the acrylic, it should be over the middle of porthole(s) so no heat/uv is directly beating on the plex

 

[Krish]

If you follow the general guidline for the high placement for any light fixture/light, you will be fine on either a glass or acrylic tank. The quality of the acrylic used though, as well as the thickness for various sized tanks, will determine how well it will hold up in general.

 

[Jobiwan]

You've got a point Krish, but in many applications(pendants for instance) it is hard to resist raising and lowering the light looking for that sweet spot, also if you do position it over some of the acrylic (ie center brace) you will slowly lose light intensity if you neglect daily (or more) cleaning to remove algae/salt spray, and any plex will craze (or worse) if you screw up and get the light source too close, it works better for idiots like me to just keep it centered over the porthole

 

[Krish]

You've got a point Krish, but in many applications(pendants for instance) it is hard to resist raising and lowering the light looking for that sweet spot, also if you do position it over some of the acrylic (ie center brace) you will slowly lose light intensity if you neglect daily (or more) cleaning to remove algae/salt spray, and any plex will craze (or worse) if you screw up and get the light source too close, it works better for idiots like me to just keep it centered over the porthole

Your corals will love you alot more with setting up your light right above the water as well rather that over the eurobracing