Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 13:27:45 -0500
From: Bill Wichers <billw at waveform_net>
Subject: Re: [APD] Re: Power Compacts
To: aquatic-plants at actwin_com
Got rust?
If they're waterproof fittings and fixtures, sure. If not, that >90% humidity
is gonna play hell, albeit possibly eventually.
Another reason for a cover glass: it is much easier to clean mineral
deposits off of a flat piece of thick glass than several round pieces of
thin (and more delicate) glass.
The bulbs don't need a cover glass, and I don't think water proof fittings
are a necessity either (and remember that I am a champion of electrical
safety :-). The problem is that without a cover glass you'll get mineral
deposits on the bulbs over time that will be difficult to clean off, and if
you use non-sealed connectors then you'll get corrosion on the contacts
that will eventually be a problem. I don't trust any "water proof" light
socket though since none of them I've ever seen actually seal properly
after they've been in use for a while.
Using a cover glass is easy and cheap, and it will protect the much more
expensive bulbs and sockets, as well as making maintenance easier. I think
it's worth it for these reasons alone. IMHO, ballasts should always be
remote mounted anyway so that's not a concern. Those using open-top tanks
will normally have their lights mounted higher above the water surface and
will have less problems with mineral deposits and corrosion so the cover
glass is less of an issue in that case.
-Bill