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I was told by the man at the LFS that you fit a commercial MH light over an aquarium so long as it's fitted with a UV filter - is this true and can you buy these at all??
he's talking about the way they treat the glass that covers the bulb housing.
I'm by no means a MH expert..but I think the LFS guy is confusing halogen shop lights, which need a UV filter in the glass, with metal halide, which is really VERY different.
However if I'm wrong, one of the more MH knowledgable people will step in to correct/clarify me.
You need a uv filter over the DE bulbs. That is the 'German Double Ended' bulbs. The mogul type bulbs have a glass sheath around them which is supposed to block uv. The DE bulbs do not have this extra layer and requires a uv shield between it and your animals (Or you!)