So I just got back into the hobby after about a year and a half of totally being out of it, and jumped back in with a 14g Oceanic Bio Cube. It came factory with the 2x 13" 24 W PCs and 2 moons. I decided that I wanted to throw a couple of Black Ocellaris clowns in there and a RBTA (some of you may have seen my issues with the BTA in another thread on here), so I knew that the lighting would have to be upgraded. Couldn't go HO T5, because the length was too short in the hood, and I wanted to keep the tank looking clean with the original one, so I decided on MH. I went with a 150w HQI set up to cut down on heat and space. I bought the ballast, socket ends, reflector and build all separate so that I could fit this thing together just right. Now the problem that I am running into is finding TEMPERED UV rated glass, as the bulb is going to start burning my BTA. Anyone know of a place? I do believe that it has to be tempered due to the heat, but I am not sure. I know that tempered glass cannot be cut because the tempering process causes it to shatter when you try to do so. Can someone help me out here? I called a couple of shops here in the greater Sacramento, Ca area, but most have gone by the wayside with the economy, and the ones that are left are primarily doing cookie cutter residential windows and don't deal in custom manufactured glass. I also called an arts and frame store and they have UV rated glass, but not tempered.
Any help is totally appreciated.
Thanks
Dave