MH lighting, housing or none?

[Phildo]

I asked this question buried in a thread in the general forum but figure most here use MH and could answer better.

Do you see any difference if your MH bulb & reflector is mounted inside your canopy in a metal housing with a glass shield or just mounted open in the canopy with no housing or glass shield?
What are the pros & cons to either? Is either way better than the other?

[Guy W]

all the ones I've seen have the reflector mounted directly to the canopy, with no housing of any sort. I don't have MH myself but can't imagine why would would need to house the relector in any kind of casing.

as for the glass, if the bulbs are a good 6 to 8 inches from the water and there is no chance of water getting splashed on them i don't think a glass sheild would be necessary either.

[Kurt]

I have never heard of having the Halide bulb not shielded on the bottom. I would think that it is better to have a glass shield on the bottom of your fixture. I am under the impression that Halides must stay clean, even when I screw a bulb into the socket I do not touch it with my fingers. The bulbs opperate very hot and water splash , maybe accidental, could cause the bulb to explode. And I think having dirty bulbs will only shorten their lifespan.