Cover or no cover that is thy question

[USNDoc]

What are the pros and cons to having a cover on top and does anybody recommend or not recommend it and why

 

[Slot]

What are the pros and cons to having a cover on top and does anybody recommend or not recommend it and why

Less evaporation and fish wont jump

 

[USNDoc]

Very true

 

[wkscott]

Also helps with temperature stability and helps to keep dust, dirt, and cats out.

 

[reefwiser]

All fish jump so if you don't mine coming into a dried up dead fish. There are no pro 's to not using a screen top. It keeps fish in your tank An as a responsible aquarist it is ones responsibility to protect the animals in your care.

 

[Murica]

I understand it can restrict light penetration but I am definitely a glass lid guy. All my tanks have had lids a and I've still lost fish from the one inch of open section to put wires through.

 

[wkscott]

I understand it can restrict light penetration but I am definitely a glass lid guy. All my tanks have had lids a and I've still lost fish from the one inch of open section to put wires through.

Yes they can restrict some light, but most of us have lights that are too strong for our tanks anyway. I always also use glass tops.

 

[USNDoc]

I. Don't have a light that strong enough. At time I thought I did but was misguided and Misled so stuck with one I have till I can get a good one

 

[5Bucks]

I'm a glass lid guy. Keeps jumpers in and dirt etc out. Must help with evap, heat retention too. After putting food in I regularly hear fish bouncing off the glass

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Mesh/screen is also easier on the fish than a glass lid. I once had a blue spot jawfish beat himself to death trying to jump through a biocube lid...that wouldn't have happened if the top had been mesh.

 

[Jisko]

After $100+ worth of fish jumped out I decided the $15-20 it takes to build a screen was well worth it haha

 

[USNDoc]

I def have no problem with fish jumping as U can see. I just didn't know if the cover was restricting oxygen or chemical imbalance


.

 

[don_chuwish]

I tend to think there is enough turbulence/gas exchange just via the overflow & sump. If you want to minimize heat loss and top off water use then glass tops are great. I just hate how they get cruddy with condensation and/or salt creep. Mesh tops for me.

 

[O'l Salty]

I like to view my reef from the top down so I run an open top. It makes cleaning easier and you don't have the maintenance of keeping the top glass clean.