Do i need a cover for my reef tank?

mgoesma · Jul 25, 2016

I am trying to decide if I need or should have a cover over my tank. the lights set on the edge of the glass so I am not sure how it would work and looking through some the net ones cost over $100. There is also a divider across the top. does anyone have a similar set up that can show me what they did?

twilliard · Jul 25, 2016

If you have fish that like to jump then yes a cover is needed.

Greg B · Jul 25, 2016

Most people don't use glass lids you can got to hardware store and get what most people call egg crate it's the white grid with about half inch squares the stuff you usually see on fluorescent lights and cut that to fit to keep fish from jumping out

Pruett-nc · Jul 25, 2016

If you want cheap cover . Go to lowes or home depot and but a screen kit and garden bird netting . You will have to play with the netting and cross/overlap cause the hole size .

Duke4Life · Jul 25, 2016

I think a cover is like a qt, necessity.

mgoesma · Jul 25, 2016

Greg B said:
Most people don't use glass lids you can got to hardware store and get what most people call egg crate it's the white grid with about half inch squares the stuff you usually see on fluorescent lights and cut that to fit to keep fish from jumping out

I think this could work. I was trying to figure out with the net how to cut out the areas where my fan, lights.... mount. but with this I could do it. I could even male access areas. thanks a lot for the input.

Greg B · Jul 25, 2016

Your welcome

Mark Shelly · Jul 25, 2016

I have 2 glass covers that came with my 65 gallon tank. It is divided in the middle. I place the LEDs (2 orbit marine) on the tank edges over the non-hinged glass portion. Mine came with some plastic sections in the back that I cut out for hang-on equipment as I don't have room for a sump. I do get some reflection from the glass as you can see. And occasionally I have to clean salt-creep from the top of the glass (from water graining from the raised hinge) as well as slime from the bottom of the glass on occasion to keep it clear. The glass keeps the LEDs dry and clean. I suspect that it might not be the best for SPS and LPS dominated tanks due to possible carbon dioxide build-up, but I only have 4 LPS corals and they are doing fine. My tank is only about 8 months old. I also place the kit florescent hood over the front for viewing on occasion.

Chefbill · Jul 25, 2016

BRS sells clear plastic mesh as well as spline and rollers. All you would need to do is buy window screen framing from any hardware store, and the 4 corner pieces and you can DIY a mesh lid. That is what I did and I was impressed with how sleek it looked. I am 100% not a DIY kind of guy but it's a very simple project

Eva Rose · Jul 25, 2016

For the fish I have, I like covers that have some "give" like screen, mesh etc. At feedings & dusk my fairy wrasse are particularly active. At least once a day one will hit my screen cover with such force it bounces back into the tank. I feel like the screen is less likely to injury my wrasse than a glass or acrylic cover. Mine is also DIY inexpensive cover .
Covers are great prevention to carpet surfing.

pga7602 · Jul 25, 2016

I used the screen kit and the bird netting from lowes. Total cost was less than 20 dollars.

Pruett-nc · Jul 25, 2016

pga7602 said:
I used the screen kit and the bird netting from lowes. Total cost was less than 20 dollars

+1 I just built mine yesterday because I have a six line that I don't want dried up on the floor . Fairly easy to do .

Knapp870 · Jul 25, 2016

I would advise it. Although, I still need to add one to my tank, the number of fish I have lost due to jumping is sad.

Salty1962 · Jul 25, 2016

IMO, you should at least have a screen cover to keep fish from jumping out. You may not have Wrasses, if you do a screen top is a must, but you still may have fish that get startled and could jump out of your tank. A screen top will give you much better light penetration in your tank. Artfully Acrylics makes some very nice screen covers if you have the budget for it.

mgoesma · Jul 25, 2016

ok switch back to the screen. Thanks Everyone.

ltrace · Jul 26, 2016

Thank you for this thread. I have the same exact issue with my 120 long. 3 separate section with glass cover. My light's legs sits on top of the glass so I have to come up with a way that the screen or acrylic cover would hold the weight of the light in each section. 3 Superlux lights from Reefbreeders. There is not a way to mount the lights over head.

mgoesma · Jul 26, 2016

I am planning on going around the light mount with the screen frame. so there will be a small gap but better than nothing. I also have the same problem with my fan.