Do most here have a lid for their tank or no?

[msavoy]

I was thinking about getting a lid for my tank but I see many without one. What’s the general consensus? Also, are some fish more prone than others to take the leap? Thank for the info.

 

[Chayo]

All fish will jump under the right circumstances. Not worth gambling, I’ve lost a couple through the slightest gap. I would pursue finding a proper lid or DIY mesh cover. Good luck

 

[BaysEndReef]

1 out of 6 of my tanks has a mesh/screen top. The only reason I have it is due to a few gobys and a wrasse. They like to jump.

 

[theMeat]

No

 

[Tamberav]

A lot of people take photos of their tanks without the lid because it looks nicer but actually have one.

No lid limits what fish you can keep from turning into jerky.

 

[Bossman]

All of my 5 tanks have lids. I have lost several fish through the smallest holes/gaps as has been said already. And, I've had more then one fish jump out of the feed door when feeding. Fish jump.

I would not have a tank without a lid.

 

[msavoy]

Tha

All fish will jump under the right circumstances. Not worth gambling, I’ve lost a couple through the slightest gap. I would pursue finding a proper lid or DIY mesh cover. Good luck

Thanks for the info. Yeah I was looking into a DIY lid. One of my fish jumped the other day and I’ve only had my tank for 2 months. I feel it could get expensive quite quickly at this rate.

 

[4sided cube]

Im open top as I like to look down into it, my favorite view. This does lend to the odd jumper. I've lost a few over the last 9yrs. I've considered adding a top but havent yet. My cube is unique so would be a little challenge to make something, probably why i've resisted.

 

[Crashnt24]

I was thinking about getting a lid for my tank but I see many without one. What’s the general consensus? Also, are some fish more prone than others to take the leap? Thank for the info.

My favorite fish are jumpers. So a lid is a must for me. Bought a clearview screen topper for this reason.

Once upon a time I never had a lid. Every three months or so I would find a fish jerky on the floor. Some of the fish wasn't even considered a "jumper". Fish I found on the floor: Copper Banded Butterfly, Neon Dottyback, Pearly Jawfish, Melanarous(spelling lol) Wrasse and countless others (the list is my most recent memory).

Then I decided to use the glass lids that came with the tank. I mean why not? They were free? I never used them because of concerns of gas exchange and salt creep. Well my concerns were validated after using them for a couple months. Ph dropped and PAR was restricted. My gyres made those glass tops covered with creep every day. I had to clean them almost daily to not upset my corals with light loss.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a custom screen lid from clearview. This was the best decision I ever made. No more lost fish and no more light loss. I by no means advocate spending $300 for a lid like I did (please don't tell my wife). There are plenty of cheaper DIY options out there though. BRS sells a screen kit that is reasonable in price.

TLDR: get a lid, the money lost on fish justifies the price.

 

[GlassMunky]

Screen top to stop fish from jumping, yes.
A whole solid closed top lid. No, that’s not good for the tank as it prevents gas exchange

 

[Bossman]

Tha

Thanks for the info. Yeah I was looking into a DIY lid. One of my fish jumped the other day and I’ve only had my tank for 2 months. I feel it could get expensive quite quickly at this rate.

I have clearview lids on 3 of my tanks. They're really nice, specially the new tsunmai series. They are not cheap though.

I also use the BRS kit that's DIY. It's much cheaper and works fine. I know I've seen threads on this site that detail how to make a decent lid from window screen hardware.

 

[Casket_Case]

I was thinking about getting a lid for my tank but I see many without one. What’s the general consensus? Also, are some fish more prone than others to take the leap? Thank for the info.

I need a glass top so bad but I have a mesh one

 

[Katepete722]

I ran my biocube without a lid for years and never lost a fish. I upgraded to a 120 and made a mesh top from a home depot screen kit and some mesh from Amazon. No regrets and now I can be confident I won't lose fish to jumping.

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

I just use a cheap reptile screen lid for my tank.

It is rusting so I wouldn't recommend it for anything but a quick fix, however it has been working well to keep fish in.

Most of the time fish "jump" by sliding up the wall and going over the edge, this is not as much of a problem if you have a rim or interior ledges though.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I’ve Lost two wrasse to jumping; one was open top and one made it through an egg crate lid. I’m waiting on mesh to be delivered to build a tight fitting screen top.

 

[fishface NJ]

screen top lid here

 

[Saltyreef]

Topless my entire reefing career.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Canopy here. I call it my wrasse aviary because they will jump. Saved them too many times to count.

 

[southerntnreefer]

ive got a canopy. ive got some air spots, which ill likely have to put some mesh, but actual top is open under the canopy.

 

[mborn]

I also have a canopy. The frame is open on the sides and back where I put up mesh screen like a fence to block those openings. So, the top is open, but the fish can’t escape the perimeter.