Mesh Vs. Glass/Acrylic Top

[BTimms]

Which is best, mesh or solid glass/acrylic lid top?

Is there a reason one is better than the other?

What do you have on your Aquarium?

 

[Nick Steele]

Mesh 100%

Glass/acrylic on sump is okay.

While it cuts down on evap glass/acrylic will cause issues with light penetration and salt creep.

 

[lefkonj]

Mesh Covers, with acrylic on the rims to hold it in place. Love them would never go with solid glass or acrylic. Better for heat exchange and light management.

 

[BTimms]

Do you ever experience excessive evaporation issues with mesh?

 

[JJHLH]

How about a hybrid?

I went to an Ajax Glass store and for $5 they cut a thin (1/16”) piece of glass that I can lay on my mesh screen to decrease the amount of evaporation.

I‘m a newbie so I don‘t know if it is going to hurt my lighting but I only need to add a small amount of water every four days to the back of the tank which is convenient.

If it doesn’t work I’ll simply remove it.

 

[Dkmoo]

If you have fowler fish only, then glass/acrylic is better bc its less evaporation, provided that you have other methods of air exchange.

If you have corals, the glass/acrylic will significantly and inconsistently (so you can't even compensate with stronger lighting) impact lighting so unless you only have light-insensitive softies, in most cases mesh is far better and you live with the increased evap.

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

Which is best, mesh or solid glass/acrylic lid top?

Is there a reason one is better than the other?

What do you have on your Aquarium?

With glass or acrylic you won't have that much dust floating into your tank. Also less water will evaporate.

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

If you have fowler fish only, then glass/acrylic is better bc its less evaporation, provided that you have other methods of air exchange.

If you have corals, the glass/acrylic will significantly and inconsistently (so you can't even compensate with stronger lighting) impact lighting so unless you only have light-insensitive softies, in most cases mesh is far better and you live with the increased evap.

Yeah, also glass looks better then mesh.

 

[BTimms]

My only concern with mesh is evaporation.

 

[Nick Steele]

Evap is easily handled with a ato and you only fill up a container a few times a month.

My 5 gal rodi container last me 2.5 weeks about on a 20g tank

 

[BTimms]

Show me some of your pics of diy tops

 

[landlubber]

Evaporation concerns are on the back of the list to me when compared to gas exchange, salt creep and diminished lighting IMO. All of these are also reasons 99% are either using mesh tops or none at all.

 

[CrazyCarlitos]

Yeah, also glass looks better then mesh.

Maybe for first few days. Haha
I personally won’t be able to handle looking at all the watermarks and salt stains after awhile. Lol

mesh all the way.
Cheaper and less hassle.

JumpGuard mesh + feed port from Octo Aquatics… and I am good to go.

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

Maybe for first few days. Haha
I personally won’t be able to handle looking at all the watermarks and salt stains after awhile. Lol

mesh all the way.
Cheaper and less hassle.

JumpGuard mesh + feed port from Octo Aquatics… and I am good to go.

Cool, the biggest plus with glass is low evap.

 

[Nate Chalk]

Evap is easily handled with a ato and you only fill up a container a few times a month.

My 5 gal rodi container last me 2.5 weeks about on a 20g tank

My 180 evaporates like 5+ gallons a day heh

 

[Just a Wrasse.]

My 180 evaporates like 5+ gallons a day heh

Yeah, same here. It was my biggest surprise when I started my first reef tank.

 

[Nick Steele]

My 180 evaporates like 5+ gallons a day heh

Yeah I’m sure surface area is key here. Mine is an aio tank so less evap due to sump as well. I have plans or a 100g and eventually a 300+G and I’m sure I’ll have a 50g ato container for the 300g and maybe a 20G for the 100g tank.

 

[Onewolf]

My only concern with mesh is evaporation.

Why are you so concerned with evaporation? That's why God invented ATO systems? My 5 gal ATO reservoir/jug typically lasts 7-9 days with my 90 gal tank.

 

[BTimms]

Evaporation concerns are on the back of the list to me when compared to gas exchange, salt creep and diminished lighting IMO. All of these are also reasons 99% are either using mesh tops or none at all.

This is the kind of information that has me leaning towards utilizing a mesh lid.

 

[BTimms]

Y

Why are you so concerned with evaporation? That's why God invented ATO systems? My 5 gal ATO reservoir/jug typically lasts 7-9 days with my 90 gal tank

I suppose I’m cheap, and I really shouldn’t be.

The ATO solution solves all of my concerns, it’s just another added cost. But probably worth it?