Tank Top Open or Covered

steeevo66 · May 8, 2014

Always like to keep top of tank open for ease of access and better light flow, the down side is I have had a couple of jumpers, evaporation rate seems to be much higher and bulbs and reflectors on my T5 are getting salt spray(No lens on the fixture). Currently I have egg crate which works well but I am still getting the salt spray. I'm thinking of going to the glazier and getting two thin pieces of glass to cover tank. I just wonder if that will affect the light flow into the tank? Any opinions, suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Small triggers · May 8, 2014

Your better off getting acrylic to cover your light fixture and using screen or keeping the egg crate on it...
Glass or acrylic ontop of the tank will cut down on the oxygenation...and while it will cut down on evaporation...all the condensation buildup on whatever you put on top will cause issues also...

steeevo66 · May 9, 2014

Good point, won't the acrylic block more light than glass?

metalbender73 · May 9, 2014

Go to Home Depot and get some screen and a couple framing rails for it and fit it to your tank, use the cloth kind

Eienna · May 9, 2014

I believe Bulk Reef Supply sells a custom screen kit.

Waters · May 9, 2014

Eienna said:
I believe Bulk Reef Supply sells a custom screen kit.

They do but it is expensive......I think I paid close to $70 for mine (which hasn't arrived yet). I believe you can get all of the same parts at any home improvement store for around $20.

Connie · May 9, 2014

Glass cuts the light penetration down immensely. I just recently changed from glass to plastic screen and it has made a huge difference. The increased light actually started bleaching some of my coral. I would avoid glass if possible.

hart24601 · May 9, 2014

I use glass tops and I have no desire to use anything else. Most tanks do not have that much water movement on the surface for a great deal of oxygen exchange and besides that most people have huge skimmers that are constantly providing a HUGE amount of gas exchange. I hear don't use tops for gas exchange reasons, but really have not seen evidence of any tanks running skimmer that lack gas exchange. If you let the glass get really dirty you do lose some PAR, but most people are over-illuminating their tanks with LEDs now anyway. I have not had a problem with condensation on the glass. Keep it clean and you lose little PAR with glass. Here is a photo of my 65g with 2 reefbreeder value units and PAR. I run them about 75% blue, 25% white.

davocean · May 9, 2014

W/ an open top you get better gas exchange, and tank will run cooler.
The BRS kits w/ the clear 1/4" mesh seem to work and look best.

declanisadog · May 9, 2014

I used to leave mine open, but had a couple fish jump on me. I put egg crate on and my acros suffered from the light being diffused. I now use the clear mesh and couldn't be happier.

kaoscoder · May 9, 2014

I built a screen top for my 40 gal and really like it. Keeps the jumpers in, and there's less maintenance than with a glass top. I bought the hardware from Home Depot but couldn't find the 1/4" screen locally, so I bought that from BRS. (that link also includes a video on how to assemble the screen kit)

kaidokae · May 9, 2014

+1 on getting hardware from Home Depot or Lowes for the frame of the screen. I used bridal netting for the screen, it is a really light weight white material and you can usually get it at any store that sells fabrics. It doesn't seem to block any light at all.

427HISS · May 9, 2014

hart24601- is yours the stock lid glass top or just one sheet of glass ?

If in doubt, we could drill the glass with a few large holes, or many smaller ones.

Lemony Lemons · May 9, 2014

Waters said:
They do but it is expensive......I think I paid close to $70 for mine (which hasn't arrived yet). I believe you can get all of the same parts at any home improvement store for around $20.

Yeah, the convenience of being able to get the kit is really nice from BRS but it is more expensive.

I did mine the home depot way, but purchased my 1/4" screen from BRS and spent 11.47 on the other materials (2 aluminum screen frame 10' sticks, a plastic corners set - x2, 25' of spline & a spline roller).

I have a 90g and the 3'Ã—7' screen was enough for the 2 part lid and I have enough left over for another full lid - just in case

christine_b · May 9, 2014

I have noticed I have to fight to keep my alk up more with an open top. I believe its due to the rodi water being more acidic and using much more with the high evaporation rate. I also feel if you dont have an auto top off that the constant swing in salinity cant be good for the tank. I feel that as long as that surface water is an inch under your glass top and has good surface movement and you keep the tops clean you are good to go.

specvjeff · May 10, 2014

Waters said:
They do but it is expensive......I think I paid close to $70 for mine (which hasn't arrived yet). I believe you can get all of the same parts at any home improvement store for around $20.

DAY screen kit from home Depot is about $15.00. The roller is around $6.00 and the 1/4" clear netting from BRS was around $15.00 I think. Don't use 1/2". The gaps are too large and fish can get out. I lost a couple of Wrasse's and a Benny using the 1/2".