Why don't most aquarium setups have a canopy/lid?

[South Carolina reef]

The black mesh screen kit from BRS is easy to install. I only installed it to keep my chances of ( a cow jumped over the moon ) lol down. It does reduce PAR some but rather that than a fish eaten by my German shepherd hahaha

 

[James G]

I have run covers on my tanks for years. I left them off last summer trying to see if there would be a cooling benefit and in one night I had both a snowflake clown and blue cheek trigger jump to their death in the middle of the night. Covers for me from now on!

 

[mike550]

@gfreeman welcome to the Board! Of course your question is a bit like Coke vs Pepsi and strong opinions on both sides.

Personally, I have glass lids and a canopy. Few thoughts behind this. First, there is nominal (like less than a few percent) light loss through lids. Second, I had an open tank and as the salt water evaporated I started to find salt dust / crystals forming on the wall. You’ll also notice it in your sump if it’s in an enclosed cabinet. That was a deal killer for me as it was a signal as to where else could salt moisture or other stuff be floating around. Finally, I don’t worry about aeration because first there hasn’t been any factual proof that lids have a material impact on air exchange. Second, I have a sump and skimmer that creates a lot more turbulence with the air-water interface than the top of my tank.

 

[Cool Fish]

I’ve always had a custom made canopy. Keeps the fish in the tank and also minimizes the amount of light overflow in the room making it easier on the eyes.

 

[Anthony Gatch]

I've been trying to limit evaporation so I don't have to top off as much (small tank with no auto top off).
What's the benefit of more evaporation?

I add Kalkwasser to my tank. I need evaporation.

 

[Joe.D]

I don't understand why people don't use lids or canopies. People would rather their tank look cool than to make sure their fish don't jump out and die. Tells a lot about someone's priorities imo.

Agree completely! I have a mesh lid and I’ve still lost 2 fish to jumping. Not that the lid isn’t doing its job - it has happened when I’ve had the lid off and was cleaning the tank.

I now use a piece of plexiglass to cover half the tank when I’m in there working. I also verify all fish and look at floor around tank when lid has been off before walking away - though sometimes I have to hope the Diamond Goby is just hiding in one of his caves and isn’t carpet surfing somewhere. One of the fish I lost previously was a Yellow Watchman Goby.

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

I don't understand not having a cover either...

Made some out of Home Depot window screen kits, didn't hurt the lighting at all.

Fish WILL jump, it's just a matter of time.

Even covered up, they'll find a way to kill themselves.

Had an enclosure made out of eggcrate I was keeping my Gem Tang in before letting into the tank for a few weeks, the top was barely above the water line.

My super male flame wrasse decided to jump on top and sunbath in the LEDs...

 

[RUKelly]

I am for a tank topper (mine is a framed screen mesh designed for my tank that lays on top so I can easily access the tank for maintenance issues) after several instances in prior years of fish jumping out.

 

[Sorbi]

i would rather get rid of my tank than run a hood
its so much extra work to try to work on the tank with a hood in the way.
plus corals look good from above

Exactly, agree 100%

 

[i cant think]

I went the mesh route as whilst a hoot can make a tank look “smooth” it makes getting into the tank a pain and when putting corals in the tank you can’t really see into the tank. Granted it’s not easy to do that without a hood either it’s certainly nicer. The other thing with having a hoodless tank is that you can see the top down of the tank!
The best way to look at a tank is top down, you can see everything going in in it. And you have an excuse to use the whole of your rockwork and not just the front, you can see down the back and it just makes the reef have even more secrets of its own.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

I don't understand not having a cover either...

Made some out of Home Depot window screen kits, didn't hurt the lighting at all.

Fish WILL jump, it's just a matter of time.

Even covered up, they'll find a way to kill themselves.

Had an enclosure made out of eggcrate I was keeping my Gem Tang in before letting into the tank for a few weeks, the top was barely above the water line.

My super male flame wrasse decided to jump on top and sunbath in the LEDs...

depends what fish you are keeping, , of course a fairy wrasse will jump.,..
i think a tank with screens looks worse than having a full canopy,
depends how you want it to look in the room.

 

[Tlledsmar]

Evaporation is good thing.

Yes, you need to top off, but, small sacrifice, great benefit.

What benefits? Water evaporates. Salinity fluctuates, harmful chemicals become more concentrated. What's the benefit?

 

[Tlledsmar]

I don't understand why people don't use lids or canopies. People would rather their tank look cool than to make sure their fish don't jump out and die. Tells a lot about someone's priorities imo.

This. I lost 3 jumpers. I went to the glass shot after #3 and had 1/4" glass cut for the lid. Turned the lights up a bit. Now guess who isn't losing fish and adding water every day?

 

[Cthulukelele]

I run a canopy, but 100% the reasons are aesthetic and ease of access. It can be annoying sometimes accessing things with the canopy. And the aesthetic isn't for everyone. I'm pro cover as theyre living things that should be protected, but I get it

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

This. I lost 3 jumpers. I went to the glass shot after #3 and had 1/4" glass cut for the lid. Turned the lights up a bit. Now guess who isn't losing fish and adding water every day?

some actually higher evaporation, allows more kalk in the topoff water. depends how your run your system .

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

What benefits? Water evaporates. Salinity fluctuates, harmful chemicals become more concentrated. What's the benefit?

well if you have an ato, no salinity does not flucuate. If you evaporate more you can utilize more kalk.

 

[Tlledsmar]

well if you have an ato, no salinity does not flucuate. If you evaporate more you can utilize more kalk.

Those aren't benefits. Those are fixes for the evaporation problem

 

[i cant think]

depends what fish you are keeping, , of course a fairy wrasse will jump.,..
i think a tank with screens looks worse than having a full canopy,
depends how you want it to look in the room.

It really doesn’t depend on what fish you keep, all will jump at some point.
I’ve had clowns and dragonets jump, These are two fish I’ve seen most commonly kept in lidless tanks and I had a Spotted Mandy and clown in a lidless tank, the clown jumped and didn’t make it then the Mandy jumped but luckily I caught him and he did last 7 years after that. Ever since then it’s always been lids for me.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

depends do dose 2 part? or do you run a kalk reactor and calcium reactor?

ability to dose more kalk can be an advantage if you are in the second group , not sure on the 2 part users as ive never used it myself.

 

[Tlledsmar]

depends do dose 2 part? or do you run a kalk reactor and calcium reactor?

ability to dose more kalk can be an advantage if you are in the second group , not sure on the 2 part users as ive never used it myself.

Ah, 2 part all the way.