glass top on reef tank?

ScooterPie · 10-10-2001, 05:15 PM

Are you guys using glass tops (canopies) on your tanks? I don't have an actual canopy (the wooden type) on my tank, just the glass top and my power compact sitting on that. Is this not a good idea? Reasons I have seen not to do this include less oxygen exchange, more heat, and possibly most importantly, less light actually reaches the water.

If I took off the glass top, my power compact is long enough to rest on the ends of the tank, and even though it has a plexiglass cover on the bottom, it is not water proof. I'm worried about salt getting in there.

Thanks!

chromis · 10-10-2001, 05:28 PM

I really hated the glass tops I had on my tank. They would fog up and get all nasty and I would end up cleaning them every day. They eventually broke and I have an open top now. I love looking down on my reef and feeding whenever I want to

Steve · 10-10-2001, 06:09 PM

I use glass tops. Keeps the fish from jumping out. There are alternatives to handle that situation, but I hate all the evaporation with eggcrating. The glass tops really cut down on the evaporation.

tendar · 10-10-2001, 06:56 PM

I dont use the glass tops on my tanks. If I dont have a canopy over the tank I use egg crate in case any fish fell like carpet surfing.

What I have done with tanks with lights sitting on top of the tank I would use just one of the pieces of glass sitting under the light for extra protection from salt and in case for some reason the light got bumbed it would not fall in the tank.

naser · 10-10-2001, 06:58 PM

glass tops seems to stiful the tanks too much.. its like you running in a closed room with no air. eventually youll run out or pass out.

David · 10-11-2001, 02:35 AM

I use glass tops on f/o tanks but for reefs I don't buy 'em, don't use 'em. I build wood canopy's and window screen the open back for fliers. Why spend a fortune on high intensity lighting and then let glass suck it up? Also, evaporation = cooling, I love it! JMO

addicted2fish · 10-11-2001, 10:48 AM

I have glass tops on my reef but one chamber of the sump is open with a fan blowing on it. I don't think there is any suffering from lack of gas exchange.

Steve · 10-11-2001, 02:44 PM

In addition to what I wrote above, I also have a large sump that is open where there is plenty of oxygen exchange. If you do not have a sump, then you might want to consider not using glass tops. But if you have a good protein skimmer, this can take care of problems with not enough oxygen.

**SPasse** · 10-12-2001, 10:05 AM

Hi All,

The top vs. no top debate has gone on forever.

I generally advise against glass tops.

1 Although I agree that a system with a sump and/or a skimmer may have an adequate gas exchange interface, this is an area where I believe more is better. Also, O2 is not the only gas exchange issue.

2 Because of the salt creep water/mineral deposits and the glass itself, there is a significant loss of light intensity. This of course can be somewhat mitigated by vigilant cleaning.

If jumpers are a concern, egg crate etc, provides a workable solution.

Regards,

Scott Passe
Founding Member – Rocky Mountain Reef Club

10-10-2001, 05:15 PM	#1
ScooterPie Just Moved In Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 33	glass top on reef tank? Are you guys using glass tops (canopies) on your tanks? I don't have an actual canopy (the wooden type) on my tank, just the glass top and my power compact sitting on that. Is this not a good idea? Reasons I have seen not to do this include less oxygen exchange, more heat, and possibly most importantly, less light actually reaches the water. If I took off the glass top, my power compact is long enough to rest on the ends of the tank, and even though it has a plexiglass cover on the bottom, it is not water proof. I'm worried about salt getting in there. Thanks! __________________ Chris Johnson 45 gal reef

10-10-2001, 06:09 PM	#3
Steve Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: DeForest, WI, USA Posts: 259	I use glass tops. Keeps the fish from jumping out. There are alternatives to handle that situation, but I hate all the evaporation with eggcrating. The glass tops really cut down on the evaporation. __________________ Wisconsin Reef Society Member

10-11-2001, 02:44 PM	#8
Steve Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: DeForest, WI, USA Posts: 259	In addition to what I wrote above, I also have a large sump that is open where there is plenty of oxygen exchange. If you do not have a sump, then you might want to consider not using glass tops. But if you have a good protein skimmer, this can take care of problems with not enough oxygen. __________________ Wisconsin Reef Society Member

10-12-2001, 10:05 AM	#9
SPasse Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Forney Texas USA Posts: 2,298	Hi All, The top vs. no top debate has gone on forever. I generally advise against glass tops. 1 Although I agree that a system with a sump and/or a skimmer may have an adequate gas exchange interface, this is an area where I believe more is better. Also, O2 is not the only gas exchange issue. 2 Because of the salt creep water/mineral deposits and the glass itself, there is a significant loss of light intensity. This of course can be somewhat mitigated by vigilant cleaning. If jumpers are a concern, egg crate etc, provides a workable solution. Regards, Scott Passe Founding Member – Rocky Mountain Reef Club __________________ Founding Member – Rocky Mountain Reef Club You can see my former reeftank at http://www.sdpasse.com

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10-10-2001, 05:28 PM	#2
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	I really hated the glass tops I had on my tank. They would fog up and get all nasty and I would end up cleaning them every day. They eventually broke and I have an open top now. I love looking down on my reef and feeding whenever I want to

10-10-2001, 06:56 PM	#4
tendar Governor Join Date: May 2000 Location: tempe,AZ Posts: 1,114	I dont use the glass tops on my tanks. If I dont have a canopy over the tank I use egg crate in case any fish fell like carpet surfing. What I have done with tanks with lights sitting on top of the tank I would use just one of the pieces of glass sitting under the light for extra protection from salt and in case for some reason the light got bumbed it would not fall in the tank.

10-10-2001, 06:58 PM	#5
naser super-reefer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SAN DIEGO, CA Posts: 1,908	glass tops seems to stiful the tanks too much.. its like you running in a closed room with no air. eventually youll run out or pass out.

10-11-2001, 02:35 AM	#6
David Citizen Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 210	I use glass tops on f/o tanks but for reefs I don't buy 'em, don't use 'em. I build wood canopy's and window screen the open back for fliers. Why spend a fortune on high intensity lighting and then let glass suck it up? Also, evaporation = cooling, I love it! JMO

10-11-2001, 10:48 AM	#7
addicted2fish Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: St. Pete, Florida, USA Posts: 107	I have glass tops on my reef but one chamber of the sump is open with a fan blowing on it. I don't think there is any suffering from lack of gas exchange.

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