Glass, Plastic, or Other

[CaptainK]

Hello Everyone,
What can, or should, I use to cover my 29G tank? I am looking to put some type of cover over the tank that the hood will sit on. It would be a divider for the tank and the hood, and also help in the reduction of evaporation.
Now my concern is what material would be the best in letting the most amount of light pass through it, glass, plastic, or some other material?
Anything that I can just run out to Home Depot to pick up???
If it is glass is this something that a Home Depot employee could cut to the needed size?
Thanks,
CaptK

[bajathree]

Hi
It is much healthier to leave a tank open than closed.

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We as hobbyists need to respect the reef, educate and learn so that it will live on for all to enjoy.
bajathree
Come Dive Into
Baja3Reef

[CaptainK]

Thanks for the reply bajathree, but I am curious now as too why, or how, having an "open" tank is more healthier than, I guess you would call it a "closed" or covered tank? I have never heard of this before.
Thanks,
CaptK

[bajathree]

Leaving the tank open allows the tank to breath(gas exchange). Evaporation is a natural occurrence and also helps the system to naturally cool itself during lighting periods. A closed tank will quickly heat up during lights on, of course depending on the lighting situation. Another thing is that closing the tank creates problems with salt build up on the bottom of the glass decreasing lighting. There is a lot more positive to keeping a system open than closed.


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We as hobbyists need to respect the reef, educate and learn so that it will live on for all to enjoy.
bajathree
Come Dive Into
Baja3Reef

[squdgy]

baja is absolutely right! heat, gas exchange and maintenance issues are just a couple of reasons to not put a cover on a reef tank. Gas exchange is a very helpful process to remove Nitrogen and Sulfer. That is part of why we skim off the top tank water, helps with gas exchange. Also, you will definitely have a hotter tank with a lid. The evaporation allows you to back fill with Kalk water also if you don't have a reactor.... So covers off please!

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visit my reef web site
http://squdgy.homestead.com

[fishrule]

Only problem with leaving the top off is, if someone sprays anything in the air, or other contaminants that can fall in the tank.

[Bamm Bamm]

I had a glass top on my 46 just switched to my 90 and decided not to use one I seriously don't know how I got any light intot he tank..the glass had so much slat on it and you really can't even clean it..My center brace on my 90 is alreeayd the same way after like I think i set it up 3 weeks ago..Dan

[hcp28]

Question: How would you get the salt creep off your lights? I mean besides changing them. Rub it with vinegar? I know that dissolves the salt pretty easily on the sides of the tank. I'm just curious now [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Henry

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Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall down an open manhole and die.
-Mel Brooks

[SPASSE]

Hi All,

I agree that the tank itself should remain uncovered, with the gas exchange issue being the primary consideration.

But that does not mean that the light fixture can not be enclosed.

This is why I am partial to the type of fixture that I show on my WEB site.

With this arrangement, I get the benefits of an open top tank and the protection, cooling, and lack of heat transfer of an enclosed, forced air plenum cooled fixture.

If you like the “covered” look, this kind of arrangement can also be built into a canopy.

Regards,

Scott

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The definition of an expert is a washed-up drip under pressure.
You can see my reeftank at http://www.homestead.com/spasse/

[CaptainK]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone!!!!
So, it sounds like it is a good idea to leave the tank uncovered. But I would really like to put some sort of clear cover on to protect my lights from the salt. So I think I will only put a cover on the part of my tank that has the hood and leave the rest uncovered.
So how about some suggestions on what type of clear material I could use to let the max amount of light through??
Thanks again for the help.
CaptK

[Rin]

If you can get a custom cover built from Starfire glass, that would allow the most light transmission. Starfire glass is silicate-based glass with no iron at all. you can tell Starfire by look at the edges. If they are clear (not blue) then you likely have starfire.

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-Todd
'Looking into the cake is like looking into the future--until you've tasted it, what do you really know? By then, it's too late.' -Merlin Excalibur