BRS screen kit or Deep blue canopy

Light will eventually lose a lot of penatration due to buildup on the glass, personally I would never use a glass top on a reef tank although I did just finish a small diy plastic mesh top for my cube I bought the netting off eBay and the other materials from home depot, you will need a razor blade and a hacksaw to make the diy screen top I paid under 30 for materials to make a 30x30 cube screen top for my newest tank build. Looks sharp and I get to keep the suicidal fish in the tank. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.
 
Yeah thats why I was looking at Lowes today but the selection was pretty wiped out for whatever reason. I think the BRS one would be easy enough to do. So I looked online and finally found the actual lid for my tank after being curious what else was out there.

So stupid question:

If glass covers are bad for light penetration and gas exchange- why would a company who manufactures aquariums build them that way? I mean surely they know something about what is going in the tank? Haha I dont know maybe they can make more money off a glass than a net Idk, just a thought.
 
The oxygen exchange fears with glass tops CAN be for real, especially with big active fish in highly stocked tanks. I'd be leery of any top in tightly closed homes with many residents. But it's not always absolute truth for every tanks. Each tank is different so universal statements often aren't helpful. Also, oxygen levels can be tested if in doubt.

Coral only tanks or tanks with low fish loads are much more resilient with a few caveats. An open topped sump with good turnover can provide some tanks, maybe most, all exchange needed. Depends on volumes of course. Many glass tops have a plastic strip in the rear which can be perforated and provided with vigorous air input via fan or air pump. That alone may do the trick.

They will slow down evaporation, so droplets can form on the underside. This may block a tiny amount of light and diffuse it somewhat. But many of today's lighting systems have so much reserve capacity it may be totally insignificant.

If you like glass tops I'd give it a try as long as many huge rare fish were not put at risk, as long as other methods of air & water mixing can be implemented. If it turns out to be not to your liking, you haven't wasted all that much money. A hybrid glass/mesh top is another possibility if evaporation control is the goal.

Just my opinions based on my observations. I'm not suggesting it for everyone and urge caution if trying it.
 
Hmm thats very interesting. Thank you for the detailed response. I dont have much it in but the damsels and chromis (working on a quarantine tank for new additions). So not a huge bioload and the tank only has a few corals. I do hate the evaporation so maybe glass is the way to go- or as you stated try it out and see. I do have a few airstones, need be I could place them in the tank or in the sump as well.
 
You're welcome. IMO airstines in the sump may not be needed if the water is moving fast enough. Another powerhead in there near the surface might be the ticket for a slow sump. Air stones can give you salt creep in some circumstances.
 
Ah I see, there is also lots of movement in the sump. So my concern now looking at the glass one again, is it looks like it sits on a ledge. I do not have a ledge or anything. I am concerned it is just the glass paneling which wont work for my tank, I would have to fit inserts onto the inner edge for it to rest on which would be more work.
 
I emailed deep blue about it (since they have no phone #, how stupid that is). So we will see I guess. My other concern I just thought about is how heavy a glass lid could be at 2x4'.
 
I remember the old cheap pet shop glass tops. They weren't beveled and the edges were sharp. Yea most tops are best sitting flush on rims I suppose. A custom job could be farmed out to s glass shop if you could find the right hinges - and you can customize any venting. Just an idea for those who like glass tops. Hope you can sort it out.
 
I like this idea but I have (2) power head cords, (2) light brackets and want to add an autofeeder. So I'd need holes in it. Anyone done that and could show me a photo. I might add I want an eel so it needs to be tight.
 
I did exactly that and it works great. I removed my glass top and built one with the BRS mesh and a screen kit from home depot. All for under $20. I use on both my display and QT. On display I have two cords coming out from the power heads. On QT I have a 1/2 tube from pump (water changes), power cord for the pump, power cord for the heater, and a HOB filter. Cutting the holes is simple and still leaves a good fit so nothing can jump out.
 
I used 3/8" thick acrylic to make a u shaped bracket that slides into the window screen frame and then hot glued the birds netting to it.
 
If you're using a sump and have a skimmer I don't think you'd need to worry much about gas exchange (skimmer = WAY more gas exchange than an airstone).

I've had glass tops on a few different tanks. The glass tops are designed for tanks with plastic trim. You'd have to factor hardware to mount it into the cost for a rimless tank. And even though it's almost all clean evaporated water that gets onto the glass it will still cause hard water stains and get algae on it eventually. They do have a plastic section that goes on the back few inches of the tank that you can cut holes in for cords and stuff.
 
I tried both at the same time. One side glass one side screen. I've ended up putting glass on the screen side. The main reason was salt building up on the light, bracket and top frame on the screen side. In the end I think cleaning the tops is less work than cleaning the tank, walls and lights. I don't see much difference in the light allowed. I have a sump and skimmer so I am not worried about gas exchange. I do have 2 dogs so I worry about hair in the tank. While the screen was on I found hair in the filter sock. I'm hoping putting on the other glass top reduces/eliminates that.
 
Definitely screen over glass for our reefs, glass maybe on FW tanks, but even my planted is w/out that.
Gas exchange and a cooler running tank
 
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