glass top or not?

[jerehmy]

I was woundering what everyone thinks is better

Having a glass top or leaving the tank open?

 

[Nu2SW]

I have a glass top on mine, because i dont have a canopy.

Good thing about glass top is that it keeps the water from evaporating so fast, problem for me is I have a 20g refugium so the water evaps from there

 

[Konadog]

Leave your tank open. It will help keep it cooler, aid in gas exchange, and allow you to get the most from your lighting system.

 

[Waxxiemann]

if you are using an auto topoff w/ a kalk reactor or somthing similar, it may be better to have more evaporation so you can replenish more.

... just a thought I had.

 

[jerehmy]

I have a canopy with a JPC retrofit kit on the tank, can that be above the water open with no top??

 

[Konadog]

I have had my MH lighting four inches from the water with no top without problems. Your lights shouldn't be any different. What type of ends do they have, the water proof ones I hope.

You may have to wipe them down occasionally due to salt spray.

I wouldn't use them just because of the heat issue. Evaporation can be your friend when it comes to cooling your tank.

 

[jerehmy]

thats the answer in the past week the temp jumps to 83-84 during the day. I put a small 4" fan on top of the filter and that came down to 80 today

 

[Konadog]

Once it starts to warm up, using a fan may keep you from getting a chiller. Much cheaper to replace water that run a chiller if you can.

 

[Nu2SW]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=835014

discussion at my local club.

about fans cooling tanks

 

[AJ69]

No glass top here,running MH.IMO you get better air circulation/temp and gas exchange.

 

[jdm01]

I run metal halides, so I leave the glass covers open otherwise the temp gets a little too high.

 

[ttt64]

I am about to embark on the MH route, is it really safe to have an exposed MH over water without glass?

 

[Konadog]

Single ended MH bulbs are OK, Double ended MH bulbs must have the glass as that is the UV protection. That's why DE pendants always have glass on them.