Glass tops?

[PirateLove]

My tank came with a two glass pieces that sit on top of my rimless tank. How much do these effect lighting and gas exchange? Should I use them? Thanks. :wavehand:

 

[kinggeorge818]

I've used them in the past, did not seem to have a negative effect. I have heard that it can make the lighting less effective but it did not seem to bother the Corals at all


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[Ifeelsick]

I read somewhere once that it doesn't make any difference when it comes to lighting. Make sure you clean it now and again as you can get etching on the glass.

 

[mcgyvr]

glass transmits about ~90 some percent of the light through it.. acrylic is better..
if you have an uncovered sump/skimmer there shouldn't be any issue leaving the top on as far as gas exchange..
If not I would recommend against it..
It will also potentially keep heat in and can reduce evaporation..

Most would recommend a "mesh" top if anything to keep jumping fish off the carpet..

 

[nereefpat]

For the reasons you mentioned (light and gas exchange), plus heat issues, I would not use glass tops on a reef tank

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

glass transmits about ~90 some percent of the light through it..

Nice clean new glass without any condensation or calcium deposits.

I can't remember the last time I saw a glass lid on a marine aquarium that was always spotlessly clean, though.

It's easy to overcome light blocking by using stronger lights. Reduced evap, reduced gas exchange, and other issues are still possible though. Personally, I don't like the look of glass lids, so regardless of the other factors, I don't use them.

 

[mcgyvr]

Nice clean new glass without any condensation or calcium deposits.

I can't remember the last time I saw a glass lid on a marine aquarium that was always spotlessly clean, though.

yes very true too..:thumbsup:

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I've had other types of habitats in aquariums that pretty much required a glass top for a specific reason to maintain the environment (ie a dart frog paludarium). I HATED it because there was really no way to keep it clean. I ended up replacing the glass every 6 months or so.

Marine aquariums do better with all the opposites of a glass lid (more air exchange, not less. More light, not less. and so on). The only reasons I could think of to use one on a marine tank would be if you had specific issues in your home environment (ie your home was often very cold and you needed to retain as much heat as possible) or specific livestock requirements (ie you were keeping an octopus who would escape any other type of lid). Otherwise, I think they're generally a bad idea, though clearly not a huge serious issue, as there are people who do use them.

 

[jubei2006]

Metal halides will shatter glass lids over time, especially if you get cold water/splash from a tank on it suddenly after the lights have been on for awhile

 

[IowaReefer]

Metal halides will shatter glass lids over time, especially if you get cold water/splash from a tank on it suddenly after the lights have been on for awhile

I ran multiple halides on multiple tanks with glass tops for over a decade and never had this problem. If you had this happen, you are the exception, not the rule.

If you don't have heat issues, and are getting oxygen exchange in sump go for it.

 

[jubei2006]

They were cheap lids getting hit with 400 watt mh about 10 inches above the tank. I second the mesh, eggcrate, etc over glass. Salt creep and calcium deposits will degrade clarity over time if not kept spotless

 

[sh4rkbyt3]

Lol sorry but had to laugh at some of the replies here. Less gas exchange? Hmm so anyone who has an underneath fuge with closed doors is suffocating their tank potentially then, or at least their refugium?

I'll agree about the light from a MH because of the heat, but I ran T5's over my 90 gal with a glass hood for a few years and other than having to clean it maybe once a week no animals or the tank suffered because of it.

With the LED's now it may be a little more critical and I'll agree that an open top is ideally better in general but let's not make up things. Your tank isn't going to suffer with or without a glass lid, we're not talking a completely sealed glass top here.

 

[nereefpat]

Lol sorry but had to laugh at some of the replies here. Less gas exchange? Hmm so anyone who has an underneath fuge with closed doors is suffocating their tank potentially then, or at least their refugium?

It's quite real. And people with fw planted tanks have tight fitting lids and minimize surface agitation to keep the CO2 in.

In your fuge example, the display is plumbed into the fuge. And someone pointed out that an uncovered sump would help if lids are on the display.