leaving top open-water evaporation

[dougiefresh]

I have a open top 90 gallon. I don't get any splashing. You can have a lot of with out splashing. What's sometimes a problem if you have bubbles breaking at the surface which causes salt creep, but most reef tanks have sumps where the bubble action takes place.

 

[winvargh]

does etching mean salt on the glass?

 

[winvargh]

I have a open top 90 gallon. I don't get any splashing. You can have a lot of with out splashing. What's sometimes a problem if you have bubbles breaking at the surface which causes salt creep, but most reef tanks have sumps where the bubble action takes place.

yea I do get alot of bubbles which makes all the splashing because the powerheads are too close to the surface. But when there close to the surface they make great flow for shimmering with the light. if the powerheads are too low then there's not that much flow and there's not that much shimmering. and shimmering is pretty cool.


yea I have bubbles at the surface because of my powerheads. they are very close to the surface but they make great flow for simmering with the light. but if the powerheads are too low then there's not that much shimmer.

 

[winvargh]

sorry I wrote it twice by mistake.

 

[TheH]

etching, I believe, is where salt corrodes away at the surface of glass resulting in scars/pits.

 

[winvargh]

oh yea. I have alot

 

[lordofthereef]

Unless you are essentially lugging RO water around from the store for your top-off I wouldn't even put the more vs less top-off factor into considering whether I want to go with a top or not. Get an inexpensive RO unit (save yourself the headache down the road) and just do top-offs as needed. I had a hard time justifying the expense, but at the end of the day, after water savings, time savings, gas savings, etc. it is way worth it. Make things even easier for yourself and set up an ATO if possible. That is a little more splurging with the money, but the RO unit is essential IMO.

As far as the glass etching, I have had no issues with the glass or the acrylic tops.

 

[winvargh]

Yes I do have a ro/di unit and I do top offs when needed

 

[JTL]

My 110 loses between 1 and 1 1/2 g per day with LED lights and no top (I do have a mesh to keep the fish in). I also think there is an important gas exchange taking place with the top open.

 

[Al Kurtys]

Top off!

Top off!

well from reading I heard it looks better. I'm definitely not goin to have any gobies i'n there and I do the same thing as you use ro water to top off. but I only need to top off once every week with the top on. let's see how fast it evaporates with the top off. and also I just upgraded to a medal halide which I think is worse. but topping off is no problem for me

I think with a metal halide if you don't have fans blowing you should't have a top on your tank! Are you trying to have seafood for dinner lol!