Mcsommerfeld
New member
Setting up a new 125 gal and I am growing tired of the vast amount of water loss due to evaporation, what is everyones feelings on putting a glass lid on the tank? Why or why not?
What are feelings on glass lids??
- Thread starter Mcsommerfeld
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SeedlessOne
Member
Holds in heat. Loss of par.
Reasons not to...
1. Gas Exchange, you may not need to worry if your sump is large and skimmer appropriately sized for the tank.
2. Heat containment. Glass tops have a tenancy of containing heat, not a bad thing in winter, and not a good thing in the summer. Evaporative cooling is a good thing, it allows the tank to have a daily temp fluctuation, cooler water when lights are off and a gradual increase in temps as the lights are on. Water is one of the cheapest things in this hobby, and using the natural evaporation to cool the tank is one of the most efficient ways to do it.
3. Light Issues. You will instantly lose up to 25% of your PAR with a glass top. It is another layer that the lights have to go through to get to your corals. If your tank is Fish Only, no big deal, but if you have a reef, it can be a big deal. Also the glass tops will heat up, get salt creep on them and can even haze over, depleting the light even further.
1. Gas Exchange, you may not need to worry if your sump is large and skimmer appropriately sized for the tank.
2. Heat containment. Glass tops have a tenancy of containing heat, not a bad thing in winter, and not a good thing in the summer. Evaporative cooling is a good thing, it allows the tank to have a daily temp fluctuation, cooler water when lights are off and a gradual increase in temps as the lights are on. Water is one of the cheapest things in this hobby, and using the natural evaporation to cool the tank is one of the most efficient ways to do it.
3. Light Issues. You will instantly lose up to 25% of your PAR with a glass top. It is another layer that the lights have to go through to get to your corals. If your tank is Fish Only, no big deal, but if you have a reef, it can be a big deal. Also the glass tops will heat up, get salt creep on them and can even haze over, depleting the light even further.
Rockys_Pride
New member
I had some on with EVO LEDs, didn't notice redox, heat, or light issues. What drove me crazy was the condensation and salt creep. Once I removed them, I was adding about a gallon a day through the ato. NBD, as water is cheap.
RtReef
New member
I used to use them up until a few weeks ago. The growth has picked up significantly from increased light. Less heat trapped between glass tops and water line, but also about 50% more water loss from evap now. I used to top off twice to three times a week, now I'm topping off everyday.
It has been said that glass significantly reduces useable light by around +/-50% whereas acrylic is only about half that. So if you decide to use tops, try to find acrylic and not glass.
It has been said that glass significantly reduces useable light by around +/-50% whereas acrylic is only about half that. So if you decide to use tops, try to find acrylic and not glass.
James77
Team RC
I've weighed getting one to keep heat in to save on some high electric bills. Other than that, they are a PITA to keep clean. I would not be worried about gas exchange since most have a sump and skimmer anyways. Loss of PAR would not be anyhting extreme, and could be taken care of by dropping the fixture and inch or 2.
For the top off, its pretty painless with an ATO, I would go that route if you have not. My 120 evaporates about 2-3 gallons a day in the winter. You cna get reliable and accurate top offs for $35 plus any pump, I use a LiterMeter 3 remote pump to go from my cellar.
i have allways had glass tops on my tanks and sump becouse making ro water all the time is a p-i-t-a for me. sps,lps,zoas ect all growing out of controle. a fan runing across the glass controles heat and prevents salt splash from drying on the glass(this is important). in my house the glass keeps out dog hair,smoke,dust,airasols and other airborn polutants and keeps the water in. i have been doing it this way for years on several different tanks with different lighting, it may not be for everyone but it's compleetly doable on a reef tank. heres my reef under glass with 1 250w mh and 28 3w led's @600ma wich is prety modest lighting for a 92g reef tank i think. i grew most of this from 1-2inch frags or single polyps all under glass.
Cool tank! I have the same size.
Mcsommerfeld
New member
Great help guys! Thanks! I think Ill go without and invest in an ATO, any recomandations as to brand for a good reliable ATO??
windyridge
Fish Mother
The best way is what works successfully for you. I have a glass top. I have an AI Sol so there isn't a PAR or heat issue from the lights and these LED's are extremely strong so I get fantastic growth of LPS, SPS and softies. I don't get much salt creep at all on the glass bit admittedly it is a pain to clean occasionally. With a corner tank and small sump, constant replenishment for the ATO is not an option. So I do want to cut down on evaporation. Gas exchange is fine, I have a 15G sump with 650 gph going through the sump and a skimmer rated the same. The tank is in the living room, so an additional ATO container sitting next to the cabinet isn't an option either. I have a fan that comes on after a certain temp for the summer months to keep the heat down. I do have normal temperature fluctuations from night to day even with a glass cover and if you have a controller you can program fluctuations in.
James77
Team RC
Tunze are great top offs, though they are limited by head pressure that owuld not work for me. I use a dual kit from autotopoff.com and a LM 3 peristaltic pump which can pump up to 50 feet up. Ive been using the dual floats for over 4-5 years with never a single problem.
I been using the JBJ A.T.O. for years and it works great. You do need a pump to go with it, i used a maxijet.
Like other have said tunze is one of the best and you can find them for sale in the used equipment section a lot since they are so popular.
Mcsommerfeld
New member
Does anyone know the demension of the pump that comes with the Tunze ATO? I need to be able to put it in a 5 gallon water jug as this is what I use for my ATO reserve.
Amoore311
New member
It would fit in a 5 gallon bucket no problem.
I used the dual float set up from Autotopoff.com since my resevoir is a full room + hallway away from the display. I used a BulkReefSupply.Com Dosing pump hooked to the floats.
If I could have the reservoir right near the tank I would go with the Tunze Unit.
I used the dual float set up from Autotopoff.com since my resevoir is a full room + hallway away from the display. I used a BulkReefSupply.Com Dosing pump hooked to the floats.
If I could have the reservoir right near the tank I would go with the Tunze Unit.
