Why do you not cover the top of your tank?
- Thread starter fish1219
- Start date
daveverdo
New member
Two main reasons people don't cover the tank are loss of O2 and loss of light.
A glass top prevents good oxygen mixing with the water and it also blocks light. It also doesn't help with heat exchange.
I have a glass top on the my display but have an open sump in my basement.
Dave
A glass top prevents good oxygen mixing with the water and it also blocks light. It also doesn't help with heat exchange.
I have a glass top on the my display but have an open sump in my basement.
Dave
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
i would say the main reason would be gas exchange. but even at that point o2 is exchanged more than ever before with the way we activly skim the water in the tanks and the turn over rate of the water through the sump and skimmer. also it is very easy to control temperature now adays with fans and chillers. I believe the glass top is much more neglagable of an issue then it used to be. but i will say this, it is much cheaper to use a canopy because of cooling costs, depending on the size of the tank.
EllieSuz
Premium Member
Why not try something like the following picture. It keeps even the smallest fish in the tank and doesn't interfere with either light or gas exchange. It's an easy DIY project.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk179/EllieSuz/TankCover.jpg
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk179/EllieSuz/TankCover.jpg
daveverdo
New member
My biggest complaint about my glass top is that it gets dirty/salty and blocks out light. But it is much easier to clean than my T5 bulbs and reflectors. Without the glass top the reflectors were always covered with salt residue. I find there is a tradeff I can keep the lights closer with the glass top or farther away without it. I think the amount of light getting into the tank is about the same and as I said the glass is easier to clean. I mentioned earlier that I don't think I have an O2 or heat problem because of the sump and secondary tank in the basement.
Dave
Dave
nwrogers
Got gorgs?
I suppose if you have a good skimmer and your willing to clean the glass regularly that glass tops would work fine. It especially makes sence if you are using t5 bulbs because of the salt residue. For what it is worth I don't think glass tops are bad it just wouldn't be my first choice but I can see how they would be good in this application.
livingstone
New member
Oh but it does interfere with the light.
livingstone
New member
Oh all right. I was hoping for a good argument! Isn't that what the forums are for?
Just kidding.
This isn't the argument forum. We specialize in abuse and contracdiction. Arguments can be found two forums down
Oh, and... "nobody expects a Spanish Inquisition".....
Monty Python
In any event, it appears to be an empirical question. Are there still any photometers running around out there? This question can be answered quite quickly. Perhaps data already exists? Intuitively, it seems that anything placed between a light source and a target would deflect some light. It would be a matter of how much.
Anybody care to contradict?
Oh, and... "nobody expects a Spanish Inquisition".....
Monty Python
In any event, it appears to be an empirical question. Are there still any photometers running around out there? This question can be answered quite quickly. Perhaps data already exists? Intuitively, it seems that anything placed between a light source and a target would deflect some light. It would be a matter of how much.
Anybody care to contradict?
