Closed Lid Cover or no Cover????

[saltyfishdude]

Okay, so I haven't used a cover or glass lid really at all on my reef tank, except maybe in the beginning. I have recently added another 48" coralife compact flo. light of 260 watts. That now gives me 520 watts over less than 100 gallons of total water volume.

I lost a clownfish today due to him taking a "leap of faith" over the top of the glass............damn it. Also I would like to try my snowflake eel, that I keep in a seperate tank, in my reef tank, but I would definatly have to have it covered.

Please keep in mind , I understand the tempature rising may result, and I would just put a fan in the refugium area under the main tank to compensate. I do not currently use fans and I keep my temp at 77 degrees.

What are some of your opinions on keeping lids, how they affect light penetration, (keeping in mind I only have 4 soft corals), do each of you use or don't use a lid, and what is your general opinion on using one, good or bad?...........................

 

[turnburn]

I have egg crate cut to fit over my aquarium. It seems to do the trick. Light penetration seems okay although I'm sure it's dimming it slightly.

 

[S!mon]

The egg crate cover works great but I think it's an eye sore. My LFS has a tank that they used an acrylic top that they drilled ALOT of small holes in. This way they still get evaporation without escapees. I think that the acrylic will discolor over time but who knows.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a totally enclosed tank with glass lids. My tank is a softy and anemone tank with wrasses.

If fish are your major focus, as they are with me, I think you need to have the tank totally enclosed.

You can use glass lids, and then put gutter guard over the back portion that is between the lights and the back of the tank for more ventilation.

Clean the lids periodically by taking them off and wiping them down with warm water, as they get salt creep.

 

[Chubosco]

If you keep your snowflake well fed (I feed thawed white shrimp) it won't move about so much knocking down corals and such. If I don't feed him enough he just goes all over the tank like a nut. Mine doesn't even bother the shrimp and gobies. Watch when you add the eel to the tank. Everything freaks out and tries to get out of the tank. Takes a few days for everyone to settle down.

 

[Snowboarda42]

I actually returned my all glass top today, because I heard that you will need alot of air to water contact to keep the o2 levels up. I like the egg crate idea, and even better, I know they make Grating for lights like egg crating that is Chrome plated. I wonder if they would make it in clear....

 

[Anonymous]

Covering an aquarium will cut down, severely, with gas exchange at the surface. This is vital in a healthy aquarium.

If you plan on doing this at all, make sure you have plenty of ventilation for air exchange. A fan will usually be required.

Remember, the only place gas exchange can possibly take place is where the surface of the water interacts with the surrounding air.

Air already saturated with carbon dioxide and other gasses will not allow any more to leave the water. So you are, in essence, trapping this in the water.

Egg crate is good, but does diminish light considerably (at least it did when I tried it way back).

Best to get inhabitants that arent jumpers, or feed them well, or do not put competing species that will chase them to the surface.

 

[Len]

I'd consider getting a canopy. It will allow more lights and yet look attractive. You can seal the back of the canopy to prevent jumpers (very important for my tank). Glass tops reduce light more and more as they age since creep starts forming. Also, they reduce gas exchange. It's not my ideal solution to covering my tanks.