acrylic hood advice

[happychem]

I made an acrylic hood for my 33g planted. I haven't put any plants in yet but I filled it up to get the water clear first and test all the equiptment, filter, heater, etc.

It's basically a piece of Acrylite that fits right on top of the tank.

Anyway, I'm having trouble with water condensation on the bottom of the hood. I'm worried that this will greatly reduce the amount of light that gets through to the plants.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience/advice on how I can get around this problem. Thanks.

[blitzen25bm]

you just gotta wipe them down or leave a little gap for the water to evaporate. ive heard acrylic diffuses the lights so they will be all over instead of just down at the plants and they arent good for growing plants. thats why they have those cutouts for the lights in the acrylic tanks made for reef set-ups. i would just use glass and leave a small gap like i mentioned earlier.

[happychem]

Hmmm, I was thinking about ways of leaving a gap or more room for water to evaporate. I'm pretty sure that Acrylite is fine for light, they use it for all their incubations in department (Oceanography). It's not actually acrylic, similar but a different polymer, I think. I'll keep that in mind though. Perhaps I'll move to wood and glass at some point down the line, but I've gotta stay with the materials available for now. Thanks.

[beviking]

The little handles that come with glass tops actually keep the glass up off the tank a little. You could try a couple of those.