Glass Cover?
- Thread starter Davidl
- Start date
Just like freshwater, glass covers decrease evaporation and minimize tank contamination, but are not required. I think you can get better light throughput without them because they always get dusty and sometimes salty, but I got tired of adding water to the tank everyday.
I put a glass cover on my tank when I first had it running. It seemed like it was reflecting some light as it blinded me any time I looked at the top of the tank. The temp also increased a couple degrees since the water didnt evaporate as much with it on. I decided to take mine off after a few days.
The lighting on most marine tanks is so hot that a glass cover just traps heat and raises the tank temperature. The open top allows for more effective cooling- I have a small fan blowing through the space between the water and the lights.
Also salt spray builds up so quickly that keeping glass tops clean is about a full time job.
Also salt spray builds up so quickly that keeping glass tops clean is about a full time job.
I don't cover the larger reef tank for the reasons Cearbhaill mentions. The nano is covered because I want to keep evaporation down, and because the lighting is less intense.
I have this same trouble with temp regulation if my glass top is completely closed. The problem is I'm going to have to find another solution other than leaving the front open b/c I'm planning to get a fairy wrasse to go in the tank and they are known for jumping out of the tank. Any suggestions for fixing this problem? My lights sit flat on the glass, that's why (I think) the temp goes up so much during the day. If I leave the front up, the temp is regulated just fine.
A DIY canopy to hold the lights and cover the tank is a great solution. You can design the canopy to have the lights at a safe distance over the open water, holes for cords to go through, and fans to help cool. Wouldn't have a big tank any other way--especially not with MH. In the 120 canopies, the holes were planned so that the plastic inserts used on a desk to allow for phone and power cords would fit in there--this way, the hole can be partially closed off to prevent jumpers.
i think it should also depend on what lights you are using. i know some of the coralife pc say on the box " for use on covered tanks only". im assuming that they are not sealed well enough to keep the moisture out of the fixture.