I removed the glass canopy -- wow, what a difference!

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Abarnswell

New Member
I had a glass canopy on top of my 15g. AGA reef tank. It was getting dirty (salty) so I took it off, and wow what a difference that made. So much more light got into the tank and the polyps really got happy after that. Now I think I like having the canopy off.

My PC light is on mounting legs, so it's not right on top of the water, although some water does splash up a teeny bit as it comes out of the filter and goes back into the tank.

Pros? Cons? about leaving the tank uncovered. I don't have any fish (at least not right now) that could jump out.
 
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incysor

New Member
Cons - As you've noticed salt creep, and mineral deposits will build up and cut the effectiveness of your lights.

The glass top will cause your temps to be higher, as evaporation is the main way for a tank to shed heat. The top blocks this evaporation, and you don't have as good oxygen exchange.

Pros - Less evap, means less topping off is needed. If your tank stays cool with the top on, and topping off with RO/DI, or RO water is gonna be a chore stick with the tops.

Glass tops are good if you have jumpers. Although eggcrate or an enclosed hood will also keep the buggers in the water.

Keeps fish/children out of the tank. Again a decent hood will do the same thing.

I've got glass on the back half of my octo tank, to keep it from 'exploring near the plumbing. The front half is open though. None of the rest of my tanks has any glass over it.

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incysor

New Member
Yes.

Check the photo forum for the latest pic I've got of the the little bugger.

This one is a bimaculatus, and wild caught, as opposed to the bimaculoides that you can buy that are tank raised. Even though they are sister species we've seen VERY different behavior from this one, compared to the first one, (bimaculoides), we had.

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mikeguerrero

Active Member
I'm a big fan of the glass tops; as I literally experience very minimal evaporation. I have a 72 gallon tank and I'll do maybe two glasses of water every three days if that.

Before I had the glass tops I was doing like 1 gallon every other day or so. Also the dust particles in the air land on the glass and not my water, I leave the windows opened a lot for fresh air.

The cons that Incysor mention are real and you need to be warned; I therefore purchased a chiller and once a week I wipe down my glass tops as they do build up a lot salt creep. But I usually have to go into the tank once a week anyway.

Also the glass tops mean no spray on expensive MH lighting... Oh yeah my tank is considered Alcatraz prison, you get in but you don't get out unless I pardon you and pull you out. Glass lids prevent escapees in the night.


Mike
 
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