Lidz?

[nexusnight]

Who uses a lid on there tank? I'm considering doing up a acrylic lid in sections over my new tank to keep fish in lol. I figure there will be enough evaporation from the sump and it'll help reduce noise. Would this greatly effect the light that penetrates the water?
What are the thoughts from my fellow reefers?


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[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

no lid or screen at all ..only things that escape are snails

 

[spyd]

I made a DIY screen using clear plastic mesh material and aluminum window screen framing. I find it has very little affect on my lighting. Ever since I started adding wrasses and anthias. i figured I should go this route.

As for solid acrylic, don't do it. You will lose a lot of light. Condensation builds on the acrylic within a day and the light wont be able to properly penetrate through both the acrylic and the condensation.

 

[Pistol]

+1 on the screens
you can get the frame kits at lowes, BRS has the mesh.

 

[Pistol]

+1 on the screens
you can get the frame kits at lowes, BRS has the mesh.
I switched from glass lids cuz of the light issue

 

[theyangman]

Glass will have a negative on light, I have heard of effects of up to 20% loss due to refraction in the glass. That might be high, but there is no doubt that there will be impact of some sort. Acrylic might be different but I cannot see how it still wouldn't have some effect. You will notice a drop in humidity though I bet. (which can be good)

 

[Jewel]

I've had an Acrylic top on a tank before and I loved the fact that it didn't evaporate much but it was a pain to remove when I wanted to get in there, which was often.

 

[nexusnight]

So I read an article saying acrylic allows 92% of light pas without interruption and causes a 10% decrease in par values over a tank. Still contemplating it as  not a fan of screens and my tank is rimless. I'm running four hydras and have a fifth if needed.
Is the condensation really bad? Most of the evaporation would be in the sump ro I assume with display covered.
Dunno.....


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[BIGSHOW]

So I read an article saying acrylic allows 92% of light pas without interruption and causes a 10% decrease in par values over a tank. Still contemplating it as  not a fan of screens and my tank is rimless. I'm running four hydras and have a fifth if needed.
Is the condensation really bad? Most of the evaporation would be in the sump ro I assume with display covered.
Dunno.....


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It would be a mistake.  Evaporation will be at its worse directly under your lights (cover or no cover).  The water will just condense on your acrylic sheet and refract the light even more. 

It would be a mistake to use an acrylic lid.

 

[nexusnight]

Well seeing ur success rate big show I have to say ur advice is strongly taken. Maybe I'll try no lid and see otherwise ill figure out something for a screen.
Are fish less likely to jump out in a larger tank? With my 55 I lost three to flying lol


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[BIGSHOW]

Well seeing ur success rate big show I have to say ur advice is strongly taken. Maybe I'll try no lid and see otherwise ill figure out something for a screen.
Are fish less likely to jump out in a larger tank? With my 55 I lost three to flying lol


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You are welcome to try it out, but you will realize that keeping it clean will be impossible and as a result your tank will suffer.  I do recommend a screen top like the other posts above.

Even with a larger tank you can still have problems with jumpers. 

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

imhad a glass lid on my old tank  amd holy water all on the iunderside ..so im sure yu will lose some par  that has to travel thru the glass amd then the saltwater evaporation thats still undr the glass

 

[spyd]

Well seeing ur success rate big show I have to say ur advice is strongly taken. Maybe I'll try no lid and see otherwise ill figure out something for a screen.
Are fish less likely to jump out in a larger tank? With my 55 I lost three to flying lol


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What am I, Chopped liver??? I said the same thing LOL. I'm just razzin ya!

I have an acrylic cover on my water change tank and it is covered in condensation within a day of adding salt to the RO/DI water. You can try going without a screen but it is a crap shoot. I have a very nice Euro braced tank and really didn't want to put a screen over it either... But, when you start picking up $80 plus fish off your carpet, you start thinking twice. Needless to say, the screen is well worth it!! Especially, if you are considering Wrasses and Anthias.

 

[nexusnight]

Sorry spyd lol guess I overlooked that one. I do want Anthias and wrasses so I guess screen it is. How did u do ur lid over ur tank? Any pics ? Being rimless my tank may be difficult to do a lid for.... Hmmm time to start brainstorming....
Thanks for all the help everyone this far...


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[Jewel]

My tank is Rimless and I am concerned with fish jumping so I won't bother with fish that are prone to jumping like Fire fish or Wrasses, I think stress causes fish to jump, so I think if you don't over crowd your tank then you should be ok.

 

[reeffreak]

My tank is Rimless and I am concerned with fish jumping so I won't bother with fish that are prone to jumping like Fire fish or Wrasses, I think stress causes fish to jump, so I think if you don't over crowd your tank then you should be ok.

I'm going to disagree with the fact they jump cause their stressed. Maybe one of many reasons why, but not the underlying cause.

 

[Jewel]

I think it is the main reason. When you have too many fish in a box, they chase each other, When that happens they jump. What is the water too hot? or cold? or maybe the Corals are too bright or maybe the oxygen level is too high or low? maybe Some never jump and some do why? Putting a screen over the tank looks terrible.

 

[reeffreak]

I think it is the main reason. When you have too many fish in a box, they chase each other, When that happens they jump. What is the water too hot? or cold? or maybe the Corals are too bright or maybe the oxygen level is too high or low? maybe Some never jump and some do why? Putting a screen over the tank looks terrible.

I thought we were sticking to legit answer not smart ass answers.  A fire fish is a dart fish, they dart around in the water, they get to close to the top and dart the wrong way, guess what ??? He's on the floor. Wrasse are the same thing, they swim around doing Mach 1000, chances of going out of the tank are higher. Unless fire fish and wrasse get stressed more easily compared to other fish doesn't make sense. Like I said it is one of many reasons why they could jump. Some fish it's in their personality to "dart" around.

Oh I'm stressed I'm going to jump right out of this tank now, onto the floor and be done with it all. 

 

[Jewel]

Obviously you know what fish are thinking, tell me will my Hippo jump out of my 50 Gallon cube or can I put A naso in there to keep him company LOL

 

[theyangman]

Didn't think that Tangs were big jumpers.

Mostly wrasses.

Anyone else chime in here?