hood or no hood?

bigdaddy234 · 08/08/2016, 03:27 PM

hey guys,

I have my setup almost ready to go. its a 75 gallon rimless tank with no hood. im wondering if i should build a hood for it?

I have 2 kessil 360's on goose necks but also wanted to add a couple t5's which the hood would accommodate.

im also thinking it would help with evaporation?

thanks for any insight.

mcgyvr · 08/08/2016, 04:03 PM

mostly personal preference..

No point in paying for a rimless tank if you are going to put a canopy/hood on it IMO...

GimpyFin · 08/08/2016, 04:08 PM

+1 to what mcgyvr said. Really whatever you like the best. I usually like having a hood on mine (Also helps keep light from bleeding out), but mine's not rimless either. There's some really cool rimless tanks without hoods (Check out D2mini's tank build in this section of the forum if you haven't seen it.) A glass top would help some with evaporation, but not so much a hood.

Johnseye · 08/08/2016, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdaddy234

hey guys,

I have my setup almost ready to go. its a 75 gallon rimless tank with no hood. im wondering if i should build a hood for it?

I have 2 kessil 360's on goose necks but also wanted to add a couple t5's which the hood would accommodate.

im also thinking it would help with evaporation?

thanks for any insight.

Only reason to add a cover would be to stop jumping livestock from dying. You actually want an open exposure to the air for oxygen exchange purposes. If you do any sort of cover it should be a screen. My opinion of a best practice.

NAClFiSHy · 08/08/2016, 04:10 PM

Topless is the way to go.

JohnnyHildo · 08/08/2016, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NAClFiSHy

Topless is the way to go.

until you the hard money you spent starts ending up on the floor the morning after all dismal and dried out. i'm a big fan of wrasses so i require something to keep them in the tank.
however, i wouldn't do anything more than netting. a full on hood reminds me of what my freshwater setups used to look like and are tacky looking.

mcgyvr · 08/08/2016, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyHildo

ending up on the floor the morning after all dismal and dried out.

topless + ^ just brings me back to spring break..

GimpyFin · 08/08/2016, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NAClFiSHy

Topless is the way to go.

bundybear1981 · 08/09/2016, 05:20 AM

I was going to build a hood for my current tank but liked the look without the hood plus its much easier to do maintenance without a hood.

One of my tanks which is outside in a covered area has a hood to keep the bugs out.

End of the days its all a personal preference

Mark426 · 08/09/2016, 05:26 AM

Hoods are soooo yesterday.

C.Eymann · 08/09/2016, 07:58 AM

Nothing beats the clean look of an open top rimless tank with some sleek light fixtures suspended from the ceiling with wire.

Wazzel · 08/09/2016, 08:08 AM

Rimless with LEDs = no hood. I would suggest getting a screen top. You can DIY or order from a few different vendors.

My new tank. I need to get a screen top. The fish I have now are not prone to jumping, but you never know 100%.

lespaul339 · 08/09/2016, 08:40 AM

I did the BRS screen top.

rt67ghy · 08/09/2016, 11:04 AM

I have a hood because I only use T5's. I have all my T5's and ballasts attached to the hood. The hood also keeps my cats and the dust out of the tank. Otherwise it comes down to personal preferences and what you prefer.

Mussin · 08/09/2016, 12:27 PM

Ran a canopy for years in my 90 with t5 lighting. I now have a 120 with an open top and a led light hung from the ceiling. Top less is so nice especially for cleaning g and arranging coral.

Reef Frog · 08/10/2016, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark426

Hoods are soooo yesterday.

I know what you're talking about, but personally I think a slim, modern looking low profile hood in a solid color that matches the stand looks modem & really nice and will match most decor.

As noted, hoods block light spillage, keep fish in the water & off the floor, keeps dust & bugs out, and can regulate evaporation. A properly designed hood will have no negative effect whatsoever on oxygen exchange. That old trope is way over done IMO.

Convict Tang · 08/10/2016, 01:20 PM

Hoods are sooooooo 2000's lol

I prefer topless these days - especially if you are getting a Rimless tank. It just gives a modern look which I prefer more aesthetically. You can pull off modern with a hood - but I'm just partial to topless + mesh cover setups.

FishyKat · 08/10/2016, 01:23 PM

I don't like canopies either. They take away from the tank, IMO, and an eyesore. I thought about getting one to keep the light from flowing into the room, but decided against it. the light really doesn't bother me after all.

I just have a screen top to keep the fish from jumping

bjolly · 08/10/2016, 01:41 PM

I feel like the last person in the hobby who doesn't like rimless or topless tanks. It just looks like a big spill on the floor waiting to happen, plus the worries about cats jumping in, things falling/being dropped in, and the light spill into the room. I also find the exposed fixtures and cords unsightly.

I have my original lid on my jbj nanocube, retrofitted with a nice modern LED fixture. The cats stay out, the fish and water stay in, and I like it that way.

Greybeard · 08/10/2016, 01:44 PM

I tried open top. Tried to be very careful about fish selection... had a snowflake clown jump out.

A few clear plastic edge clips from Amazon, a bit of light diffuser panel cut to fit around the light clamp, and a BRS clear screen top kit fixed the problem. Easy to remove, when you need access, doesn't really affect the overall look of the tank, and expands the available fish selection greatly.

Greybeard · 08/10/2016, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjolly

I also find the exposed fixtures and cords unsightly.

Unsightly? Hmmm....

bjolly · 08/10/2016, 02:22 PM

it's more the ones with cords showing that bother me. Not trying to insult anyone's tank, just not my thing!

08/08/2016, 03:27 PM	#1
bigdaddy234 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 81	hood or no hood? hey guys, I have my setup almost ready to go. its a 75 gallon rimless tank with no hood. im wondering if i should build a hood for it? I have 2 kessil 360's on goose necks but also wanted to add a couple t5's which the hood would accommodate. im also thinking it would help with evaporation? thanks for any insight.

08/08/2016, 04:03 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	mostly personal preference.. No point in paying for a rimless tank if you are going to put a canopy/hood on it IMO... __________________ Who me?

08/08/2016, 04:08 PM	#3
GimpyFin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,032	+1 to what mcgyvr said. Really whatever you like the best. I usually like having a hood on mine (Also helps keep light from bleeding out), but mine's not rimless either. There's some really cool rimless tanks without hoods (Check out D2mini's tank build in this section of the forum if you haven't seen it.) A glass top would help some with evaporation, but not so much a hood. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 110 gallon

08/09/2016, 05:20 AM	#9
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	I was going to build a hood for my current tank but liked the look without the hood plus its much easier to do maintenance without a hood. One of my tanks which is outside in a covered area has a hood to keep the bugs out. End of the days its all a personal preference __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

08/09/2016, 07:58 AM	#11
C.Eymann Cnidaria lover Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Winterpark FL Posts: 1,483	Nothing beats the clean look of an open top rimless tank with some sleek light fixtures suspended from the ceiling with wire. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 80gal build in the works

08/08/2016, 04:10 PM	#5
NAClFiSHy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 61	Topless is the way to go.

08/09/2016, 05:26 AM	#10
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	Hoods are soooo yesterday.

08/09/2016, 08:08 AM	#12
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	Rimless with LEDs = no hood. I would suggest getting a screen top. You can DIY or order from a few different vendors. My new tank. I need to get a screen top. The fish I have now are not prone to jumping, but you never know 100%. __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS Last edited by Wazzel; 08/09/2016 at 08:42 AM.

08/09/2016, 08:40 AM	#13
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	I did the BRS screen top. __________________ Reefer Madness! Current Tank Info: 60x24x24 150 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump.

08/09/2016, 11:04 AM	#14
rt67ghy Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh Posts: 984	I have a hood because I only use T5's. I have all my T5's and ballasts attached to the hood. The hood also keeps my cats and the dust out of the tank. Otherwise it comes down to personal preferences and what you prefer. __________________ 180g mixed reef. 53g sump including 20g fuge. 320lbs LR, 140lbs LS. 1/2 hp chiller. Temp 75-79. Current Tank Info: Fish: 1 yellow tang, 1 mandarin, 1 pair of tomato clowns, 1 maroon clown, 1 skunk clown, 1 banggai cardinal. Anemones: 1 green haddoni carpet, 2 heteractis auroras, 1 LTA.

08/09/2016, 12:27 PM	#15
Mussin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lima,Ohio Posts: 728	Ran a canopy for years in my 90 with t5 lighting. I now have a 120 with an open top and a led light hung from the ceiling. Top less is so nice especially for cleaning g and arranging coral. __________________ 120RR tank/ 30g sump, mag 9.5, SWC cone 160, Reefbreeders photon 48

08/10/2016, 01:20 PM	#17
Convict Tang Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Somewhere out there Posts: 70	Hoods are sooooooo 2000's lol I prefer topless these days - especially if you are getting a Rimless tank. It just gives a modern look which I prefer more aesthetically. You can pull off modern with a hood - but I'm just partial to topless + mesh cover setups.

08/10/2016, 01:23 PM	#18
FishyKat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 371	I don't like canopies either. They take away from the tank, IMO, and an eyesore. I thought about getting one to keep the light from flowing into the room, but decided against it. the light really doesn't bother me after all. I just have a screen top to keep the fish from jumping __________________ No More Nanos! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2590548 Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Reef

08/10/2016, 01:41 PM	#19
bjolly Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Baltimore Posts: 599	I feel like the last person in the hobby who doesn't like rimless or topless tanks. It just looks like a big spill on the floor waiting to happen, plus the worries about cats jumping in, things falling/being dropped in, and the light spill into the room. I also find the exposed fixtures and cords unsightly. I have my original lid on my jbj nanocube, retrofitted with a nice modern LED fixture. The cats stay out, the fish and water stay in, and I like it that way.

08/10/2016, 01:44 PM	#20
Greybeard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Buffalo, MO Posts: 651	I tried open top. Tried to be very careful about fish selection... had a snowflake clown jump out. A few clear plastic edge clips from Amazon, a bit of light diffuser panel cut to fit around the light clamp, and a BRS clear screen top kit fixed the problem. Easy to remove, when you need access, doesn't really affect the overall look of the tank, and expands the available fish selection greatly.

08/10/2016, 02:22 PM	#22
bjolly Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Baltimore Posts: 599	it's more the ones with cords showing that bother me. Not trying to insult anyone's tank, just not my thing!