reef tank Question.

ramdude · 07/07/2012, 08:47 AM

Ok, I have had a few saltwater tanks before. Nothing with coral in them before

I have a 150 tall, At this time there is glass lids on the tank. Is it ok for them to be on there or should I pull them off ? I have heard that reef tanks for the most part are ran open tops.

I had a 28JBJ and ran that open. only due to the Metal halide hood kept shutting down and coming back on.

I like a tank without lids, only due to the glass tops always having to be cleaned.

cubanreef22 · 07/07/2012, 08:58 AM

the lids are more for the animals that could jump out

smaggard · 07/07/2012, 09:15 AM

Running without lids allows for more oxygen to enter the tank through the surface, just my 2 cents.

ramdude · 07/07/2012, 09:17 AM

I just wanted to know the pros of it.

smaggard · 07/07/2012, 09:27 AM

the pros would be it keeps jumpers in the tank.

mlott132 · 07/07/2012, 09:29 AM

I started with glass tops but have since built my own screen tops. Get the benefit of an open top without the worry of any carpet surfers.

sponger0 · 07/07/2012, 09:31 AM

Glass tops can also hold heat in the tank and cause the temp to rise. Get some BRS netting and make some screens. Easy to do with no downfalls to them.

billdogg · 07/07/2012, 11:26 AM

I ran my 60g cube for over 15 years with a glass top and never really considered any other way. Then it broke. I got the 1/4" clear netting from BRS and made a diy top using aluminum window screen frame. Literally within days the tank started looking better than it ever had. I strongly recommend screen tops to any and everyone. To make room for the plumbing I made it a couple inches shorter and just left a bit of extra screening hang out the back of the frame down in to the water to block jumpers.

ramdude · 07/07/2012, 02:07 PM

ok sounds good. I might see about making one then. thanks

Stu Pickles · 07/08/2012, 11:25 AM

Screen is the better way to go if you do not have an open sump/refugium , or acrylic instead of glass because glass will lower your lighting levels.

AZBigJohn · 07/08/2012, 12:03 PM

I also ran glass tops, but was having heat issues when I went from fish only to trying to begin a reef. I removed the top, and had my first carpet surfing episode. A suggestion I got from here that worked well was the plastic lighting grid ceiling tiles from the local hardware store, cut to size. It was the same width as the glass was, easy to cut, and it invisible unless you are standing next to the tank looking down on it.

Adding the grid instead of the glass also bought me two degrees of water temperature flex room.

Englishmatt · 07/08/2012, 01:44 PM

I have a 150G Tall and have glass tops on it with a closed top canopy. Since my tank is tall, and my stand is tall....looking in the top is simply not feasible.

I have 40G QT and 40G Fuge and have glass tops on them. The only part of my system that is open is the sump, also approx 40G.

With my glass tops (my overall system is approx 270g) I lose about 1.5g per day in evaporation. Very low. I also have minimal salt creep and cannot hear my tank at all with the TV on.

With my sump and everything in my basement (about 30ft away and 20ft lower that the DT) I get plenty of gaseous exchange in the tumble from the DT drain all the way into the sump...so open top for gaseous exchange isn't a big deal....for my system.

Note: I use LEDs (radions) on everything, I only have MP40's on the side of my main DT so I have very little if any heat penetration from any devices.

My return pump and BP reactor is external to my sump...so again no real heat penetration at all. My skimmer is internal to my sump.

My tank sits at about 80.5 in day time and 79.7 a night. I use a small fan (PC clip style) on my sump to keep it steady.

My house A/C is kept at 74...I'm in Georgia...it get's hot.

I tell you all of this to say, that for me....the glass tops work well.

Just another side to the discussion.

Cheers,

Matt.

ramdude · 07/08/2012, 08:07 PM

Well, I pulled the glass lids off the tank tonight. WOW so much more light seems to come through. I never noticed when cleaning the glass before.

But def more bright.

07/07/2012, 08:47 AM	#1
ramdude Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 70	reef tank Question. Ok, I have had a few saltwater tanks before. Nothing with coral in them before I have a 150 tall, At this time there is glass lids on the tank. Is it ok for them to be on there or should I pull them off ? I have heard that reef tanks for the most part are ran open tops. I had a 28JBJ and ran that open. only due to the Metal halide hood kept shutting down and coming back on. I like a tank without lids, only due to the glass tops always having to be cleaned.

07/07/2012, 09:29 AM	#6
mlott132 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NWI Posts: 697	I started with glass tops but have since built my own screen tops. Get the benefit of an open top without the worry of any carpet surfers. __________________ 75 Gallon mixed reef, Trigger Systems Ruby 30S, Lifereef SVS3-24 Skimmer, Eheim 1262, 2x AI Vega LED Lights, 1x Jebao RW-8 powerhead, 1x Ecotech MP-40 powerhead

07/07/2012, 11:26 AM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I ran my 60g cube for over 15 years with a glass top and never really considered any other way. Then it broke. I got the 1/4" clear netting from BRS and made a diy top using aluminum window screen frame. Literally within days the tank started looking better than it ever had. I strongly recommend screen tops to any and everyone. To make room for the plumbing I made it a couple inches shorter and just left a bit of extra screening hang out the back of the frame down in to the water to block jumpers. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/08/2012, 12:03 PM	#11
AZBigJohn Usually confused... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,091	I also ran glass tops, but was having heat issues when I went from fish only to trying to begin a reef. I removed the top, and had my first carpet surfing episode. A suggestion I got from here that worked well was the plastic lighting grid ceiling tiles from the local hardware store, cut to size. It was the same width as the glass was, easy to cut, and it invisible unless you are standing next to the tank looking down on it. Adding the grid instead of the glass also bought me two degrees of water temperature flex room. __________________ John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system!

07/08/2012, 01:44 PM	#12
Englishmatt Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 162	I have a 150G Tall and have glass tops on it with a closed top canopy. Since my tank is tall, and my stand is tall....looking in the top is simply not feasible. I have 40G QT and 40G Fuge and have glass tops on them. The only part of my system that is open is the sump, also approx 40G. With my glass tops (my overall system is approx 270g) I lose about 1.5g per day in evaporation. Very low. I also have minimal salt creep and cannot hear my tank at all with the TV on. With my sump and everything in my basement (about 30ft away and 20ft lower that the DT) I get plenty of gaseous exchange in the tumble from the DT drain all the way into the sump...so open top for gaseous exchange isn't a big deal....for my system. *Note: I use LEDs (radions) on everything, I only have MP40's on the side of my main DT so I have very little if any heat penetration from any devices.* My return pump and BP reactor is external to my sump...so again no real heat penetration at all. My skimmer is internal to my sump. My tank sits at about 80.5 in day time and 79.7 a night. I use a small fan (PC clip style) on my sump to keep it steady. My house A/C is kept at 74...I'm in Georgia...it get's hot. I tell you all of this to say, that for me....the glass tops work well. Just another side to the discussion. Cheers, Matt. __________________ DT Info: 220G (72x30x24), 40G Refugium, 40G QT, 60G Sump (Berlin 400 Sump and Eshopps RS300 Sump), Bubble Magnus Curve 9 Skimmer, BP Reactor, Reeflo Manta Ray Return, 2 x MP40s, 2 Maxspect Gyre XF250

07/07/2012, 08:58 AM	#2
cubanreef22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: chicago Posts: 242	the lids are more for the animals that could jump out

07/07/2012, 09:15 AM	#3
smaggard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Broken Arrow, Ok Posts: 30	Running without lids allows for more oxygen to enter the tank through the surface, just my 2 cents.

07/07/2012, 09:17 AM	#4
ramdude Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 70	I just wanted to know the pros of it.

07/07/2012, 09:27 AM	#5
smaggard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Broken Arrow, Ok Posts: 30	the pros would be it keeps jumpers in the tank.

07/07/2012, 09:31 AM	#7
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Glass tops can also hold heat in the tank and cause the temp to rise. Get some BRS netting and make some screens. Easy to do with no downfalls to them.

07/07/2012, 02:07 PM	#9
ramdude Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 70	ok sounds good. I might see about making one then. thanks

07/08/2012, 11:25 AM	#10
Stu Pickles Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 132	Screen is the better way to go if you do not have an open sump/refugium , or acrylic instead of glass because glass will lower your lighting levels.

07/08/2012, 08:07 PM	#13
ramdude Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 70	Well, I pulled the glass lids off the tank tonight. WOW so much more light seems to come through. I never noticed when cleaning the glass before. But def more bright.