Aquarium glass top

Marchillo · 01/29/2015, 09:35 PM

I'm a slave to having a glass top due to active and curious cats. I read some posts on the negatives. I have a hob skimmer and a canister filter which is more like a reactor. 40G Breeder 40 pounds live rock/sand

My wife came up with the idea of propping half the glass up while we are home. Does this make sense? I'd imagine we'd prop it open a few hours a day.

Should I have any concerns? I have fish only but may add corals in 6-9 months as I get more experience.

Thanks -Steve

Sk8r · 01/29/2015, 09:40 PM

Have a vent hole and use a fan kit. They make fan arrays for tanks: that way you can have a full canopy and maintain heat control.

Marchillo · 01/29/2015, 09:45 PM

When you say heat control you just mean water temp? My water temp is always around 78. Doesn't really fluctuate. Granted I haven't had the tank in the summer but have central air and not near windows.

I'm more worried about trapping gases that I've read on other posts.

thegrun · 01/30/2015, 05:53 AM

I would make a top from 1/4" bird's netting and a window screen frame, that should hold the weight of a cat and allow you more light and air into the tank. As to your question, it would help some to remove the glass while you are home, but if it were me I'm sure I would forget to replace it when I left!

morleyz · 01/30/2015, 06:03 AM

You're definitely going to want to ditch the glass tops when you put corals in. They will block a lot of light once salt starts building up. thegrun's suggestion of bird netting works really well. They also sell a clear netting at BRS (you'll likely only find black at the local home stores).

Joesvwbora · 01/30/2015, 07:30 AM

Definitely ditch the glass top I had a plexiglass lid for the Se feline problem and the light punctuation was awful and even with a fan the water temp would get to high.

Marchillo · 01/30/2015, 09:24 AM

So the clear netting will hold the cat? On the bright side the cat I'm worried about is my smallest one. She weighs less than 10 pounds.

morleyz · 01/30/2015, 09:28 AM

You building it using screen hardware, so if you stretch it properly, you should have no problems with it keeping the cat out.

Dan_P · 01/30/2015, 08:56 PM

I have an 18 pound cat and a glass top works wonders to keep Bhudda from going for a swim.

Gas exchange is an important consideration. Your skimmer is probably a major source of oxygen supply for the fish with the tank covered, so, keep that going and working properly.

Glass can filter light somewhat but not sure if it is a very important issue. Glass tops can get dusty and salt encrusted which can substantially cut down on light. Keep it clean.

Tanks that need evaporative cooling because of hot lights and submerged pumps benefit from maximizing the area of water exposed to the atmosphere. If you don't have this need, a glass cover is fine.

gone fishin · 01/31/2015, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I would make a top from 1/4" bird's netting and a window screen frame, that should hold the weight of a cat and allow you more light and air into the tank. As to your question, it would help some to remove the glass while you are home, but if it were me I'm sure I would forget to replace it when I left!

I use the screens and my cats do not get up there. Maybe it is the feel of the screen that they don't like.

Marchillo · 01/31/2015, 07:09 AM

Good point Tony. One jump on the screen would probably be her last. How do I pulled off the screen with hob equipment. Doesn't make sense it would be easy to customize. Unless i keep the whole back open.

01/29/2015, 09:35 PM	#1
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Aquarium glass top I'm a slave to having a glass top due to active and curious cats. I read some posts on the negatives. I have a hob skimmer and a canister filter which is more like a reactor. 40G Breeder 40 pounds live rock/sand My wife came up with the idea of propping half the glass up while we are home. Does this make sense? I'd imagine we'd prop it open a few hours a day. Should I have any concerns? I have fish only but may add corals in 6-9 months as I get more experience. Thanks -Steve

01/29/2015, 09:40 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Have a vent hole and use a fan kit. They make fan arrays for tanks: that way you can have a full canopy and maintain heat control. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/30/2015, 06:03 AM	#5
morleyz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 304	You're definitely going to want to ditch the glass tops when you put corals in. They will block a lot of light once salt starts building up. thegrun's suggestion of bird netting works really well. They also sell a clear netting at BRS (you'll likely only find black at the local home stores). __________________ -jeff

01/30/2015, 09:28 AM	#8
morleyz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 304	You building it using screen hardware, so if you stretch it properly, you should have no problems with it keeping the cat out. __________________ -jeff

01/29/2015, 09:45 PM	#3
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	When you say heat control you just mean water temp? My water temp is always around 78. Doesn't really fluctuate. Granted I haven't had the tank in the summer but have central air and not near windows. I'm more worried about trapping gases that I've read on other posts.

01/30/2015, 05:53 AM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would make a top from 1/4" bird's netting and a window screen frame, that should hold the weight of a cat and allow you more light and air into the tank. As to your question, it would help some to remove the glass while you are home, but if it were me I'm sure I would forget to replace it when I left!

01/30/2015, 07:30 AM	#6
Joesvwbora Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 35	Definitely ditch the glass top I had a plexiglass lid for the Se feline problem and the light punctuation was awful and even with a fan the water temp would get to high.

01/30/2015, 09:24 AM	#7
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	So the clear netting will hold the cat? On the bright side the cat I'm worried about is my smallest one. She weighs less than 10 pounds.

01/30/2015, 08:56 PM	#9
Dan_P Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,432	I have an 18 pound cat and a glass top works wonders to keep Bhudda from going for a swim. Gas exchange is an important consideration. Your skimmer is probably a major source of oxygen supply for the fish with the tank covered, so, keep that going and working properly. Glass can filter light somewhat but not sure if it is a very important issue. Glass tops can get dusty and salt encrusted which can substantially cut down on light. Keep it clean. Tanks that need evaporative cooling because of hot lights and submerged pumps benefit from maximizing the area of water exposed to the atmosphere. If you don't have this need, a glass cover is fine.

01/31/2015, 07:09 AM	#11
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	Good point Tony. One jump on the screen would probably be her last. How do I pulled off the screen with hob equipment. Doesn't make sense it would be easy to customize. Unless i keep the whole back open.