covering my tank or not?

fasturtle30 · 04/06/2007, 04:21 PM

hey guys i was wondering this and havent seen a qs like this yet here!!

DO i have to cover my tank how much lights affect to develop algae with glass topcover? i have glass cover but didnt cover my tank yet since i have my lights atacched to the top and overflow in one corner ! do i have to cover with the glass to reduce algae growing? (im still cycling almost done) do you think the glass is protection to my live rock or not? thanks

papagimp · 04/06/2007, 04:25 PM

It all depends. Fish that like to jump out will need a cover. Other than that, I see no reason I would put one on a reef tank. The closed off top with high output lights would only help to cook the tank. And the saltcreep would need to be cleaned off it almost daily to keep sufficeint lighting coming in. The rock doesn't care if you have a cover or not.

costa13 · 04/06/2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fasturtle30
hey guys i was wondering this and havent seen a qs like this yet here!!

DO i have to cover my tank how much lights affect to develop algae with glass topcover? i have glass cover but didnt cover my tank yet since i have my lights atacched to the top and overflow in one corner ! do i have to cover with the glass to reduce algae growing? (im still cycling almost done) do you think the glass is protection to my live rock or not? thanks

No you do not have to have a glass cover and no it won't help reduce algea growht. I would recomend not putting it on.

MTB · 04/06/2007, 06:05 PM

Agreed. I don't use my covers at all. It buids up heat quite a bit. And it also lowers oxygen levels from what I hear. Other than a fish jumping situation, you shouuld not need to cover. Eggcrate can help to keed some fish in.

drummereef · 04/06/2007, 07:48 PM

I would advise against the glass tops. There are other methods, like eggcrate among others, that will provide protection from jumpers but will also allow needed gas exchange. Most likely you will see problems with depressed pH if you use the glass tops. Egg crate can be found at Home Depot, Lowes, etc...

04/06/2007, 04:21 PM	#1
fasturtle30 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: cheyenne, WY Posts: 442	covering my tank or not? hey guys i was wondering this and havent seen a qs like this yet here!! DO i have to cover my tank how much lights affect to develop algae with glass topcover? i have glass cover but didnt cover my tank yet since i have my lights atacched to the top and overflow in one corner ! do i have to cover with the glass to reduce algae growing? (im still cycling almost done) do you think the glass is protection to my live rock or not? thanks __________________ fasturtle30 Current Tank Info: Just starting settin up a 90 gl built in Overflow !! past 55 gl SW (past)

04/06/2007, 04:25 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	It all depends. Fish that like to jump out will need a cover. Other than that, I see no reason I would put one on a reef tank. The closed off top with high output lights would only help to cook the tank. And the saltcreep would need to be cleaned off it almost daily to keep sufficeint lighting coming in. The rock doesn't care if you have a cover or not. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

04/06/2007, 06:05 PM	#4
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	Agreed. I don't use my covers at all. It buids up heat quite a bit. And it also lowers oxygen levels from what I hear. Other than a fish jumping situation, you shouuld not need to cover. Eggcrate can help to keed some fish in. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

04/06/2007, 07:48 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I would advise against the glass tops. There are other methods, like eggcrate among others, that will provide protection from jumpers but will also allow needed gas exchange. Most likely you will see problems with depressed pH if you use the glass tops. Egg crate can be found at Home Depot, Lowes, etc... __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system