Glass Top Or No Glass Top

mhhauser321 · 05/02/2007, 07:02 AM

What are the advantages and disadvantages to having a glass top.

I have a 15 gallon(24*12*12) tank and I am going to be getting a small MH lamp for it. I don't know what the general Rule of thumb is here so I was wondering what it is.

sir_dudeguy · 05/02/2007, 07:22 AM

I say definitely no glass top, because they dont allow for gas exchange which can lower your pH and keep heat in...And since you're adding an MH lamp, you dont want the extra heat to begin with

I put other though, because it is important to have something on there. What i prefer to do is go with a canopy that is completely open on the back, and then cover the back with egg-crate so that it still gets the same ventilation as it would if there was nothing on top.

Or you could just put the egg-crate directly on top, but i dont like doing that as much.

tedmc2 · 05/02/2007, 08:50 AM

Eggcrate. Allows gas exchange, reduces heat build up and keeps the fish off the carpet.

Sk8r · 05/02/2007, 09:01 AM

With a glass top, you will quickly hit temps that will fry everything in the tank. Evaporation cools the tank and contact with the outside air removes the gases you are trying to get rid of.

mikeosoft · 05/02/2007, 09:07 AM

I prefer going without a cover for the top of my tank. It keeps things cooler and allows for higher oxygen levels in the water.

With that said, being that your tank is only 15gal you will want to invest in some kind of auto top-off unit. With that MH above it you will be evaporating a lot of water and your salinity will quickly rise.

drummereef · 05/02/2007, 09:59 AM

Just say no. Gas exchange is good. The first negative thing you'll notice is a drop in pH.

Crosby · 05/02/2007, 10:07 AM

I started out with a versa glass top and my temperature started to climb to above 84 degrees. I still use my glass top to prevent water from hitting my cora life lunar lights. I just keep the front lids and back open all the time. And keep a consistent temperature of 78 degrees.

TomRep · 05/02/2007, 10:35 AM

eggcrate

Sparty00 · 05/02/2007, 11:06 AM

Doesn't some of this depend on the livestock you are going to have? Like say for instance you plan to have gobies? Won't they find their way out through eggcrates?

papagimp · 05/02/2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sparty00
Won't they find their way out through eggcrates?

Many fish will fit right on through egg crate, but the majority chooses no top for heat / gas exchange reasons. Fish that want to be carpet surfers go into whole nother category. And this is when you need to be a little more creative about a top. Sure glass top will hold em in, but then you have the problems mentioned above. Definatly more options than just eggcrate, but it's easily available and fairly effective for most applications.

Tomorleans · 05/02/2007, 01:19 PM

I NEED a glass top. My Cats hang out on top of my tank.. :squint:

mhhauser321 · 05/02/2007, 01:34 PM

i am guessing people probably realize they need eggcrate
AFTER their prize fish jump out of the aquarium

Nano Chris · 05/02/2007, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tomorleans
I NEED a glass top. My Cats hang out on top of my tank.. :squint:

How about a canopy? I have a canopy, i plan on getting some egg crate for the back of the canopy (a few months back missing clown fish, was cleaning behind the tank and found him a few days ago and i had looked back there...

)

mhhauser321 · 05/02/2007, 08:33 PM

I think that i will probably end up going with a open top, with a PC system.

mikeosoft · 05/02/2007, 09:26 PM

My cat hasn't even thought about jumping on my tank since I stuck her feed into the water.

View Poll Results: What top do you have for your aquarium?
Glass	10	14.71%
Nothing	50	73.53%
Acrylic	1	1.47%
Other	7	10.29%
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

05/02/2007, 07:02 AM	#1
mhhauser321 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 283	Glass Top Or No Glass Top What are the advantages and disadvantages to having a glass top. I have a 15 gallon(241212) tank and I am going to be getting a small MH lamp for it. I don't know what the general Rule of thumb is here so I was wondering what it is. __________________ "Fry: I'm not a robot like you, I don't like having discs cramped into me... unless they're Oreos... and then only in the mouth." "Fry: Wow. That guy makes Speedy Gonzalez look like Regular Gonzalez"

05/02/2007, 07:22 AM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	I say definitely no glass top, because they dont allow for gas exchange which can lower your pH and keep heat in...And since you're adding an MH lamp, you dont want the extra heat to begin with I put other though, because it is important to have something on there. What i prefer to do is go with a canopy that is completely open on the back, and then cover the back with egg-crate so that it still gets the same ventilation as it would if there was nothing on top. Or you could just put the egg-crate directly on top, but i dont like doing that as much. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

05/02/2007, 08:50 AM	#3
tedmc2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 384	Eggcrate. Allows gas exchange, reduces heat build up and keeps the fish off the carpet. __________________ In a world gone mad, only a lunatic’s truly insane - Homer Simpson Current Tank Info: 18" cube, 12" cube, ADA MINI-S

05/02/2007, 09:01 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	With a glass top, you will quickly hit temps that will fry everything in the tank. Evaporation cools the tank and contact with the outside air removes the gases you are trying to get rid of. __________________ 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%.

05/02/2007, 09:07 AM	#5
mikeosoft Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 77	I prefer going without a cover for the top of my tank. It keeps things cooler and allows for higher oxygen levels in the water. With that said, being that your tank is only 15gal you will want to invest in some kind of auto top-off unit. With that MH above it you will be evaporating a lot of water and your salinity will quickly rise.

05/02/2007, 09:59 AM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Just say no. Gas exchange is good. The first negative thing you'll notice is a drop in pH. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/02/2007, 10:07 AM	#7
Crosby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 127	I started out with a versa glass top and my temperature started to climb to above 84 degrees. I still use my glass top to prevent water from hitting my cora life lunar lights. I just keep the front lids and back open all the time. And keep a consistent temperature of 78 degrees.

05/02/2007, 10:35 AM	#8
TomRep Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fleetwood, PA 19522 Posts: 1,219	eggcrate __________________ "I got me a big wave, ride me a big wave, got me a big..WAVE!" Ed Vedder It's a reef thing, you wouldn't understand! Current Tank Info: 50 breeder w/o sump mixed reef, sps dominant. NEP T5 fixture with no stock bulbs, Bermuda Rogue HOB skimmer, canister filter, DIY hang on fuge, 2x modded MJ400's, Tunze Osmolator ATO, Randy's 2 part dosed with and Aquamedic twin

05/02/2007, 11:06 AM	#9
Sparty00 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 272	Doesn't some of this depend on the livestock you are going to have? Like say for instance you plan to have gobies? Won't they find their way out through eggcrates?

05/02/2007, 01:19 PM	#11
Tomorleans Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Orleans(Westbank) Posts: 226	I NEED a glass top. My Cats hang out on top of my tank.. :squint:

05/02/2007, 01:34 PM	#12
mhhauser321 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 283	i am guessing people probably realize they need eggcrate AFTER their prize fish jump out of the aquarium __________________ "Fry: I'm not a robot like you, I don't like having discs cramped into me... unless they're Oreos... and then only in the mouth." "Fry: Wow. That guy makes Speedy Gonzalez look like Regular Gonzalez"

05/02/2007, 08:33 PM	#14
mhhauser321 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 283	I think that i will probably end up going with a open top, with a PC system. __________________ "Fry: I'm not a robot like you, I don't like having discs cramped into me... unless they're Oreos... and then only in the mouth." "Fry: Wow. That guy makes Speedy Gonzalez look like Regular Gonzalez"

05/02/2007, 09:26 PM	#15
mikeosoft Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 77	My cat hasn't even thought about jumping on my tank since I stuck her feed into the water.