glass tops

findgnemo · 06/07/2007, 01:19 PM

i was just wondering. i have glasstops right now if i get t-5 lighting does that restrict the light that shines in the tank?

currentking · 06/07/2007, 01:28 PM

not if the glass stays clean. If it get s salt build up it will restrict the light

zma21 · 06/07/2007, 01:32 PM

In my experience, definitely. Even though my glass was crystal clear, as soon as i pulled the lid off, the tank was noticably brighter.

findgnemo · 06/07/2007, 01:53 PM

would keeping corals be a problem?

verolacoquine · 06/07/2007, 01:55 PM

spam

barbra · 06/07/2007, 01:56 PM

The glass will not only block some of the light rays, whether you can tell visibly or not, but it will also hinder gas exchange in your tank. You should remove it altogether.

rickh · 06/07/2007, 02:32 PM

Yes you can remove the glass top if you don't mind your fish carpet surfing and your nice new light encrusted with salt. People think egg crate doesn't reduce the light, but they are wrong. A tank covered with egg crate is really only 90% open due to the area obscured by the plastic. That's no better than glass. Clean the glass once a week and enjoy your fish in the tank, not on the floor.

findgnemo · 06/07/2007, 02:38 PM

cool i just got a firefish and i def. don't want that jumping out which they are known to do.

msn711 · 06/07/2007, 05:09 PM

Not only will it help keep your fish in the tank, but if you're running a sump, that's open top...gas exchange...voila, problem solved!

kuoka · 06/07/2007, 05:12 PM

Blenny's and some clowns will jump too. I came home from work one day and found my poor clarkii on my hardwood floor.

fish 511 · 06/07/2007, 05:20 PM

I have often wondered, why not make like a mesh screen to go over the tank to keep jumpers in, but not llimit lighting/gas exchange? Just a thought...

msn711 · 06/07/2007, 05:26 PM

How would a mesh screen, or any screen for that matter, not limit at least some light? By definition if you put something solid over the tank to keep fish in, you're going to keep some light out. Personally, I think it's probably a miniscule amount of light though.

laserjim · 06/07/2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickh
Yes you can remove the glass top if you don't mind your fish carpet surfing and your nice new light encrusted with salt. People think egg crate doesn't reduce the light, but they are wrong. A tank covered with egg crate is really only 90% open due to the area obscured by the plastic. That's no better than glass. Clean the glass once a week and enjoy your fish in the tank, not on the floor.

Well said...^^^^^

amike5 · 06/07/2007, 05:57 PM

Use the glass top. It looks better, is easily cleaned, protects your lights, keeps dust from settling into your tank, helps keep heat out, looks better than eggcrate. The belief that glass blocks out more light than eggcrate or anything else is BS. Eggcrate will block out just as much as well as creating other problems. Though if you don't have a sump, you shouldn't use a glass top because of gas exchange. If you do have a sump, you have adequate gas exchange and can cover the top as much as you please. I highly recommend at least putting a 6" fan over your sump though to help gas exchange and circulation in the cabinet.

06/07/2007, 01:19 PM	#1
findgnemo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: florida Posts: 375	glass tops i was just wondering. i have glasstops right now if i get t-5 lighting does that restrict the light that shines in the tank? __________________ 55g 38lbs of lr fowlr 20g fo fishes 20g - 1 ocellaris clown 55g - 2 maroon clowns, 1 hermit crabs, 1 firefish, 1 diamond watch goby more to come

06/07/2007, 01:32 PM	#3
zma21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NOLA Posts: 1,453	In my experience, definitely. Even though my glass was crystal clear, as soon as i pulled the lid off, the tank was noticably brighter. __________________ SCA 50 Starfire: In Progress Current Tank Info: 20 High -> 40 Cube -> Nanocube 12 DX -> 25 Gallon Rimless -> 10 Gallon AGA Temporary Tank -> JBJ 24 LED -> SCA Starfire 50 Cube

06/07/2007, 01:53 PM	#4
findgnemo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: florida Posts: 375	would keeping corals be a problem? __________________ 55g 38lbs of lr fowlr 20g fo fishes 20g - 1 ocellaris clown 55g - 2 maroon clowns, 1 hermit crabs, 1 firefish, 1 diamond watch goby more to come

06/07/2007, 01:55 PM	#5
verolacoquine Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6	spam Last edited by mhurley; 06/07/2007 at 02:05 PM.

06/07/2007, 02:38 PM	#8
findgnemo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: florida Posts: 375	cool i just got a firefish and i def. don't want that jumping out which they are known to do. __________________ 55g 38lbs of lr fowlr 20g fo fishes 20g - 1 ocellaris clown 55g - 2 maroon clowns, 1 hermit crabs, 1 firefish, 1 diamond watch goby more to come

06/07/2007, 01:28 PM	#2
currentking Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Palm Bay Florida Posts: 868	not if the glass stays clean. If it get s salt build up it will restrict the light

06/07/2007, 01:56 PM	#6
barbra Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 1,408	The glass will not only block some of the light rays, whether you can tell visibly or not, but it will also hinder gas exchange in your tank. You should remove it altogether.

06/07/2007, 02:32 PM	#7
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	Yes you can remove the glass top if you don't mind your fish carpet surfing and your nice new light encrusted with salt. People think egg crate doesn't reduce the light, but they are wrong. A tank covered with egg crate is really only 90% open due to the area obscured by the plastic. That's no better than glass. Clean the glass once a week and enjoy your fish in the tank, not on the floor.

06/07/2007, 05:09 PM	#9
msn711 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Posts: 974	Not only will it help keep your fish in the tank, but if you're running a sump, that's open top...gas exchange...voila, problem solved! __________________ Shay Current Tank Info: 120 Deep Blue Pro

06/07/2007, 05:12 PM	#10
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	Blenny's and some clowns will jump too. I came home from work one day and found my poor clarkii on my hardwood floor. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

06/07/2007, 05:20 PM	#11
fish 511 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, California Posts: 679	I have often wondered, why not make like a mesh screen to go over the tank to keep jumpers in, but not llimit lighting/gas exchange? Just a thought...

06/07/2007, 05:26 PM	#12
msn711 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Posts: 974	How would a mesh screen, or any screen for that matter, not limit at least some light? By definition if you put something solid over the tank to keep fish in, you're going to keep some light out. Personally, I think it's probably a miniscule amount of light though. __________________ Shay Current Tank Info: 120 Deep Blue Pro

06/07/2007, 05:57 PM	#14
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	Use the glass top. It looks better, is easily cleaned, protects your lights, keeps dust from settling into your tank, helps keep heat out, looks better than eggcrate. The belief that glass blocks out more light than eggcrate or anything else is BS. Eggcrate will block out just as much as well as creating other problems. Though if you don't have a sump, you shouldn't use a glass top because of gas exchange. If you do have a sump, you have adequate gas exchange and can cover the top as much as you please. I highly recommend at least putting a 6" fan over your sump though to help gas exchange and circulation in the cabinet.