Glass Lid or Open Top? Your opinion...

flamehawkfish · 01/18/2008, 01:28 PM

hi there

I'm upgrading to a 95G reef tank. I'm considering MH/PC Combo Lighting, and wondered whether I should go 'open top' or with a glass lid. Here's my checklist, and I'm still torn...

Open Top, Advantages:
- More natural gas/water exchange on water surface.
- Offers more light to coral.
- Lower maintenance (no lid to clean)

Closed Top (glass lid), Advantages:
- Keeps 'jumper' fish (i.e. jawfish, hawkfish) from committing suicide.
- Mitigates risk of water condensation on the light fixture, or any water contact with hot electrical lighting equipment.
- Less water evaporation.

Your thoughts? If I upgrade to MH lighting, I'd want to try caring for clams, LPS, and SPS...

Please let me know.

Take care,

Flamehawkfish

sk8rreefgeek · 01/18/2008, 01:33 PM

aw jeez...lol

check my thread on "does plexi filter light"

some pros and cons...still tryin to figure this one out

open top = great lighting and ventilation, risk dried up fish on floor

OranguTang · 01/18/2008, 01:35 PM

Yes, check his thread.

I prefer open top, one reason is a stable pH with surface agitation.

flamehawkfish · 01/18/2008, 01:41 PM

Can you please post a link for that debate?

My nerdy free membership doesn't allow me to perform any advanced searches on Reefcentral! : )

rustybucket145 · 01/18/2008, 01:43 PM

It's not even a debate. Open Top!

OranguTang · 01/18/2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flamehawkfish
Can you please post a link for that debate?

My nerdy free membership doesn't allow me to perform any advanced searches on Reefcentral! : )

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1296585

tydtran · 01/18/2008, 01:47 PM

Open top. Cover the tank with egg crate to reduce jumping risk.

McTeague · 01/18/2008, 01:56 PM

Cleaning the glass lid constantly is a huge hassle.

jennmac415 · 01/18/2008, 01:57 PM

open top... you risk not having enough gas exchange if you go with a closed glass top...

Otogi · 01/18/2008, 02:05 PM

I did what tydtran said. Bought some egg crate and cut it to fit the top of my tank. So still open but fish won't be able to jump out. My 90 has a nice canopy so you never see the egg crate unless you take the canopy off.

thor32766 · 01/18/2008, 02:46 PM

I would go open top and if you get fish use egg crate.

thor32766 · 01/18/2008, 02:47 PM

fish that jump is what I meant to say.

01/18/2008, 01:28 PM	#1
flamehawkfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 573	Glass Lid or Open Top? Your opinion... hi there I'm upgrading to a 95G reef tank. I'm considering MH/PC Combo Lighting, and wondered whether I should go 'open top' or with a glass lid. Here's my checklist, and I'm still torn... Open Top, Advantages: - More natural gas/water exchange on water surface. - Offers more light to coral. - Lower maintenance (no lid to clean) Closed Top (glass lid), Advantages: - Keeps 'jumper' fish (i.e. jawfish, hawkfish) from committing suicide. - Mitigates risk of water condensation on the light fixture, or any water contact with hot electrical lighting equipment. - Less water evaporation. Your thoughts? If I upgrade to MH lighting, I'd want to try caring for clams, LPS, and SPS... Please let me know. Take care, Flamehawkfish

01/18/2008, 01:33 PM	#2
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	aw jeez...lol check my thread on "does plexi filter light" some pros and cons...still tryin to figure this one out open top = great lighting and ventilation, risk dried up fish on floor __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

01/18/2008, 01:35 PM	#3
OranguTang NULL Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 977	Yes, check his thread. I prefer open top, one reason is a stable pH with surface agitation. __________________ -Marc

01/18/2008, 01:43 PM	#5
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	It's not even a debate. Open Top! __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

01/18/2008, 01:57 PM	#9
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	open top... you risk not having enough gas exchange if you go with a closed glass top... __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

01/18/2008, 01:41 PM	#4
flamehawkfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Marin County, CA Posts: 573	Can you please post a link for that debate? My nerdy free membership doesn't allow me to perform any advanced searches on Reefcentral! : )

01/18/2008, 01:47 PM	#7
tydtran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 853	Open top. Cover the tank with egg crate to reduce jumping risk.

01/18/2008, 01:56 PM	#8
McTeague Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 501	Cleaning the glass lid constantly is a huge hassle.

01/18/2008, 02:05 PM	#10
Otogi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 157	I did what tydtran said. Bought some egg crate and cut it to fit the top of my tank. So still open but fish won't be able to jump out. My 90 has a nice canopy so you never see the egg crate unless you take the canopy off. __________________ I have a Masters in Herpetology and I am playing with Fish. I think my Retics want to get in my tank. :D Current Tank Info: 90g FOWLR, 6g Nano Reef

01/18/2008, 02:46 PM	#11
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	I would go open top and if you get fish use egg crate. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

01/18/2008, 02:47 PM	#12
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	fish that jump is what I meant to say. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!