anyone covering their tops with acrylic or starfire?

Nerdy Nudi · 02/25/2009, 02:04 PM

looking forward to an upgrade and wanted to get some different options for tank covers.

I use light diffuser now, but want to keep light reduction to a minimum. I am not worried about gas exchange as the skimmer is going to do a great job of oxygenation.

I am curious as to how much salt spray gets caked on to the glass or plastic, and how that light reduction compares to the eggcrate.

Another reason I want to go with a glass cover is to keep evap down.

so:
starfire?
acrylic?
eggcrate?

JEFFR259 · 02/25/2009, 04:46 PM

I would think that covering your tank with acrylic or starfire would be a bad move...not from a oxygenation standpoint, but from a temperature standpoint. Having an enclosed lid on the tank will trap light/heat, effectively raising the temp in the tank VERY quickly (think about how hot your car gets sitting in a parklot in the summer with the windows rolled up).

I've seen people use eggcrate before, but if you're thinking about putting a cover on to keep fish in, I've seen fish actually get through it.

dean1977 · 02/25/2009, 05:04 PM

You have halides? I agree with Jeff, if you don't have heat issues now you probably will. You would have to clean them off everyday too. I have seen some really nice screen jobs ppl use so wrasses don't jump out. Screen is nicer looking then eggcrate.
Anyway starfire would be best for light penetration, but expensive. Acrylic doesnt block too much light either but might turn yellow. Both will make the tank hot. If you really want to try it cut some cheap plexiglass to fit, then see how hot your tank gets (esp in summer), if it's not too bad order some startfire..

02/25/2009, 02:04 PM	#1
Nerdy Nudi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 473	anyone covering their tops with acrylic or starfire? looking forward to an upgrade and wanted to get some different options for tank covers. I use light diffuser now, but want to keep light reduction to a minimum. I am not worried about gas exchange as the skimmer is going to do a great job of oxygenation. I am curious as to how much salt spray gets caked on to the glass or plastic, and how that light reduction compares to the eggcrate. Another reason I want to go with a glass cover is to keep evap down. so: starfire? acrylic? eggcrate?

02/25/2009, 04:46 PM	#2
JEFFR259 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 595	I would think that covering your tank with acrylic or starfire would be a bad move...not from a oxygenation standpoint, but from a temperature standpoint. Having an enclosed lid on the tank will trap light/heat, effectively raising the temp in the tank VERY quickly (think about how hot your car gets sitting in a parklot in the summer with the windows rolled up). I've seen people use eggcrate before, but if you're thinking about putting a cover on to keep fish in, I've seen fish actually get through it.

02/25/2009, 05:04 PM	#3
dean1977 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: south jersey Posts: 535	You have halides? I agree with Jeff, if you don't have heat issues now you probably will. You would have to clean them off everyday too. I have seen some really nice screen jobs ppl use so wrasses don't jump out. Screen is nicer looking then eggcrate. Anyway starfire would be best for light penetration, but expensive. Acrylic doesnt block too much light either but might turn yellow. Both will make the tank hot. If you really want to try it cut some cheap plexiglass to fit, then see how hot your tank gets (esp in summer), if it's not too bad order some startfire..