do i really need a cover

firstsalt · 08/06/2009, 07:27 PM

i was just cleaning my light because of plashing and i was wondering if a cover for my tank would be worth it

Klosxe · 08/06/2009, 07:33 PM

what size tank do you have? the answer will depend on your specific situation

with a larger tank, say 150+ i might say no because in that case the lights should be raised enough to not have a splash issue...

also do you have a chiller or other way to keep the temp right? a hood will keep heat in, so you will want to make sure you can keep the temp correct... maybe a fans to take hot air in and one to put cold air in over the hood under the lights?

IMHO i would say to get one, they keep the fish in and a hood keeps dust/other debris out of the tank. Countless fish of mine (mostly wrasses and hawkfish with some others) have jumped out over the years, so I think they are worth it but whether it is right for your setup depends on your specific situation...
Hope that helps some!

firstsalt · 08/06/2009, 07:46 PM

yeah mine is 55 no chiller but i think i need one i already lost a six line from jumping but it would of happened a worse way if he didnt sailfin v sixline i wonder who is going to win

MHannon · 08/06/2009, 07:52 PM

We need to know more about your setup. I don't like covers, I assume your talking about some sort of glass cover to prevent splashing on the bulbs. This traps a lot of heat and also traps the nitrogen gas from the biological filtration. If not vented your nitrites will rise. They also block light.

If you want a cover to keep fish from jumping, eggcrate is best. It allows for gas and heat exchange, while still letting most of the light in.

I would try fixing the issue of whatever is making the splashing, or maybe get a shield for the lights. Raising the lights higher might also work. Again we need to know more about your setup.

Sk8r · 08/06/2009, 07:55 PM

If you put a 9" fake rim on your tank (Light pine wood and laminate sheeting), you don't need a cover. Most fish can't clear 9", and that is how high your lights should be off the water, too.
That's my solution, and I don't have an overheating problem.

firstsalt · 08/06/2009, 08:17 PM

what do you mean the splashing is from my hang on protein skimmer

dstacy · 08/06/2009, 08:34 PM

Using a glass type cover has positives and negatives; it can disturb the nitrogen cycles by trapping gases but I've also found that it slows down the evaporation process. I've used light diffusers in the past (the open cube style) to prevent fish from jumping but have since taken it off......my hood does have a fan in it though so that helps with cooling

firstsalt · 08/06/2009, 08:43 PM

yeah i want to stop evaporation but i dont want to mess anything else up

firstsalt · 08/06/2009, 08:44 PM

plus i found some things to lift my lights of the tank a little

EverettReef · 08/06/2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by firstsalt
yeah i want to stop evaporation but i dont want to mess anything else up

Why do you want to stop evaporation? Evaporation = cooling. Without evaporation you may need a chiller. Evaporation is your friend.

Locally we just had the hottest day ever, a fan on the sump in an 86 degree house kept the tank below 84 degrees. The only cost was a little more evaporation.

Jeff · 08/06/2009, 08:56 PM

I have always thaught that glass tops on reef tanks limit gas exchange, trap heat, and block light among other things. I have a 6 foot tank with no cover on it and have a light fixture with an acrylic shield. I know that I am limited to not keeping certain jumping fish and having to wipe the acrylic ever week or so but I think that this is the best way in my opinion. Evaporation is good in my situation, I get to add more kalk via an ATO and the tank stays cooler without a chiller.

firstsalt · 08/06/2009, 08:57 PM

i dont like adding water all the time cause i got carpet in my room and every time a spill a little my mom freaks out i usually try not to tell her

EverettReef · 08/06/2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by firstsalt
i dont like adding water all the time cause i got carpet in my room and every time a spill a little my mom freaks out i usually try not to tell her

ATO is the answer. Or a new mom.

otrlynn · 08/06/2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by firstsalt
i dont like adding water all the time cause i got carpet in my room and every time a spill a little my mom freaks out i usually try not to tell her

Get a bucket with a pouring spout (Wal-mart or Target). Pours much more neatly. Happy fish. Happy Mom

firstsalt · 08/06/2009, 09:18 PM

thanks

08/06/2009, 07:27 PM	#1
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	do i really need a cover i was just cleaning my light because of plashing and i was wondering if a cover for my tank would be worth it __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"

08/06/2009, 07:46 PM	#3
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	yeah mine is 55 no chiller but i think i need one i already lost a six line from jumping but it would of happened a worse way if he didnt sailfin v sixline i wonder who is going to win __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"

08/06/2009, 07:52 PM	#4
MHannon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland (Cecil County) Posts: 800	We need to know more about your setup. I don't like covers, I assume your talking about some sort of glass cover to prevent splashing on the bulbs. This traps a lot of heat and also traps the nitrogen gas from the biological filtration. If not vented your nitrites will rise. They also block light. If you want a cover to keep fish from jumping, eggcrate is best. It allows for gas and heat exchange, while still letting most of the light in. I would try fixing the issue of whatever is making the splashing, or maybe get a shield for the lights. Raising the lights higher might also work. Again we need to know more about your setup. __________________ "Never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway." Current Tank Info: AGA 90gal W/ megaflow, 75gal sump in basement, Mag18 return, Vortech MP40 & MP10, six bulb 48" 54w TEK T-5, ASM G-3 W/ gate valve mod, softies, LPS, SPS, clams, lots of live rock & sand, & a 12 Gallon Nano Cube Deluxe w/ 70watt halide

08/06/2009, 07:55 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you put a 9" fake rim on your tank (Light pine wood and laminate sheeting), you don't need a cover. Most fish can't clear 9", and that is how high your lights should be off the water, too. That's my solution, and I don't have an overheating problem. __________________ 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%.

08/06/2009, 08:17 PM	#6
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	what do you mean the splashing is from my hang on protein skimmer __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"

08/06/2009, 07:33 PM	#2
Klosxe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 1	what size tank do you have? the answer will depend on your specific situation with a larger tank, say 150+ i might say no because in that case the lights should be raised enough to not have a splash issue... also do you have a chiller or other way to keep the temp right? a hood will keep heat in, so you will want to make sure you can keep the temp correct... maybe a fans to take hot air in and one to put cold air in over the hood under the lights? IMHO i would say to get one, they keep the fish in and a hood keeps dust/other debris out of the tank. Countless fish of mine (mostly wrasses and hawkfish with some others) have jumped out over the years, so I think they are worth it but whether it is right for your setup depends on your specific situation... Hope that helps some!

08/06/2009, 08:34 PM	#7
dstacy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 37	Using a glass type cover has positives and negatives; it can disturb the nitrogen cycles by trapping gases but I've also found that it slows down the evaporation process. I've used light diffusers in the past (the open cube style) to prevent fish from jumping but have since taken it off......my hood does have a fan in it though so that helps with cooling

08/06/2009, 08:43 PM	#8
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	yeah i want to stop evaporation but i dont want to mess anything else up __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"

08/06/2009, 08:44 PM	#9
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	plus i found some things to lift my lights of the tank a little __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"

08/06/2009, 08:56 PM	#11
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	I have always thaught that glass tops on reef tanks limit gas exchange, trap heat, and block light among other things. I have a 6 foot tank with no cover on it and have a light fixture with an acrylic shield. I know that I am limited to not keeping certain jumping fish and having to wipe the acrylic ever week or so but I think that this is the best way in my opinion. Evaporation is good in my situation, I get to add more kalk via an ATO and the tank stays cooler without a chiller. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

08/06/2009, 08:57 PM	#12
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	i dont like adding water all the time cause i got carpet in my room and every time a spill a little my mom freaks out i usually try not to tell her __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"

08/06/2009, 09:18 PM	#15
firstsalt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Rye, NY Posts: 438	thanks __________________ -Peter D. "Fish are friends not food"