[Mirkle]

do you guys use glass tops/panles on top of tank under lights?

[stacef]

On my 20g I do not. But I do not have any known jumpers/escapers. I do know that when I get my 220 up, I will also NOT be using tops. Most likely build a custom egg crate top.

We had a thread a few months back discussing the issues with using the glass tops.

They trap heat! Possibly could...I don't know, drill holes in it if you really want to use them.

There's my 2 cents!

[WillLovesFish]

I have a 22 gallon and DO use a glass top. I really like it personally, doesn't effect light at all and helps with evapration. I don't notice my heat being trapped at all, my tank is a constant 77 degrees or so.

Hope this helps. Good luck either way

[carym]

I used a glass top on my 125 for awhile and then switched to MH and ended up removing it for the heat. I have had jumpers and I haven't done the egg crate thing probably should but I haven't, I have a fan blowing across the top of the tank that egg crate would effect so.... I try and keep the jumpers to a minimum but it can always occur, I lost 2 jumpers in the last 6 months, one I didn't realize until about 3 weeks later, it was missing but figured it was dead in the tank some place in the rocks, later found it sprawled out on the floor. Apparent suicide....

[reefnoob1991]

I don't use glass tops for heat and for gas exchange(more oxygen for fish/corals/etc. in the water)

[patrick1234]

i use a glass top on my 46 and i will also be runing one on my new frag tanks im making

[pogodzib]

I do NOT use a glass top and don't recommend them because of the heat they trap, poor gas exchange that they can cause, and they actually block a lot more light than you'd think. You do however need to protect your lights from getting water splashed on them by either raising your lights 6+ inches off the water (prefered) or using a splash shield under your lights.

[patrick1234]

a glass top will make no more less gass exchange then a full top on like a nano also if you run a wet dry or a fuge it will give you a large amount of gas exchange

[pogodzib]

Without going into all of the many different ways to increase the gas exchange for your tank, tell me what the #1, easiest and best way to do it? The answer, have a tank with a large surface/water volume ratio and point a powerhead at the surface to create ripples at the surface. Now take that same large surface and seal it off so that minimal fresh air gets moved to the surface and how good do you think that gas exchange on that large area is? Not very. There is a reason why many "old-school" reefers never use a "tall" tank. They want the added surface area for gas exchange. Think about how many people run into problems with tall (freshwater and saltwater) tanks because of the lack of dissolved oxygen in their water or excessive CO2 buildup in their water. Now consider what a lack of oxygen in the water does to your fish and corals, excessive CO2 (low pH), strong lights (also lower pH), etc... Do people get by with sealed tank - yes, is it ideal - no. Now for people with skimmers that pull in a ton of air and have a large sump in a non-closed cabinet, air exchange need may not be too great, but glass tops also create a mini-greenhouse that traps heat and par (a.k.a. total usable light) reduction. It's been pretty well documented that a clean glass top reduces light by about 10%, and a dirty glass top can reduce the light by over 20%.

[patrick1234]

Ok but as far as heat. If your runing pc then you will not have to much heat. Also will using a (using a splash shield under your lights.)
also do the same as a glass top?

[reefnoob1991]

I have 2 hydor koralias that point at the surface plus no glass tops.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Every time someone says "old school" my joints start acheing and my vision gets blury.From now on could we just say "mature school"?lol

[WillLovesFish]

Originally Posted by pogodzib

Without going into all of the many different ways to increase the gas exchange for your tank, tell me what the #1, easiest and best way to do it? The answer, have a tank with a large surface/water volume ratio and point a powerhead at the surface to create ripples at the surface. Now take that same large surface and seal it off so that minimal fresh air gets moved to the surface and how good do you think that gas exchange on that large area is? Not very. There is a reason why many "old-school" reefers never use a "tall" tank. They want the added surface area for gas exchange. Think about how many people run into problems with tall (freshwater and saltwater) tanks because of the lack of dissolved oxygen in their water or excessive CO2 buildup in their water. Now consider what a lack of oxygen in the water does to your fish and corals, excessive CO2 (low pH), strong lights (also lower pH), etc... Do people get by with sealed tank - yes, is it ideal - no. Now for people with skimmers that pull in a ton of air and have a large sump in a non-closed cabinet, air exchange need may not be too great, but glass tops also create a mini-greenhouse that traps heat and par (a.k.a. total usable light) reduction. It's been pretty well documented that a clean glass top reduces light by about 10%, and a dirty glass top can reduce the light by over 20%.

By far the best argument I have read so far for NOT having a glass top. Very informative and educational in my opinion. Thanks for your info

I have a glass top and have a tall tank. I must say I do fight alge and low ph, and I even have a powerhead. My powerhead sounds like it's not placed properly though, mine is too low from what you are saying and doesn't give that ripple at the surface. This is becuase I am using the suction cup instead of the hob portion. Going to fix it tomorrow

[blu23girl]

What about acrylic tops? my tank came with them to cover the holes... should i not be using them?