Glass Top

Barcochris · 12-04-2005, 12:57 PM

I have two plates of glass that go on top of my tank. My question is should I, I am planing to build a top for lights but I was going to build it from a shelf above my tank, and it would not really sit on top of the tank. I was going to keep the glass there but I have heard that it limits the amount of light getting in, Is this true?

Woodstock · 12-04-2005, 01:34 PM

If you are referring to the plates of glass that simply cover the top to prevent evaporation... do NOT use them. IMO, they reduce the air flow and trap heat in a bad way. As far as blocking light, if it were sparkling clean, it would block some light; but after a few days of salt creep, dust, etc., it will block a lot of light.

Barcochris · 12-04-2005, 08:49 PM

What about letting the critters out?

Woodstock · 12-04-2005, 09:03 PM

If you need the tops, keep them on. Just keep an eye on the water temperature. My point was to not use them if you didn't need them.

Woodstock · 12-04-2005, 09:04 PM

..octopi and eels come to mind. I would keep a tight fitting lid for those animals for sure!

Jerome · 12-05-2005, 01:06 AM

if you build an astroterf (the thick stuff fake grass 1/4 inch length) wall around the openings in the aquarium octopuses and their counsins will not climb out. It's what public aquariums do rather than sealing the tank shut. Just make sure that there is no crack bweteen the astroterf wall and the tank and that the wall is higher than than octopus can reach. Closing the top is a bad for all the reason mentioned above.

I don't know if this will work for eels but the wall might keep them in too.

mps9506 · 12-05-2005, 07:47 AM

I use a plastic mesh top on tanks that I'm worried about stuff crawling or jumping out. Small fish like firefish still sometimes manage to sneak through.

All my reef tanks have been open top however.

cheeks69 · 12-05-2005, 10:39 AM

Use eggcrate and silicone if you use a glass top not only will it prevent evaporation it will prevent oxygen exchange and it will block light.

Barcochris · 12-05-2005, 11:37 AM

Thank You, I hate to clean that glass anyway. LOL

proud2bcanadian · 12-05-2005, 10:38 PM

I think that the eggcrate would be best, or a mesh lid, like what you would use for reptiles.
Make sure that you have glass between your tank and lights however, so that it can block the UV rays that can affect your corals.

Barcochris · 12-06-2005, 03:16 PM

is the glass between the bulbs and tank really important? What blocks the UV in nature? nad would it not have to be special glass to block UV, coated I thought? anybody know?

proud2bcanadian · 12-06-2005, 03:27 PM

As far as I know, it is quite important.
I can't answer what blocks the UV in nature (science is my weak point

).
It doesn't have to be a special type of glass, just the regular stuff is fine...

I just read some older posts...and came up with this:
- It depends whether you're using SE or DE bulbs. If you use SE bulbs, the UV rays are already being blocked, though if using DE bulbs, you must have glass in between the tank and the lighting.
- Another reason that you would want glass between your lights and the tank is to keep the water from splashing up and hitting your lighting.

Check this thread (it's from when I had the same question)...
Lighting Distance

HTH,

12-04-2005, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Barcochris Cabbage Leather Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 363 View Gallery Karma Komment	Glass Top I have two plates of glass that go on top of my tank. My question is should I, I am planing to build a top for lights but I was going to build it from a shelf above my tank, and it would not really sit on top of the tank. I was going to keep the glass there but I have heard that it limits the amount of light getting in, Is this true?

12-04-2005, 01:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,586 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass Top If you are referring to the plates of glass that simply cover the top to prevent evaporation... do NOT use them. IMO, they reduce the air flow and trap heat in a bad way. As far as blocking light, if it were sparkling clean, it would block some light; but after a few days of salt creep, dust, etc., it will block a lot of light. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

12-04-2005, 08:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Barcochris Cabbage Leather Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 363 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top What about letting the critters out?

12-04-2005, 09:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,586 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass Top If you need the tops, keep them on. Just keep an eye on the water temperature. My point was to not use them if you didn't need them. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

12-04-2005, 09:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,586 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Glass Top ..octopi and eels come to mind. I would keep a tight fitting lid for those animals for sure! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

12-05-2005, 01:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jerome Serpent Star Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF bay area Posts: 221 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top if you build an astroterf (the thick stuff fake grass 1/4 inch length) wall around the openings in the aquarium octopuses and their counsins will not climb out. It's what public aquariums do rather than sealing the tank shut. Just make sure that there is no crack bweteen the astroterf wall and the tank and that the wall is higher than than octopus can reach. Closing the top is a bad for all the reason mentioned above. I don't know if this will work for eels but the wall might keep them in too. __________________ The world only goes round by misunderstanding.

12-05-2005, 07:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top I use a plastic mesh top on tanks that I'm worried about stuff crawling or jumping out. Small fish like firefish still sometimes manage to sneak through. All my reef tanks have been open top however. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

12-05-2005, 10:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,834 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top Use eggcrate and silicone if you use a glass top not only will it prevent evaporation it will prevent oxygen exchange and it will block light. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

12-05-2005, 11:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
Barcochris Cabbage Leather Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 363 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top Thank You, I hate to clean that glass anyway. LOL

12-05-2005, 10:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
proud2bcanadian Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 708 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top I think that the eggcrate would be best, or a mesh lid, like what you would use for reptiles. Make sure that you have glass between your tank and lights however, so that it can block the UV rays that can affect your corals. __________________ David Liles

12-06-2005, 03:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
Barcochris Cabbage Leather Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 363 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top is the glass between the bulbs and tank really important? What blocks the UV in nature? nad would it not have to be special glass to block UV, coated I thought? anybody know?

12-06-2005, 03:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
proud2bcanadian Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 708 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Glass Top As far as I know, it is quite important. I can't answer what blocks the UV in nature (science is my weak point ). It doesn't have to be a special type of glass, just the regular stuff is fine... I just read some older posts...and came up with this: - It depends whether you're using SE or DE bulbs. If you use SE bulbs, the UV rays are already being blocked, though if using DE bulbs, you must have glass in between the tank and the lighting. - Another reason that you would want glass between your lights and the tank is to keep the water from splashing up and hitting your lighting. Check this thread (it's from when I had the same question)... Lighting Distance HTH, __________________ David Liles

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