Another random question...glass tops!

Hence the mesh netting tops were born.

 

yeh, but those filter out a little light as well. and those mesh tops collect more salt build-up and are more of a pain to wipe off. so you may as well keep the glass top in that case

 

ok so the general public agrees...i will ditch the glass tops then, worse comes to worse i can just put them back on, but ill try it out for a few days and see how the evap goes...if its really bad maybe that will get my butt in gear and ill finally build that ATO lol...its been on my to do list for a while anyway.also do you think i should turn the fan off since taking them off with help by not holding the heat in and the fan only hurts in the evap department, or should i just wait and see? i keep my heater at 78 but during the day i usually have temps around 79-80...could be worse right lol, i absolutely do not want to get a chiller if i can because a neighbor of mine has one on his 220 and really hates it...he says it puts off way too much heat into his house...seems like a catch 22 to me haha! and yeah i am not too worried about carpet surfers with my current clan, but i paln on adding a few more fish and i know one of the ones im considering is a know jumper so maybe i can find a way to make to make the screens work...make them a little less wide so the lights legs wont get in the way?

And now that leads me to the question of ATO ideas...but ill post that in DIY so this one doesnt get too confusing, amd the way i am thinking of doing mine will be confusing enough (i like challanges)lol...ill post it tomorrow since its almost 4 am so keep an eye out for it if you have any good tips for me

Thanks again all!

 

The consensus is pretty popular: better without glass tops. The reasons have pretty much been covered above by the great responses you've received. They get dirty and can significantly cut down on the expensive lighting in which you've invested, they interfere with the system's ability to rid itself of CO2 and get O2, which can hinder a healthy pH.

The downside is the huge increase in evaporation, but that's a price we pay. Some time ago I posted a thread about my ATO because I like it so much. It's been years, and I've never once had an issue. I have it running on two tanks. It's relatively inexpensive, simple and fail-safe.

Good luck, good questions, and never stop asking. That's why 3reef exists. Remember, if we purchased our car from only the input of the car salesperson; then many of us would be driving cars that benefit the dealer more than they do us. Here, you'll get unbiased, honest answers from folks who want you to succeed.

 

It will take some searching but I will find the PAR testing article that shows the numbers don't change when a clear nylon mesh is used compared to open top and glass covered.
As far as salt build up...hit with some water and put it back on the tank. Easier than glass because you don't have to wipe or dry anything.

 

OMG guys, its been 1 day since i took the tops off and never expected such a change! All the corals look so much happier and i had no idea my clam could even open up as wide as he has! And i can now see gorgeous specs of aqua and flourescent blue on him that were never there before! My fish are even more active (but i think that may because the are POed from the change in the lighting?...who knows maybe they actually like it too haha) it also looks much brighter in there too and i already thought my lights were bright, i dont even need to turn my dining room lights on now haha! Also i noticed absolutely no change in my evaporation or temp in the tank. The only thing i am worried about now are that bugs are attracted to my light (i have a very bad habit of leaving my back door open when i let the dogs out or im smoking on the deck) and instead of dying on the glass they are falling in the water...im not too worried about flies but would the powder from moths wings hurt anything...my pink spotted SS goby may try to eat them while im at work and cannot get them out, he eats anything lol. Ill have to try to force myself to close the back door from now on lol. Its not a lot of bugs, just 1 or 2 a day. Thank you for the advice everyone!!!!

 

I'm happy for you. I'm glad that everything is doing much better with the top off. I currently have a glass top on my tank, but that is hold my light that I rigged together.

 

LOL my fish are the same way and they do eat the bugs in the tank and really have yet to be hurt by them, and im glad you like the tank better with out the glass top ;D

 

Oh i just thought of this, maybe the fish are more active because there is more oxigen in the water then before? since i already had half the tops off before and i have A LOT of surface movement, i dont see how it would make that big of a difference...but maybe??? I noticed about 6 hours after i took them off they were all swimming around playing, even the psuedochromis who is usually a grump was hanging out with the clownfish...could this be the reason?

 

lol maby I know mine became more active when I took mine off and I did notice a more stable PH in my tank so that could be it to.