Glass tops?

I currently have a glass top on my tank, as per the recommendation of a friend. I have cats and live in a rather dry climate. Their thought was to help keep the dust and occasionally kitty hair out of the tank.

My thought is though, that unless the glass top is spotless, which it is not, it is blocking my already somewhat meager lighting. I considered removing the tops for that reason. Having read the forums, it seems that tops are not always a good idea anyway.

Any recommendations from you experts? I have taken into consideration the advice of this friend on past issues. It usually does not work out well for me!

I'm open to suggestions!!

 

I am no expert, but what I hear on the street is.

Egg Crate is the solution..

Keeps the pets out, the light in, and aire on the water.

For the hair and other air borne elements, a goo air purifyer near by will do the trick..

\Cheers

 

Take the tops off. It suffocates your tank by compromising gas exchange with the air. Train the pets.(It can be done, my cats could easily reach in and pull my seahorses out with a paw, but they don't cuz they know the boundaries)

 

Good thread!
I was also wondering the same thing. I notice a little bit of my pet hair in the tank/skimmer every now and again, and was thinking of cutting a peice of plexiglass to make a lid. Probably should reconsider that idea now

 

tops also wreak havoc on your PH and a few other parameters

 

I have always run tops on all my tanks, but not on my sump's or fuge's which are usually underneath in a cabinet. I have had absolutely no problems with PH or anything else. But I do take them off and clean the once a week when I am doing water changes. It not only help keep dust and hair out it help with eveporation.....

 

I ran glass tops for two months and two months without. I did not notice any difference in my pH, although I know this is a concern. I did notice more light coming through. That was nice. So was the fact I could get to things without taking those things off. I bought some eggcrate to put on there but just haven't cut it yet.