Is my glass cover disrupting my PAR

It's always covered in a light salt residue.v

 

Yup, It is also inhibiting gas exchange

 

I would have taken it off some time ago, but the evaporation is much worse. Im also concerned about my Sebae jumping.

 

Evap is a good thing in most cases, It helps if you can work on a top off system that will keep the tank topped off when there is evaporation.

egg crate can be purchased from Home Depot or you can even use a reptile tank cover to stop the jumpers.

 

Glass with disrupt PAR how much I coudlnt say never tested. I do have a glass top though but clean it usually twice a week to keep it as clear as possible, the dirtier it is the more it with inhibit light penetration.

As for the argument of gas exchange, I think it really depends on how you reef is set up. No sump, no skimmer, and a lid that has no holes will obviously cause an issue. I drilled holes in the back to help with gas exchange and keep the front lid up while Im home and closed when Im away to prevent jumpers. No issues after 8 months

With that said though next time I build a reef tank I WILL have a canopy and a mesh top as well as a sump, would make things much easier for me

 

At one of our reef meetings, we tested PAR with and without glass. There was not much of a difference-when the glass was clean. Even a little bit of dirt or condensation had a big effect.

 

I just can't keep mine clean or free of condensation for more than a day, max. I may have to go with the egg crate suggestion.

Thanks all! Great information in this thread.

 

Any idea how much %wise that big effect was?

 

Good question.

 

I've done some tests and the effects on light are pretty much non-existent unless it is really dirty. However, I would never use a glass top again, as it effects gas exchange. I lost a lot of fish once when the return pump from the sump failed and the fish in the display died from lack of O2.