Condensation on top of Tank
- Thread starter euphoria
- Start date
b18c5hatch
Member
Does the glass covers affect the lighting much?
spanko
Active Member
Get rid of the glassacrylic tops and make a netting one. This will help with light penetration, gas exchange too.
There is also a corner connector made from vinyl that I cannot find a picture of but look like these metal ones.
And of course the 3/8" pond netting.
I used 3/8 inch and double layered it. I had it single layered but my first yellow Head Jawfish jumped right through it. So now instead of one layer of a 3/8 inch square opening in the net i have the two layers crossed so that the square is a box with a X in it. You can see what I mean in the picture.
You can order 1/4" pond netting on line, however I did not only because I did not know if the fish would still be able to launch itself through the square hole. I was really surprised one day when my wife had my 2 year old granddaughter call me at work and tell me that the new jawfish was all dried up on the carpet!
all the supplies were from Lowe's except the pond net. They may even have that.
Don't have a full pic of mine but here is one another reefer made from the plans I gave him.
If you have a square tank it will be much easier because we had to trim for the bow front of the 29 biocube.
There is also a corner connector made from vinyl that I cannot find a picture of but look like these metal ones.
And of course the 3/8" pond netting.
I used 3/8 inch and double layered it. I had it single layered but my first yellow Head Jawfish jumped right through it. So now instead of one layer of a 3/8 inch square opening in the net i have the two layers crossed so that the square is a box with a X in it. You can see what I mean in the picture.
You can order 1/4" pond netting on line, however I did not only because I did not know if the fish would still be able to launch itself through the square hole. I was really surprised one day when my wife had my 2 year old granddaughter call me at work and tell me that the new jawfish was all dried up on the carpet!
all the supplies were from Lowe's except the pond net. They may even have that.
Don't have a full pic of mine but here is one another reefer made from the plans I gave him.
If you have a square tank it will be much easier because we had to trim for the bow front of the 29 biocube.
tjnitro
Member
In my opinion i have done a little research and have found that putting netting or egg crate over the tank block just as much light as what is lost going threw glass. On the other hand the netting does not have the condensation problem. Glass seems to be OK but you have to clean it regularly. I guess it seems to come down to how much maintenance do you want to do and how often. Saltwater is already allot of maintenance so to me what is a little more.
spanko
Active Member
Originally Posted by tjnitro
http:///forum/post/3158805
In my opinion i have done a little research and have found that putting netting or egg crate over the tank block just as much light as what is lost going threw glass. ...........
Can you point to where you have gotten this information from, I would be very interested in reading it?
http:///forum/post/3158805
In my opinion i have done a little research and have found that putting netting or egg crate over the tank block just as much light as what is lost going threw glass. ...........
Can you point to where you have gotten this information from, I would be very interested in reading it?
tjnitro
Member
Two of my sources are two of my local fish stores. one specializes in reef tanks. They said that they mesh can cast small shadows and they both said that they have tested light readings (with one of those little devices) and clean glass did not reduce light any more than a mesh top. i also had a few people say the same thing when i goggled it and read a bunch or pages. I have also heard people say the opposite too. thats why i put that it was just my opinion.
I never said that netting is bad. actually i think it is a good idea. what i was saying is from the results that i have seen. I don't have the specific pages that i say it on. I did not realize i was writing a thesis. the last time i checked message boards are opinions. If anyone on here has a degree in marine biology i would like to hear their take on the subject. I know i am not a marine biologist and i have never tried to say i was even close.
spanko
Active Member
It is the framing for screens. All plastic and about 3" wide so it puts a ledge around the glass.
tjnitro don't get mad. Just asking for the info as I have tried to find what you are talking about. Par values of light below clean glass, condensated glass and netting comparisons. Just thought you had some data to look at that's all.
tjnitro don't get mad. Just asking for the info as I have tried to find what you are talking about. Par values of light below clean glass, condensated glass and netting comparisons. Just thought you had some data to look at that's all.
oscar1129
Member
Originally Posted by oscar1129
http:///forum/post/3158907
Ha, I like your style...
Have you heard anything on condensation? And maybe how to reduce it?
I'm trying a very thin layer of veg oil to see if it works. I just got a paper towel with some oil and wiped it on making sure none could get in the tank. Good idea?
Bump
http:///forum/post/3158907
Ha, I like your style...
Have you heard anything on condensation? And maybe how to reduce it?
I'm trying a very thin layer of veg oil to see if it works. I just got a paper towel with some oil and wiped it on making sure none could get in the tank. Good idea?
Bump
tjnitro
Member
I am sorry i took it wrong. I will try to find some of those pages. It was not just one page that had all of the findings. I will try to find the written sources. I will also ask my LFS to see if they wrote down their findings. It was kind of interesting. I have one tank with no jumping fish in so i have nothing on top and the other one i have glass. I will admit i have to clean the glass every few days. I have found that if i take car wax (the paste) and put it on the glass that it seems to stay clean longer. I personally tried the egg crate on my open top tank per a suggestion from this site. I did notice the light reduction there. As for the netting i have not tried it yet. the tank i have glass on i want to have Fire gobbies so i am trying to find the best way to keep them from jumping out. One thing i am worried about even with the glass top is the open part by the filters. I know it is not huge but it seems like if there is a way out they will find it.
xcali1985
Active Member
Originally Posted by oscar1129
http:///forum/post/3158907
Ha, I like your style...
Have you heard anything on condensation? And maybe how to reduce it?
I'm trying a very thin layer of veg oil to see if it works. I just got a paper towel with some oil and wiped it on making sure none could get in the tank. Good idea?
If there is condensation it will transfer anything that is on the glass into the tank. Water vapor will still collect on it over time. It will just bead back into the tank taking trace elements of whatever you put on the glass with it. Over time will become a pollutant.
http:///forum/post/3158907
Ha, I like your style...
Have you heard anything on condensation? And maybe how to reduce it?
I'm trying a very thin layer of veg oil to see if it works. I just got a paper towel with some oil and wiped it on making sure none could get in the tank. Good idea?
If there is condensation it will transfer anything that is on the glass into the tank. Water vapor will still collect on it over time. It will just bead back into the tank taking trace elements of whatever you put on the glass with it. Over time will become a pollutant.
xcali1985
Active Member
Originally Posted by tjnitro
http:///forum/post/3158975
I am sorry i took it wrong. I will try to find some of those pages. It was not just one page that had all of the findings. I will try to find the written sources. I will also ask my LFS to see if they wrote down their findings. It was kind of interesting. I have one tank with no jumping fish in so i have nothing on top and the other one i have glass. I will admit i have to clean the glass every few days. I have found that if i take car wax (the paste) and put it on the glass that it seems to stay clean longer. I personally tried the egg crate on my open top tank per a suggestion from this site. I did notice the light reduction there. As for the netting i have not tried it yet. the tank i have glass on i want to have Fire gobbies so i am trying to find the best way to keep them from jumping out. One thing i am worried about even with the glass top is the open part by the filters. I know it is not huge but it seems like if there is a way out they will find it.
At lowes go to the gardening section and ask for bird netting with 1/4 inch holes. Also yes they jump all fish can jump, but if your tank parameters are ok and the fish isn't being chased and stressed they wont jump. I used the 1/2 inch netting double layered like spanko.
http:///forum/post/3158975
I am sorry i took it wrong. I will try to find some of those pages. It was not just one page that had all of the findings. I will try to find the written sources. I will also ask my LFS to see if they wrote down their findings. It was kind of interesting. I have one tank with no jumping fish in so i have nothing on top and the other one i have glass. I will admit i have to clean the glass every few days. I have found that if i take car wax (the paste) and put it on the glass that it seems to stay clean longer. I personally tried the egg crate on my open top tank per a suggestion from this site. I did notice the light reduction there. As for the netting i have not tried it yet. the tank i have glass on i want to have Fire gobbies so i am trying to find the best way to keep them from jumping out. One thing i am worried about even with the glass top is the open part by the filters. I know it is not huge but it seems like if there is a way out they will find it.
At lowes go to the gardening section and ask for bird netting with 1/4 inch holes. Also yes they jump all fish can jump, but if your tank parameters are ok and the fish isn't being chased and stressed they wont jump. I used the 1/2 inch netting double layered like spanko.
johnr2604
Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3158908
It is the framing for screens. All plastic and about 3" wide so it puts a ledge around the glass.
tjnitro don't get mad. Just asking for the info as I have tried to find what you are talking about. Par values of light below clean glass, condensated glass and netting comparisons. Just thought you had some data to look at that's all.
Well, I can tell you that the netting does not really effect the par. I have done the readings just didn't get pictures. The other figures are out there also but you will just have to use some googlefu.
http:///forum/post/3158908
It is the framing for screens. All plastic and about 3" wide so it puts a ledge around the glass.
tjnitro don't get mad. Just asking for the info as I have tried to find what you are talking about. Par values of light below clean glass, condensated glass and netting comparisons. Just thought you had some data to look at that's all.
Well, I can tell you that the netting does not really effect the par. I have done the readings just didn't get pictures. The other figures are out there also but you will just have to use some googlefu.