Cover lids on Aquariums, Good or Bad?

[spectre879]

I will soon be renovating my 75gallon fish only into a reef tank. I will have new lighting and everything. My concern is that if I keep a cover lid on the tank, will it effect the lighting going into the tank. I need the lid because I have a young cat who likes to snoop around in places he does not belong. I caught him once stuck inside of a 10gallon hermit crab tank and he couldnt get out!

 

[shawnra]

I also have a question about this. I recently got rid of the cheap cover/lights and replaced with PC light that sits about 6 inches above the tank. I immediately noticed a huge difference in the amount of water evaporating - to the point that I need to add about a quart of water every day to a 55 gal tank! I would like to make some lexan covers, but I think that this might interfere with the oxygen transfer at the surface.
Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[salty cheese]

The biggest concern with glass tops IMO is gas exchange (excess CO2 can create ph problems) and heat issues (other than a chiller evaporation is the best way to control excess heat in the tank). If you have nosey pets or jumpers in your tank egg crate is one of the best ways to solve these problems. HTH :happyfish

 

[72olds455]

Get eg crate, I recently had a puffer jump to his death.

 

[flpriest]

The biggest concern with glass tops IMO is gas exchange (excess CO2 can create ph problems)
Does the excess CO2 raise or lower the PH?

 

[shawnra]

Excess CO2 would lower pH, I believe.

 

[flpriest]

Thank you Shawnra! :happyfish

 

[agent707]

Originally Posted by shawnra
I would like to make some lexan covers, but I think that this might interfere with the oxygen transfer at the surface.
Lexan (some types... XL10 e.g.) have built in UV filtering... which I would think you would NOT want for an aqaurium.
.02

 

[theappe]

I keep partial glas cover on my top. I think it has enough space in the back for the gasses to be exchanged

 

[mario]

Originally Posted by 72olds455
Get eg crate, I recently had a puffer jump to his death.

What's this egg crate you are talking about? Where do you find it?

 

[zman1]

it's a light diffuser. Lighting stores, home DYI stores - 2' x 4' sheets

 

[guinness]

will the egg crate cause any problems with blocking the lighting

 

[maeistero]

this thread is um,,,, half a year old. white eggcrate is nearly the same reflection as mylar though.

 

[cowfishrule]

i use the glass top- actually, my pc's were built to be on top of the glass.
too much evap when i was using the egg-crate.
i have about a 1-inch deep opening going along the entire back of the tank, and i have had no ph problems.

 

[dad&son]

Not sure if I am entirely right on this but if you are going to as reef tank you may want to consider incorporatining a sump into your design .The sump will not only allow you to increase your volume of water in your system but it will also allow for gas exchange to take place outside of your display tank. This way you can keep a tight lid on to reduce evaporation as well as prevent accidental livestock loss. Of course you will still have evaporation and will have to add to maintain proper salinity levels as needed.