seniorabreu
New Member
Glass Top for a Reef Tank w/ Coral
- Thread starter seniorabreu
- Start date
seniorabreu
New Member
not to seem dumb, but what is an egg crate top? Does anyone have a picture of a tank with one?
hive_node
Member
First, you don't even need a top for a reef tank, I am just wondering what do you plan on stocking it with? (so I can say whether or not you should get an eggcrate top)
And also the picture, here you are my fine sir.
This is not on a tank as requested, but I'm pretty sure you can imagine what it would look like on one.
Cheers! Hive_Node
And also the picture, here you are my fine sir.
This is not on a tank as requested, but I'm pretty sure you can imagine what it would look like on one.
Cheers! Hive_Node
seniorabreu
New Member
there is bno picture that I can see :notsure:
I wanted a top to keep my small kids hands out of the t
I wanted a top to keep my small kids hands out of the t
ecooper
Member
Sorry, but I'm new...
We are not supposed to have tops for the tanks?!?!? I have a glass top on my 75 and plan to start getting some coral. It sounds like I'm supposed to take off the glass tops? Just open water? Nothing between it and the lights?
I guess I'm ok with this as I have a canopy on my tank, but it makes me a little nervous having that electricity over open water...
Eric
We are not supposed to have tops for the tanks?!?!? I have a glass top on my 75 and plan to start getting some coral. It sounds like I'm supposed to take off the glass tops? Just open water? Nothing between it and the lights?
I guess I'm ok with this as I have a canopy on my tank, but it makes me a little nervous having that electricity over open water...
Eric
mandarin w
Member
Don't put the glass tops on the tank. Your corals will receive alot more of the needed light without the covers, There are also heat issues, and gas exchange issues.
If you are thinking about getting fish that might be jumpers, or you feel better haveing something over your tank, use the eggcrate.
As far as the lights on top of the tank, you will not sit them directly on the tank, you will need to use the legs that come with, or you can order for your light. The other option it to hang the lights from the ceiling. Alot of the lights do offer hanging kits. You will want this space between your lights and tank for a couple reasons, one being the gas exchange, and two. So your tank doesn't heat up too much. If your tank is still too warm, then the space is also large enough for a fan to blow across the top of the tank, and push the heat away.
As far as the box saying not to put on open tank, or your should have glass over the tank, That is not so. I have seen a lot of different light fixtures, and almost all of them come with some sort of clear plastic cover for the lights. This alone will protect the light from moisture. Also your light will be at least 4inches from the top of the tank. I've seen alot of filters and skimmers throw water back into the tank, but I do recall it throwing water so hard that it splashes 4inch out of the tank.
So in reality all that is going to end up on the lights is salt dust. That isn't going to hurt anything, except getting the light shield a little dirty. I don't know about most others, but even when I was new also and had glass covers on my tank, my lights still got dirty with that salt stuff, so as far as that goes, the covers don't do you any good.
Just make it part of your weekly routine to clean the light shield every week. All you do there is get a towel, table cloth, just something large enough to cover the tank, put it over the tank and then just get a damp cloth and wipe down the light, all the crud will fall on the towel. When done just pick it up, and shake it in the trash.
Try not to let alot of the salt stuff fall back into the tank, It could be enough to raise your salinity.
If you are thinking about getting fish that might be jumpers, or you feel better haveing something over your tank, use the eggcrate.
As far as the lights on top of the tank, you will not sit them directly on the tank, you will need to use the legs that come with, or you can order for your light. The other option it to hang the lights from the ceiling. Alot of the lights do offer hanging kits. You will want this space between your lights and tank for a couple reasons, one being the gas exchange, and two. So your tank doesn't heat up too much. If your tank is still too warm, then the space is also large enough for a fan to blow across the top of the tank, and push the heat away.
As far as the box saying not to put on open tank, or your should have glass over the tank, That is not so. I have seen a lot of different light fixtures, and almost all of them come with some sort of clear plastic cover for the lights. This alone will protect the light from moisture. Also your light will be at least 4inches from the top of the tank. I've seen alot of filters and skimmers throw water back into the tank, but I do recall it throwing water so hard that it splashes 4inch out of the tank.
So in reality all that is going to end up on the lights is salt dust. That isn't going to hurt anything, except getting the light shield a little dirty. I don't know about most others, but even when I was new also and had glass covers on my tank, my lights still got dirty with that salt stuff, so as far as that goes, the covers don't do you any good.
Just make it part of your weekly routine to clean the light shield every week. All you do there is get a towel, table cloth, just something large enough to cover the tank, put it over the tank and then just get a damp cloth and wipe down the light, all the crud will fall on the towel. When done just pick it up, and shake it in the trash.
Try not to let alot of the salt stuff fall back into the tank, It could be enough to raise your salinity.
seniorabreu
New Member
good tip on how to clean the light
ladylostinsalt
Member
Hello All, its been a while since I have been able to visit, due to 13 hour days at the office, but I'm baaaaack.lol
I'm feeling a little silly because when I saw egg crate referenced previously I assumed literally egg crate, thinking well wouldn't that be an eye-sore? At any rate I have been duly educated and feel better about it now. I'm assuming from the picture that it is made out of plastic? Is this right? If it is plastic, wouldn't the heat from the lights eventually melt it, or is this something that has to be replaced frequently?
I'm feeling a little silly because when I saw egg crate referenced previously I assumed literally egg crate, thinking well wouldn't that be an eye-sore? At any rate I have been duly educated and feel better about it now. I'm assuming from the picture that it is made out of plastic? Is this right? If it is plastic, wouldn't the heat from the lights eventually melt it, or is this something that has to be replaced frequently?
mandarin w
Member
this is plastic, but designed to be near the lights.
I have a coral life PC laying right on top of the eggcrate over my sump. It has been there a very long time. The eggcrate hasn't been affected at all by the light. It hasn't even made it change color. The eggcrate over the top of my tank has 3x 250 MH over them. Those are fine also. So you should be fine.
I have a coral life PC laying right on top of the eggcrate over my sump. It has been there a very long time. The eggcrate hasn't been affected at all by the light. It hasn't even made it change color. The eggcrate over the top of my tank has 3x 250 MH over them. Those are fine also. So you should be fine.