Glass Top

[moo5e]

My 40 gallon tank came with a 36 inch 21 watt T5 which sits right on top of the aquarium which is glass. I want to upgrade my lighting so I can do some corals. All the T5 lighting I have looked at seems to come with arms to be elevated over the tank. I would like just to sit my fixture on the glass top like a currently do. So my question is, is there any reason I could not place a higher wattage T5 lighting on top my tank on the glass? I was looking at around 156 watts of T5. Side note, the glass gets a lot of condensation on the underside.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by moo5e http:///forum/thread/385073/glass-top#post_3375726
My 40 gallon tank came with a 36 inch 21 watt T5 which sits right on top of the aquarium which is glass. I want to upgrade my lighting so I can do some corals. All the T5 lighting I have looked at seems to come with arms to be elevated over the tank. I would like just to sit my fixture on the glass top like a currently do. So my question is, is there any reason I could not place a higher wattage T5 lighting on top my tank on the glass? I was looking at around 156 watts of T5. Side note, the glass gets a lot of condensation on the underside.

To begin with you should not cover with glass any saltwater tank. It needs to be open for gas exchange there is less oxygen in saltwater so a SW tank really needs that top open and the surface moving. Point a power head to the surface to make it boil or at least a good ripple effect.
Glass intensifies light, think green house effect. If you want corals open that top and elevate the light to keep it safe from the water as it is designed to do.