Hinges for light

[bacffin]

Does any one know if there is a hinge for the coralife pc aqualight? It is a pain in the butt to keep taking the light off to open the cover to the tank. I have the little stands on it but they are not high enough to allow the cover to open. I am open for suggestions on a home made hinge too. :thinking:
Thanks,
Bruce

 

[reefnut]

Did it come with the stand off legs?? I would just remove the tank cover...

 

[92protruck]

yes coralife makes a hinged leg. I just replaced my clear plastic legs today with the black hinged type. Much better and sturdy.

 

[bacffin]

Cool 92ProTruck :joy: Do you happen to know the part number so I can look it up on their web site and a ball park price?
ReefNut, I really don't want to remove the cover because of the amount of evaporation.
Thanks Again Guys,
Bruce

 

[annanymous]

evaporation and heat would be much worse [at least heat for sure] if the cover stays on IMO

 

[bacffin]

Not sure I am following annanymous. Why would my evaporation be greater with the cover on?
Bruce

 

[bacffin]

anyone? Why would my evaporation be greater with the cover on? Has this got something to do with the 2nd law of thermodynamics? Cause if it does...I'm gonna need some help!
Thanks,
Bruce

 

[angelofish]

I got mine a few weeks ago. Theyre alot better than the cheap thin ones. The bad thing is theyre a pain in the butt if you do have to take the lights of the tank.

 

[bacffin]

Thanks for the info Angelofish. I take it that the thumb screws are on the outside of the tank. Do you have a glass cover on your tank with these hinges? looking at the design, I am wondering if the hinges bind with the glass hood when it's closed.
They look pretty beefy. Do you mind sharing an approximate cost?
Thanks Again,
Bruce

 

[angelofish]

The screws go in the tank so you cant use your tops.The screws sit on the water line in my 55.The screws are alot longer than in the pic too.If you want to take the light off it'll take a little time to unscrew them.You can flip the lights up and keep them that way while you work in the tank.I feel a little uneasy because I can be clumsy at times so I take them off.They run about $11 to $13 online. I got my LFS to order it for me.With the mark up it was $15.Cheaper than online with shipping cost.

 

[bacffin]

Well that bites that I won't be able to use my cover! I'll keep searching and thinking about making my own.
Thanks Angelofish,
Bruce

 

[reefnut]

Originally Posted by Bacffin
anyone? Why would my evaporation be greater with the cover on? Has this got something to do with the 2nd law of thermodynamics? Cause if it does...I'm gonna need some help!
Thanks,
Bruce
The evaporation will be less with the covers on. The covers will hold in heat and hinder gas exchange... but it will slow the evaporation.

 

[bacffin]

Hinder gas exchange? I am using a wet/dry filter and thought the gas exchange would take place there. Am I missing something? Will I create something out of balance?
Thanks,
Bruce

 

[dmc888]

I think you should be fine if you have a wetdry imo.
A refugium also would be even better.
I actually bought those legs to replace the clear ones , but didn't realize its for open top.
I need my cover on my 55g.
I was planning to cut my glass hood but decided to live with the clear legs.
You can probably buy a glass hood set and trim the glass and plastic hinge to fit.
Never tried cutting glass.

 

[bacffin]

Yea, I'm still reading and learning on the sump/fuge info. I'll be putting one on as the tank matures, I'm sure.
I take it you tried to swap the right and left legs, but looking at the pic posted, it doesn't look like it would work.
Cutting the glass wouldn't be too hard and is a good idea. Thanks.
Bruce

 

[dmc888]

Yeah that top plastic rim(part of the brace) is in the way so left must be on the left, unless you cut the rim which i would never do.
I returned it.

 

[bacffin]

OK, thanks. I'm going to get an eyeball on them first to see if they work for me.
Bruce

 

[angelofish]

Why not just keep the lids off? How bad is the evaporation? I got through about a gallon every 3 or so days. I just add a little a day so I wont change the salinity too much too fast.

 

[dmc888]

Well my avatar would explain my need for a cover.
I had to rescue my yellow tang from choking on a piece of fur.

 

[reefnut]

Originally Posted by Bacffin
Hinder gas exchange? I am using a wet/dry filter and thought the gas exchange would take place there. Am I missing something? Will I create something out of balance?
Thanks,
Bruce
What happens on the surface of the water is CO2 and other gases are released and O2 is absorbed. The glass tops will not allow the gas exchange like open tops.