Hood/cover

[barreltwist]

Hello,
I'm Anne. I am new to the forum, but have had saltwater for about 4 years. I have a 34 gallon tank, and a 90 that I am starting. I bought the 90 almost 2 years ago, and it is nice, but it has a canopy over it that is fairly open and I get drips of salt down the sides, and have about a gallon a day or more evaporation during the winter. I saw on Fosters and Smith that you can buy the flat glass tops and light hoods that rest right on the top. I think that may work better and cut down on my drips and evaporation. But, my lights are about a foot above the tank top in the cover. they are 250 watt metal halide bulbs. I don't think I could use them if they were in a hood right on the glass could I? Maybe those arent the best lights? I am not sure what to do. I'm sick of wiping salt of the sides constantly, and the cover is really ugly. The guy told me he was getting a new one in and would come with the tank, but he was a liar. Thanks for your help in advance,
Anne

 

[mkroher]

Originally Posted by barreltwist
http:///forum/post/3108474
Hello,
I'm Anne. I am new to the forum, but have had saltwater for about 4 years. I have a 34 gallon tank, and a 90 that I am starting. I bought the 90 almost 2 years ago, and it is nice, but it has a canopy over it that is fairly open and I get drips of salt down the sides, and have about a gallon a day or more evaporation during the winter. I saw on Fosters and Smith that you can buy the flat glass tops and light hoods that rest right on the top. I think that may work better and cut down on my drips and evaporation. But, my lights are about a foot above the tank top in the cover. they are 250 watt metal halide bulbs. I don't think I could use them if they were in a hood right on the glass could I? Maybe those arent the best lights? I am not sure what to do. I'm sick of wiping salt of the sides constantly, and the cover is really ugly. The guy told me he was getting a new one in and would come with the tank, but he was a liar. Thanks for your help in advance,
Anne

Do you have fish that jump? I don't have covers on my tanks. You can suspend your lights from the ceiling, eliminating the hood.
Evaporation is something you have to live with.
Welcome to the forum

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by barreltwist
http:///forum/post/3108474
Hello,
I'm Anne. I am new to the forum, but have had saltwater for about 4 years. I have a 34 gallon tank, and a 90 that I am starting. I bought the 90 almost 2 years ago, and it is nice, but it has a canopy over it that is fairly open and I get drips of salt down the sides, and have about a gallon a day or more evaporation during the winter. I saw on Fosters and Smith that you can buy the flat glass tops and light hoods that rest right on the top. I think that may work better and cut down on my drips and evaporation. But, my lights are about a foot above the tank top in the cover. they are 250 watt metal halide bulbs. I don't think I could use them if they were in a hood right on the glass could I? Maybe those arent the best lights? I am not sure what to do. I'm sick of wiping salt of the sides constantly, and the cover is really ugly. The guy told me he was getting a new one in and would come with the tank, but he was a liar. Thanks for your help in advance,
Anne

Welcome!
With MH lights you shouldn't cover the tank, it causes a green house effect and super heats the tank.
The hood doesn't cause salt creep...water splashing does. The hood is ugly becase of salt damage. If you can figure out what is splashing up the water onto the hood, you can fix it and end the salt creep.

 

[barreltwist]

Thanks,
I will investigate the splashing. The pump that brings the water from the filter below back up to the tank has a little spray of water, I'll have to look at that. The cover is just ugly because its ugly. It is just a plywood homemade thing they were using till they got the new one. I'll have to figure out something there.... maybe I can put a veneer on it or something. Thanks for the help!

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by barreltwist
http:///forum/post/3108532
Thanks,
I will investigate the splashing. The pump that brings the water from the filter below back up to the tank has a little spray of water, I'll have to look at that. The cover is just ugly because its ugly. It is just a plywood homemade thing they were using till they got the new one. I'll have to figure out something there.... maybe I can put a veneer on it or something. Thanks for the help!

Sorry, I assumed you had a store bought canopy that was ugly from salt creep. Even a small spray of saltwater will cause salt creep really bad if it continuous

 

[barreltwist]

lol... I don't know if the salt creep made it worse or gave i character! ha ha... I plugged the spot that was spraying and we will see if that will solve it. It was a little hole in the side of the hose that brings water into the tank. It didn't seem like it was splashing that much, but I'm sure that is the culprit.

 

[barreltwist]

Well I think I solved the salt creeping. I covered a spot this morning and there is no sign of dampness or dripping.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by barreltwist
http:///forum/post/3108972
Well I think I solved the salt creeping. I covered a spot this morning and there is no sign of dampness or dripping.

...

..Glad you solved the problem, salt creep is such a pain. Post some pictures when you get the chance.