What goes between tank and lights?

[blackdog]

This seems like kind of a dumb question, but it's one thing I haven't really seen discussed. What do you put on top of the tank? Do most canopies have a piece of glass built in or something? If you are using a pendant system, do you just have an open tank? Seems like you wouldn't want to bc of evaporation and inhabitants leaping out. OTOH, with lumens being so vital, you'd want as little as possible between lights and water.
I'd like to know if anyone has recommendations for my setup. I have a 55 gal long (48"x12" on top of tank). I'm going with the super-budget lighting solution while my plastic recovers from the shock of rock, chems, etc: Two 48" 2-bulb shoplight fixtures $9 each from Home Depot, 2 full spectrum bulbs, 2 actinics. I'm planning to take some tin snips to them so I can build a wood canopy and fit them both fixtures in there. Later on maybe I move up to VHO retro and put it in the same canopy. So do I just put some egg crate on top of the tank and vent the canopy? Get a piece of 48X12 glass?
Alternatively, I have a low ceiling in my living room, and a hanging light setup of some kind might look really cool. But what then do you put on the tank? Anyone?
Thanks
-Dave
38 gal fresh; 55 gal reef almost ready for liftoff

 

[bentrue]

i have nothing between my lights and tank. it allows for better gas exchange, but it does cause more evaporation than if you were to put a glass lid on it. i just top off my water everyday.
as far as the tank inhabitants jumping out, the canopy covers the whole top of the aquarium so i don't have to worry about that. if yours doesn't i'm sure you could add some type of mesh, plastic, glass, to cover the part that is not enclosed.

 

[option720]

I use egg crate. I cut to fit my tank perfectly and it allows good gas exchange, i can feed my tank, and it holds the weight of my lights.

 

[nm reef]

canopy....
lights....
air....
tank.....
no cover....do need to top-off daily and so far no carpet surfers.....but the canopy does cover escape routes .......

 

[mlm]

I don't use any glass at all. I used to but it is much more conveinent not to.

 

[robinfly]

My Custom Sea Life brand PC's came with a warning that they aren't supposed to be operated over open water. My canopy's only 6 or 8 inches high and I'd be worried about salt encrusting on the bulbs if I were to remove the glass covers.

 

[-shawn-]

I have a Custom Sealife PCs over my tank and it is not covered, the tank has been running for 5-6 months now and I haven't had any problem... But I sealed around the bulb with Silicon after the first week because water evap. built up where the bulbs connected to the wiring and when the timer came on it would hiss a little bit... But beside that I had no problems.

 

[chevron tang]

I have never had a top on my tank. I have either had the lights suspended from the ceiling or laying right on the tank. I am about to get a canopy just because it looks alot neater. Yes, you will have to top off your system quite often but it's really not that bad.

 

[miner]

I have had it both ways. I like no glass at all best. I have my lights hung from the ceiling. The convenience is super !!!!
I don't mind doing more "top offs" I have no heat problems now.

 

[daluminum]

I have 2 tanks.. Ill explain both..
the first is a 55gal long with NO covers at all.. I have 2 48" flourescents.. 1 10k. and 1 "marine glo" (really blue) light. with a 20 gal sump, skimmer and return pump.. I evaporate about 1gal per day.. the other is a 55gal (?) corner acrylic with a large wet/dry, 22" marine glo FLO, and 175watt (OLD) MH bulb. evaporates about 3 gal's per day with both bulbs about 6" off the water.. honestly I think the MH will work better for corals.. but I have to admit that I like the $50 total lighting for to FO tank better.. BUT. I know its not the better lighting system.. I just hink it looks better with for my application.. .. but anyway.. on to your question. my 55long has no glass on top at all.. and my 54 corner is full plexi with a cut-out in the top just a little biit bigger than the bulb. So I dont have an answer. but I figured I should share my scenario's..

 

[rappa]

I have no glass on mine. I haven't had a problem with anything jumping out on me yet... Now that I think about it, I haven't had a heat problem since I took the glass top off. hmmmmm...
Much easier to feed fish and also move stuff around.

 

[fishking]

i took all my glass covers off and just sat the mh on top of my tank, of course the mh has an arcrylic piece protecting the bulbs

 

[ithorian_r]

i have had covers on my tank but recently upgraded my lights. now i have an open top. i love it. there is more evaporation but it forces me to do more top offs and water changes. i did have one jumper, but he was sick and dying so he did me a favor! im about to add eggcrate soon tho, just in case

 

[symon]

You actually need to take your glass off, so your light will work properly, I do use a piece of glass over the front most of my tank, Although i have no reason for that!

Just seems like it shoudl be there, my pc compact covers the rest of the tank, and ( knock on wood) i have had nothing take a leap of death!

 

[dogstar]

The only time you need glass under the light is the DE metal halides. There needs to be UV rateded glass as a sheild against the uv rays. Regular SE MHs have the sheild built right into the bulb. Most DE fixtures come with this glass already on them but if you biuld something custom then make sure you put a uv sheilding glass under DE bulbs.
If water splashing on any bulb can always cause problems but raising the fixture IMO is better than puting glass in.

 

[escape2thewater]

I have been going TOPLESS for over 2 years now! But for real, I havent had any glass or eggcrate or anything on my reef tank for over 2 years, ive only lost 2 reef chromis from jumping out the entire time. The canopy hangs from the ceiling, It evaporates almost a gal per day though. My eel tank has glass lids but thats another story.....
Escape

 

[1journeyman]

I built a canopy that's about 14 inches tall. Mounted lights to the top of it.
Open back, put plastic window screen across it. Massive fans mounted on hood that come on with MH's.
The top of the canopy lifts up, and the front lifts up on hinges, so access is easy.

 

[tboy]

Originally Posted by Dogstar
The only time you need glass under the light is the DE metal halides. There needs to be UV rateded glass as a sheild against the uv rays. Regular SE MHs have the sheild built right into the bulb. Most DE fixtures come with this glass already on them but if you biuld something custom then make sure you put a uv sheilding glass under DE bulbs.
If water splashing on any bulb can always cause problems but raising the fixture IMO is better than puting glass in.
what is DE metal halides an SE MHs?
I just bought a retrofit kit and thinking put that inside my canopy and put an acrylic lens over it but don't know how yet.

 

[tmoney]

Shows how much my LFS shows...I work there too. I'm surprised at how many people do not have the glass between the lights and the tank. I kind of have to because I have a twin-tube strip light with regular flourescent actinic bulbs. I just read that it's better without the glass, does the glass interrupt how much light power goes in the tank? (Maybe a dumb question but would be nice to know)

 

[1journeyman]

DE are double ended
SE are single ended