Glass top aquarium

[gakayaker12234]

I have a 72 gallon bowfront and I'm losing alot of water per day in it. I estimate it loses 1.5 gallons every day. I know that if i put the glass covers on it will slow the evaporation, but will it restrict the light that reaches the aquarium? I have 4 65 watt power compact bulbs on it. Its a reef tank so i plan on growing corals and i dont know how the glass top will affect the lighting

 

[lilrobb]

You're already at the bottom end of lighting power with those PCs - now adding glass tops will pretty much put you out of the race for most corals...

 

[jcook54]

I had a glass top for a while but have since replaced it with clear mesh screens. I've found some conflicting opinions on how much a glass canopy cuts down on tank lighting but since I never liked cleaning mine I did away with them. Nice clear glass may not change PAR too much but my opaque glass panels certainly did. I had to clean them once a week to keep them looking decent and finally had enough.

 

[jennm]

LilRobb;601482 wrote: You're already at the bottom end of lighting power with those PCs - now adding glass tops will pretty much put you out of the race for most corals...

I don't think it's as bad as all that. There are pros and cons to glass tops, but most LPS and softies will be fine with glass lids. Just be sure to keep them clean, and watch your temperature. Glass lids can cause the tank to retain more heat.

Jenn

 

[lilrobb]

I did a PAR reading on a Odyssea (yes, I know) fixture (4x65W PC) on a 55gal, with and without glass tops.
PAR in the middle of the tank was sliced in half with the tops on...

If I remember correctly, 90 without tops and 47 with tops...

 

[jennm]

Fair enough... we've got plenty of folks using glass tops with PC, who have healthy, thriving corals.

I guess YMMV... I've never done PAR testing. Just saying that plenty of folks with PC and glass lids have no issues with the beginner to intermediate corals.

Jenn

 

[basscyn]

I had a 72 bowfront with the glass tops too.
It was just too much trouble to keep that glass clean. You know...that white calcified funk that you cant even scrap off with a razor blade?

I never took any par readings, but you could visually tell more light was reaching the tank with out it. But my glass was really cloudy.

I took it off.

 

[lilrobb]

And every time I read "corals" - I think of the super light demanding collection I have...
Now "coral" could even mean NON-photosynthetic and lighting plays absolutely no role - depends on the OPs direction...

 

[jennm]

LilRobb;601498 wrote: And every time I read "corals" - I think of the super light demanding collection I have...
Now "coral" could even mean NON-photosynthetic and lighting plays absolutely no role - depends on the OPs direction...

Exactly.

 

[hhughes]

I have 4x65w and my softies are fine (and the stylophora. and the unidentified 2 sps that I got at last year's frag meeting). Actually all are spreading like mad. Anyone need a leather? Red shroom? GSP? lol

It'd be a lot of trouble but you could pop the glass tops at night and remove during the day.

 

[superclown]

Heat would br my main concern with pc lights

 

[john wright]

post a pic of your hood and some one can help you find the problome its probable heat from the pc you might think of changing lights.

 

[jead85]

ya know, we all deal with evaporation. That is what an Auto top off is for

 

[gakayaker12234]

I have had the glass tops off of the aquarium for awhile, and put them on last night. I have already noticed a big diffrerence in the evaporation, and I only lost about a half gallon, if that. My main concern now is lighting in the tank, and if I will be able to grow soft corals. The temperature has not changed in the tank since i put the tops on.