Glass top vs mesh top

[jef4y]

Which do you use (if either) and why?

 

[lilrobb]

Mesh,
Water can evaporate and no salt creep up blocking light...

 

[crewdawg1981]

Where does everyone get that clear mesh for the top? I've never seen it at HD.

 

[budsreef]

Jeff, I'm with Robin for the same reasons plus better oxygen exchange with mesh and no heat build up which is a different way to say better evaporation.

Crewdawg1981;623604 wrote: Where does everyone get that clear mesh for the top? I've never seen it at HD.

Check out this thread and contact acroholic, he had it and has been willing to sell it.

 

[crewdawg1981]

Budsreef;623606 wrote: Check out this thread and contact acroholic, he had it and has been willing to sell it.

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=34002">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=34002</a>[/QUOTE]

Will do. Thanks!

 

[gmpolan]

Mesh, as robb says no creep no increase evap, although with the rimless tank and me being so busy ive never had time to create tabs to set them in so its kind of sloppy but still gets the job done

 

[jef4y]

The one thing that has me asking is that the salt creep & clouding on the glass top I have now is pretty irritating. Thinking I may try mesh for at least a few weeks.

 

[raz0945]

The mesh from Dave has worked great for me-Less heat/More oxygen which helps keep my ph up/No salt creep to block light-salt also etches the glass over time/No more jumpers-which was the most important to me-I keep losing wrasses. Holley

 

[cr500_af]

Glass also holds in a lot of heat. No drawbacks at all to mesh... just take 20 minutes to build them and you're set.

 

[mapleredta]

Mesh covers &gt; *

 

[jef4y]

I'm going to try the mesh out for a few weeks to see if any change or downsides. Thanks for the comments everyone.

 

[ripped tide]

The only concern i would have with mesh is that if you have a light fixture that sets on the rim of your tank, you are going to have more spray and splash that could eventually ruin your lights. other than that, it seems like the way to go

 

[jef4y]

my light sits about 6" off the top of the tank and has a splash guard so I should be okay. maybe a little spray on it, but I could likely lift it higher yet.

 

[budsreef]

JeF4y;623732 wrote: my light sits about 6" off the top of the tank and has a splash guard so I should be okay. maybe a little spray on it, but I could likely lift it higher yet.

Especially once you get the AI Leds which you'll run about 12" above the water line. :thumbs:

 

[markl]

mesh

 

[whathedeuce]

+1 for mesh

 

[ralph atl]

mesh from Dave

 

[jbadd99]

Amici;623853 wrote: I bet I can make it easy for you. Clean them so they are pristine and then measure the PAR with the glass and without. Once you see how much par you lose, you will switch.

Is there really that much of a loss? I've been running a glass cover over mine mainly to help keep my goby from jumping, but I noticed my evaporation rate went WAY down when I put the glass on - of course, I'm running LEDs. There really hasn't been much creep or buildup on the glass.

 

[smoothie]

I use and love vho's. About to switch with my upgrade though.
I have always used glass tops and cleaned them weekly.
Just switched to mesh a year ago. It's alot easier to have a topoff plan/system than it is to clean these tops and top of the water. Also no back and forth responses with the coral which is the biggest thing.

 

[jehuggin]

Using Mesh supplied from Dave. Went this route specifically due to heat issues, but extremely happy with it.

My lights are about 6 inches or less over the water line and have no issues, but do have a splash guard on them.