AI 16 Prime HD & IM 15 Cube.

[jweiner]

Newbie here. Maybe I am overthinking this, but I have the IM 15 cube and the AI Prime HD light. I am getting ready to do a fishless cycle following Dr. Tim’s protocol. I don’t yet have a lid for my tank, but I like the look of acrylic much better than mesh. However, I know that standard acrylic blocks most UV light. I plan on stocking the tank with a pair of clowns and, eventually, some corals. Would an acrylic lid be okay, or would that result in inadequate UV for the corals?

 

[X-37B]

Newbie here. Maybe I am overthinking this, but I have the IM 15 cube and the AI Prime HD light. I am getting ready to do a fishless cycle following Dr. Tim’s protocol. I don’t yet have a lid for my tank, but I like the look of acrylic much better than mesh. However, I know that standard acrylic blocks most UV light. I plan on stocking the tank with a pair of clowns and, eventually, some corals. Would an acrylic lid be okay, or would that result in inadequate UV for the corals?

Acrylic will warp. You could use the tabs that snap on the 3 sides and cut a piece of glass to fit.
I had it on an 18" cube but went with a mesh lid. I got tired of removing and cleaning the glass.
Tabs that glass sits on.

Or just get a Kraken like on my IM15.

 

[jweiner]

Newbie here. Maybe I am overthinking this, but I have the IM 15 cube and the AI Prime HD light. I am getting ready to do a fishless cycle following Dr. Tim’s protocol. I don’t yet have a lid for my tank, but I like the look of acrylic much better than mesh. However, I know that standard acrylic blocks most UV light. I plan on stocking the tank with a pair of clowns and, eventually, some corals. Would an acrylic lid be okay, or would that result in inadequate UV for the corals?

Acrylic will warp. You could use the tabs that snap on the 3 sides and cut a piece of glass to fit.
I had it on an 18" cube but went with a mesh lid. I got tired of removing and cleaning the glass.
Tabs that glass sits on.

Or just get a Kraken like on my IM15.

Do you like that Kraken lid? I just think the mesh doesn’t look very attractive.

 

[X-37B]

Do you like that Kraken lid? I just think the mesh doesn’t look very attractive.

I have mesh lids on all my systems.
I have had glass, acrylic, and nothing over the years.
Kraken is my favorite because it supported on 3 full sides, no tabs, and a feeding port.

 

[jweiner]

Cool - do you find that you have more evaporation with the mesh versus acrylic or glass?

 

[X-37B]

Cool - do you find that you have more evaporation with the mesh versus acrylic or glass?

Yes you get more but I don't worry about it and just run a ato.

 

[Naso180!]

Theres not any true UV LEDS in that AI fixture. The violet is at 405nm making in near UV. Its just the Purple or UV color. True UV is 400nm down to around 200 nm. So doesn't matter honestly either will work.

 

[jweiner]

Cool - do you find that you have more evaporation with the mesh versus acrylic or glass?

Yes you get more but I don't worry about it and just run a ato.

I have an ATO with a 2 1/2 gallon aquarium as the sump. Hopefully I won’t have to be filling the sump every day.

 

[X-37B]

I have an ATO with a 2 1/2 gallon aquarium as the sump. Hopefully I won’t have to be filling the sump every day.

I use a 5g bucket and it lasts around 2-3 weeks.

 

[jweiner]

Theres not any true UV LEDS in that AI fixture. The violet is at 405nm making in near UV. Its just the Purple or UV color. True UV is 400nm down to around 200 nm. So doesn't matter honestly either will work.

I found this on a Facebook group …….

The Prime 16HD has a 409nm UV LED. While it peaks in violet, there is emission in the edges of the UV-Vis transition spectrum.

 

[Naso180!]

Right 409 nm. I thought it was 405nm that is mentioned by Aqua Illumination. There are true UV LEDs in existence. However they're not used in those fixtures. Im not bashing the lights. I have 6 32 HDs running on 3 different tanks myself. Just letting you know that its on no consequence to use the lid you wanted.

 

[steveschuerger]

I’ve used mesh tops for all my tanks. IM tanks usually come with hoods for their “pro” series and sell prefabbed lids in the accessories and equipment section of their site. For the two non IM , I used Kraken lids.