Aquarium Lids Question

[Frigideus]

Very brief question but it's a good idea to get a lid for my aquarium, right? Will it affect how I eventually configure my lights or can they run as normal? Is it possible to run a tank without a lid? I just don't want fish jumping out or dust getting in.

 

[Polymate3D]

How big is the tank?

My experience is a lid on small tanks is a great idea as you reduce evaporation and this, salinity swings. All my aquariums have lids which are fairly tight sealing. For Pico aquariums I would say it is essential.

Larger aquariums I think you already have a large expense of buying and running the tank, so a open top for better air exchange is desirable to the bioload inside it, and also help with temperatures from the pumps and lighting heat output being castle higher than a small tank. Also more space underneath for a ATO setup.

When I say small tank, I am thinking up to 20 or 30 gallons. Large tanks being 55 gallons or more. That middle ground I would say make your own judgement.

Edit - open top tanks typically still use a mesh top to prevent jumpers unless your avoiding fish prone to this.

- Paul

 

[dinosaur_1552]

I always have lids on my tanks, longest I've been away is 2.5 weeks with hardly any change on water levels. I do aerate the tanks as well, so oxygen exchange is not an issue.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Yes you can run without a lid! Just more evaporation and I highly suggest to put a cover of some type… Lighting can be handled the same as with a lid present. If you are using some kind of glass/acrylic cover just make sure you clean it from salt creep so that the light doesn’t get blocked. Easier is one of the DIY jumpguard sets. Easy to make, clean looking and light to remove.

 

[Freenow54]

Very brief question but it's a good idea to get a lid for my aquarium, right? Will it affect how I eventually configure my lights or can they run as normal? Is it possible to run a tank without a lid? I just don't want fish jumping out or dust getting in.

I just made my own for the second time. My first attempt was with Stainless mesh from amazon but the quality not the best and is starting to rust so I found a clear white plastic with quarter inch squares that again is from Amazon and is advertised specifically for Aquariums. The Stainless was finer mesh and lowered my Par by about 25 to30 % I am going to do a check with my Apogee Par meter later today after my 7th coffee . I will post a picture and the results after for you here. Defiantly need a lid. They cannot be tight enough. I thought mine was ok but my Baby Hughey bully Tang chased my Diamond Goby out of my Tank about 4 days ago

 

[Freenow54]

Yes you can run without a lid! Just more evaporation and I highly suggest to put a cover of some type… Lighting can be handled the same as with a lid present. If you are using some kind of glass/acrylic cover just make sure you clean it from salt creep so that the light doesn’t get blocked. Easier is one of the DIY jumpguard sets. Easy to make, clean looking and light to remove.

Not True I Proved it Glass is a total pain it gets etched good luck with that. I suggest looking at my post. I do not know about you with all due respect but I post FACTS not speculation. Not meant to insult you just trying to make my stance clear .

 

[Frigideus]

How big is the tank?

My experience is a lid on small tanks is a great idea as you reduce evaporation and this, salinity swings. All my aquariums have lids which are fairly tight sealing. For Pico aquariums I would say it is essential.

Larger aquariums I think you already have a large expense of buying and running the tank, so a open top for better air exchange is desirable to the bioload inside it, and also help with temperatures from the pumps and lighting heat output being castle higher than a small tank. Also more space underneath for a ATO setup.

When I say small tank, I am thinking up to 20 or 30 gallons. Large tanks being 55 gallons or more. That middle ground I would say make your own judgement.

Edit - open top tanks typically still use a mesh top to prevent jumpers unless your avoiding fish prone to this.

- Paul

Where can I get a mesh topper? I would love to have this as it would do exactly what I need without compromise for lighting. The tank is 100G. It's an IM EXT 100, so getting a lid made is super easy (lid manufacturers have one already cut for this tank). Is the same true of a mesh lid? I'm assuming that the mesh also needs to be quite fine, as the same fish who would jump might get their scales caught if its too big. Sorry I've got a lot of questions as this will be my first time owning a reef.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Not True I Proved it Glass is a total pain it gets etched good luck with that. I suggest looking at my post. I do not know about you with all due respect but I post FACTS not speculation. Not meant to insult you just trying to make my stance clear .

I don’t disagree with you that glass is a pain and that there are way better options available. I have a glass lid on one of my QT tanks and when cleaned on a daily basis my par is within 5% of no lid. However it is only up and running for 4 months, so things can change.

Depending on the type of cover/lid used I don’t see , if well maintained why you would have to configure your lights any differently than without a cover. Unless you are speaking about very demanding SPS, but I don’t think this is the case here

 

[Frigideus]

Yes you can run without a lid! Just more evaporation and I highly suggest to put a cover of some type… Lighting can be handled the same as with a lid present. If you are using some kind of glass/acrylic cover just make sure you clean it from salt creep so that the light doesn’t get blocked. Easier is one of the DIY jumpguard sets. Easy to make, clean looking and light to remove.

Is it easy to make a mesh lid, or is there somewhere I can pick one up? I've head reasonable success in finding ways to get a glass lid for my tank since it's an IM EXT 100, which means some lid manufacturers already make lids cut for it. Would I need to put something over the external overflow box as well? I assume the mesh needs to be fine so jumpers don't get stuck but I just want to make sure I don't lose too much PAR in doing so :)

 

[Euphyllia97]

Is it easy to make a mesh lid, or is there somewhere I can pick one up? I've head reasonable success in finding ways to get a glass lid for my tank since it's an IM EXT 100, which means some lid manufacturers already make lids cut for it. Would I need to put something over the external overflow box as well? I assume the mesh needs to be fine so jumpers don't get stuck but I just want to make sure I don't lose too much PAR in doing so :)

You have those DIY sets that you can buy. I am living in Europe and have used D-D jumpguard but I think red sea has those aswell. You can buy cutouts and support beams to build the cover to your own needs. I have made cutouts for my overflow and lightfixtures (clamped on the backpanel of the tank). The net is also included and they are sold in multiple dimensions. The only thing you need is something to measure and something to cut (through plastic or aluminum). As for the overflow. I would suggest to cover as much as possible if you have any doubt that a fish can fit through. I heard stories of fish making it through a small opening of the covers, so the more the better :)

 

[Frigideus]

You have those DIY sets that you can buy. I am living in Europe and have used D-D jumpguard but I think red sea has those aswell. You can buy cutouts and support beams to build the cover to your own needs. I have made cutouts for my overflow and lightfixtures (clamped on the backpanel of the tank). The net is also included and they are sold in multiple dimensions. The only thing you need is something to measure and something to cut (through plastic or aluminum). As for the overflow. I would suggest to cover as much as possible if you have any doubt that a fish can fit through. I heard stories of fish making it through a small opening of the covers, so the more the better :)

I see the ones RedSea has, sadly it looks like they are all made with a cutout for interior overflows, which I don't have. Jumpguard looks pretty decent though, I'll need to dig into this a bit more since the mesh doesn't look fine enough for household dust but should be sufficient to keep jumpers inside the tank for the most part. Thanks!

 

[Frigideus]

I just made my own for the second time. My first attempt was with Stainless mesh from amazon but the quality not the best and is starting to rust so I found a clear white plastic with quarter inch squares that again is from Amazon and is advertised specifically for Aquariums. The Stainless was finer mesh and lowered my Par by about 25 to30 % I am going to do a check with my Apogee Par meter later today after my 7th coffee . I will post a picture and the results after for you here. Defiantly need a lid. They cannot be tight enough. I thought mine was ok but my Baby Hughey bully Tang chased my Diamond Goby out of my Tank about 4 days ago

Do you have a link to whatever plastic/acrylic you used? I'd be interested in taking a look. The amazon link provided doesn't take me to any page sadly.

 

[Freenow54]

I don’t disagree with you that glass is a pain and that there are way better options available. I have a glass lid on one of my QT tanks and when cleaned on a daily basis my par is within 5% of no lid. However it is only up and running for 4 months, so things can change.

Depending on the type of cover/lid used I don’t see , if well maintained why you would have to configure your lights any differently than without a cover. Unless you are speaking about very demanding SPS, but I don’t think this is the case here

Granted in my current set up that is not a concern. I made as tight of a seal as I thought I needed however my tang is about 5-6 inches long and top to bottom over 4. It is very powerful I was at my computer before daylight when the attack occurred I just brushed it off but there was a lot of violent disturbance so weight would have helped hence glass would have helped. If you did not see my other post it chased my Diamond Goby right out of the tank As to the etching as I call it, did not occur to me to clean them Daily so no argument without trying that. However as Stated am making my own, and regardless have found a mesh that I just proved has minimal resistance to the light. Might be a larger factor on my new Tank, but also gives adequate light to other spots opening more Coral placement opportunities. Now I have to think of how to make them heavier. I did not post a link that I know of but am going to post everything you need in a couple of minutes.

 

[rowenaad]

i had a watchman goby jumped out the only 3 days lid is off. i also had a sixline warrase jumped out of a 0.5*0.5 inch hole on the lid for cables. I use custom built acrylic frame and netted with clear fish line and a flip "window" for feeding

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

They are expensive but i like the kraken lids because they only use polycarbonate around the perimeter of the tank. Inside that is just mesh where there is plenty of gas exchange. I don’t like the sealed up lids even though most people report they are just fine.

The main reason to have one is to stop jumpers.

 

[Freenow54]

So here are my results along with picture of completed lid. Reading with cover off, then on Like I said the Stainless cut the light Par reading back 25-30%

 

[Freenow54]

i had a watchman goby jumped out the only 3 days lid is off. i also had a sixline warrase jumped out of a 0.5*0.5 inch hole on the lid for cables. I use custom built acrylic frame and netted with clear fish line and a flip "window" for feeding

I like the Acrylic idea where did you find that. Would not mind a picture if you don't mind. I would redo mine for sure

 

[Freenow54]

Where can I get a mesh topper? I would love to have this as it would do exactly what I need without compromise for lighting. The tank is 100G. It's an IM EXT 100, so getting a lid made is super easy (lid manufacturers have one already cut for this tank). Is the same true of a mesh lid? I'm assuming that the mesh also needs to be quite fine, as the same fish who would jump might get their scales caught if its too big. Sorry I've got a lot of questions as this will be my first time owning a reef.

see my post mine is quarter inch, but as stated it needs to be heavier. I make my own at the fraction of the cost

 

[rowenaad]

this is how it looks on a waterbox cube 20 (the magnetic sticks around the rim is for other things and not needed for this lid). I got the frame custom cut for me from a Chinese platform called Taobao for ~25 usd incl shipping to Australia, but it took me days to net it lolll. It’s over 3.5 years old now and lost a right arm when i accidentally dropped it. It’s 5mm does bend a little bit over time lacking support in the middle. If you are considering something similar you might want a thicker material or rework the design a bit esp if you have a bigger tank. I have heard PC are less prone to bending but consulted a seller and he said it would still bend eventually under intense light so idk

 

[rowenaad]

I like the Acrylic idea where did you find that. Would not mind a picture if you don't mind. I would redo mine for sure

forgot to hit reply lolll