Will my glass lid obstruct the light?

[whoisthejman]

Hi there. I'm setting up my 29 Gal reef tank and purchased this cheap glass canopy lid to help keep everything in the tank and not jumping out etc.

My only question is will the black plastic strip that goes through the middle of the canopy holding the panels together obstruct the light much from reaching the coral?

It's so thin that I don't think it would make much difference but I'm not opposed to removing the lid entirely if it will affect the light absorption at all.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

P.S. - Don't mind the cloudy water and foam on the surface of the water, I just added the live sand and it has yet to settle.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi there. I'm setting up my 29 Gal reef tank and purchased this cheap glass canopy lid to help keep everything in the tank and not jumping out etc.

My only question is will the black plastic strip that goes through the middle of the canopy holding the panels together obstruct the light much from reaching the coral?

It's so thin that I don't think it would make much difference but I'm not opposed to removing the lid entirely if it will affect the light absorption at all.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

P.S. - Don't mind the cloudy water and foam on the surface of the water, I just added the live sand and it has yet to settle.

I see 2 problems

The glass itself will drop available light due to condensation and mineral buildup over time.
Any fish that want to do a dive and carpet surf will head straight to the gap at the back of the tank.

Whether the black strip makes significant difference is going to depend on how close to the water you mount the lights. The further away the less effect - but you will need brighter lights.

 

[whoisthejman]

I have a longer piece of plastic for the back that I think I will cut to fit once I attach the light. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Of course

 

[VintageReefer]

60$ you can get a custom polycarbonate lid for that 29g that doesn’t have the black strip and will have custom cutouts for any equipment you have on the tank frame or wires

Clear Lid for Aqueon® Tanks All Sizes

Introducing Clear Lids for Aqueon® Tanks– Your Aquarium's Perfect Companion!Upgrade your aquarium setup with Clear Lids for Aqueon® Tanks, available in a variety of sizes including 10, 20L, 20H, 29, and 36 gallons bow front to suit your specific tank dimensions. Designed with both functionality...

walterlids.com

 

[Doctorgori]

it’s not just the condensation but the heat trap…
just one of many reasons why most just usenet tops

 

[GARRIGA]

Never grasped why condensation would affect PAR since it just water droplets although salt creep when those dried would likely be a problem which means just one added task yet evaporation drops considerably. However, one needs to account for dosing additives. Need enough evaporation to allow that. Know from experience. Tops cut evaporation by 80% plus.

Has anyone taken actual PAR readings with condensation?

As for heat build up. Means less need for a heater therefore can get away with smaller meaning should thermostat get stuck that’s one less concern. Heat build up I actually tested and temps did rise. That’s a good thing.

 

[Doctorgori]

Heat build up I actually tested and temps did rise. That’s a good thing

In South Florida? Man do you even need a heater? LoL
You are gonna totally jack up Aquarium chiller sales…

…I think the rub with condensation is light scattering but also you do eventually get a film or rather I don’t see how you can escape cleaning the glass….
Just saying nets are less problematic

 

[GARRIGA]

In South Florida? Man do you even need a heater? LoL
You are gonna totally jack up Aquarium chiller sales…

…I think the rub with condensation is light scattering but also you do eventually get a film or rather I don’t see how you can escape cleaning the glass….
Just saying nets are less problematic

My house 69-71 year round. It’s only hot outside

Mentioned the salt creep and cleaning that top not that much more trouble yet less trips to the RODI for top off which means less need to change those filters out. In the end it works itself out. Plus building a monster tank means one seeks efficiency because just so much juice at the outlet, so much time to maintain and seems wasteful to be constantly throwing water out to make more of it.

My goal being one of those custom plastic tops with netting and lids over the netting so I can adjust how much evaporation needed plus easier to remove those smaller lids for occasional cleaning. Plus one still needs to clean the overall top even with net cut outs. Rather send that salt creep back into the sump area then have to replace it with new salt water.

All about efficiency. Rather be fishing then cleaning

 

[VintageReefer]

I use glass lids for 20+ years on all my tanks I’ve kept and I’ve switched to poly carb about 1 yr ago because I needed customizations made

Glass/polycarbonate helps retain heat but it won’t heat your tank. Your heater will run less often. If your ambient room temp comes to 77 or higher then they reduce cooling as they reduce evaporation

Evaporation - drastic reduction on evaporation - this is my favorite thing about them. Ato gets filled less and salinity is more stable

Condensation is a non issue along with salt creep. Condensation builds up, turns into droplets, then drips back into the tank. It never turns into creep as it’s a constant revolving process. Salt leaked / dripped above the lid, will turn into salt creep as will any other surface. Just clean up after yourself

There is a minimal effect on par. I’ve tested with and without the lids. Mesh affects par slightly less. Eggcrate lids affect par much more. With glass/polycarbonate it’s a non issue. It doesn’t matter if a spot is 143 or 149. The difference with the lids is negligible.

Don’t be fooled. Mesh lids get covered in salt creep. I’ll show you my Waterbox mesh lid if you want to see.

The solid lids almost never need the underside cleaned, it’s constant process day and night. Water accumulates, it drips back in, new water accumulates. It never dries out fully so it doesn’t build up salt creep

 

[whoisthejman]

I use glass lids for 20+ years on all my tanks I’ve kept and I’ve switched to poly carb about 1 yr ago because I needed customizations made

Glass/polycarbonate helps retain heat but it won’t heat your tank. Your heater will run less often. If your ambient room temp comes to 77 or higher then they reduce cooling as they reduce evaporation

Evaporation - drastic reduction on evaporation - this is my favorite thing about them. Ato gets filled less and salinity is more stable

Condensation is a non issue along with salt creep. Condensation builds up, turns into droplets, then drips back into the tank. It never turns into creep as it’s a constant revolving process. Salt leaked / dripped above the lid, will turn into salt creep as will any other surface. Just clean up after yourself

There is a minimal effect on par. I’ve tested with and without the lids. Mesh affects par slightly less. Eggcrate lids affect par much more. With glass/polycarbonate it’s a non issue. It doesn’t matter if a spot is 143 or 149. The difference with the lids is negligible.

Don’t be fooled. Mesh lids get covered in salt creep. I’ll show you my Waterbox mesh lid if you want to see.

The solid lids almost never need the underside cleaned, it’s constant process day and night. Water accumulates, it drips back in, new water accumulates. It never dries out fully so it doesn’t build up salt creep

Thank you for your response. Great info!

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I have the same setup for my QT tank. I am using an amazon LED bar over it. No its negligible at best for par decrease. Yes I get salt build up but its the same as my other poly carb lids.

Though I don't deal with that much condensation on the lid so you could perform worse. House is usually matainined at 69-71F and tank at 78F.

 

[exnisstech]

With no sump I would be more concerned with gas exchange than light loss.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

With no sump I would be more concerned with gas exchange than light loss.

Surface agitation will be enough.

 

[VintageReefer]

With no sump I would be more concerned with gas exchange than light loss.

I designed my lid and asked for 3 rows of holes in the back. I place wet tools here to drip back in the tank. It doubles to offer some ventilation / gas exchange. I do have a sump but figured why not add some holes for the prior stated reasons

 

[Limoncello]

I designed my lid and asked for 3 rows of holes in the back. I place wet tools here to drip back in the tank. It doubles to offer some ventilation / gas exchange. I do have a sump but figured why not add some holes for the prior stated reasons

Really cool. Curious where do you buy your custom lids?

 

[VintageReefer]

Really cool. Curious where do you buy your custom lids?

See post 5
I have bought several custom lids, they come out perfect and the price is the best I found

 

[Pistondog]

Never grasped why condensation would affect PAR since it just water droplets although salt creep when those dried would likely be a problem which means just one added task yet evaporation drops considerably. However, one needs to account for dosing additives. Need enough evaporation to allow that. Know from experience. Tops cut evaporation by 80% plus.

Has anyone taken actual PAR readings with condensation?

As for heat build up. Means less need for a heater therefore can get away with smaller meaning should thermostat get stuck that’s one less concern. Heat build up I actually tested and temps did rise. That’s a good thing.

Is a cloudy day a bad analogy? Condensation in the atmosphere vs on aquarium lid?
Certainly less par on cloudy days.

 

[Pistondog]

Hi there. I'm setting up my 29 Gal reef tank and purchased this cheap glass canopy lid to help keep everything in the tank and not jumping out etc.

My only question is will the black plastic strip that goes through the middle of the canopy holding the panels together obstruct the light much from reaching the coral?

It's so thin that I don't think it would make much difference but I'm not opposed to removing the lid entirely if it will affect the light absorption at all.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

P.S. - Don't mind the cloudy water and foam on the surface of the water, I just added the live sand and it has yet to settle.

use a mesh lid for transparency, gas exchange and temp exchange.
I am always concerned about oxygen and co2 in the water in systems with no falling water or skimmer.

 

[GARRIGA]

Is a cloudy day a bad analogy? Condensation in the atmosphere vs on aquarium lid?
Certainly less par on cloudy days.

That's not the same. Cloud cover considerably denser than water droplets. Do you have science backed assumptions on this or just an assumption? Easy enough to take PAR readings at home with and without condensation. Perhaps someone has or can. Won't be having a PAR meter for a few months.